SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct. 1, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — A Salt Lake City council member has resigned from his District One seat.
The resignation of two-term council member James Rogers will be effective Monday, Oct. 4, said a news release.
Rogers was elected by voters in November of 2013 to his first term on the council and re-elected in 2017. There are three months left in his term, and a replacement for his westside seat will be chosen by council members in November after an open and public process.
“Last year, I made the decision not to run for a third term, but it was always my intention to complete my final term,” Rogers, who is a Rose Park businessman, said. “However, life circumstances have changed, and it has become necessary for me to shift my focus and give my undivided attention to the people that matter the most to me, my children.
“For the past eight years, it has been both an honor and a privilege to represent the residents of District One. I am sincerely grateful for the trust and confidence they placed in me to represent them on this council.”
Rogers has served in several leadership positions. He was selected by his council peers to serve as the 2021 council vice chair. Prior leadership roles include the 2016 council chair and 2015 and 2019 vice chair. Rogers represented the council on the Utah Inland Port Authority Board where he served as the board’s chair after serving as its first-ever vice chair.
“I want to thank my fellow city council colleagues who serve this great city faithfully and diligently,” Rogers said. “I would also like to thank the city council staff who truly make this city run like clockwork, as well as give a special thank you to Mayor Erin Mendenhall and her administration.”
Council members also serve as board members of the city’s redevelopment agency, local building authority, and board of canvassers.
“James has dedicated the last eight years to District One and Salt Lake City,” said Amy Fowler, council chair. “He has single-handedly fought for the rights, protection, and preservation of his neighborhood and community. He is the most thoughtful, caring, and compassionate person I know. And one of my best friends. His mentorship, guidance, and humor will be sorely missed on the council.”
A city council member may vacate their position by providing a letter of resignation to the city recorder and the city council, which Rogers did on Friday, Oct. 1, the news release said. The council then follows the established process for filling the vacancy, selecting a new council member who will serve through the remainder of Rogers’ term on the first Monday in January 2022.
The vacancy application and selection period will overlap with the District 1 elections, set for Nov. 2. In considering applicants, the council will preserve all options in the process for filling the midterm vacancy for the District One seat. The council interviews applicants during an open city council meeting. The city council selects, by majority vote, an applicant to fill the vacancy.
The city recorder’s office will have application forms for individuals interested in filling the vacant position online and in-person. Applications will be accepted in-person during the application window, which begins Oct. 11, and ends Oct. 29 at noon.
An applicant:
- Must be registered to vote.
- Must reside in the council district 12 consecutive months immediately before the date of the appointment.
- Under the Utah constitution, certain individuals; those who are mentally incompetent, convicted of a felony, convicted of treason or a crime against the elective franchise, may not hold office until the right to hold elective office is restored under Utah law.
- May not be employed by Salt Lake City if selected for the vacancy.
The city recorder completes the application process with interested individuals prior to the council’s review and interview process. For more information about how to apply for a vacant city council seat, please visit the city recorder’s webpage here or call 801-535-7671.
