Former Councilman Jim Child was elected mayor Tuesday with more than double the number of votes as his opponent.
Child, a long-time city resident, is confident his experience will help lead the city as it struggles with growth and transportation issues over the next four years. Child received 699 votes compared to opponent Tom Duggar, a political newcomer to West Bountiful who received just 340 votes in complete but unofficial results.Both men seeking the mayoral seat vacated by Carl Johnson, who decided not to seek a third term, called for increased communication between city leaders and residents.
After the results came in late Tuesday, Child said he was ready to go to work to ensure West Bountiful residents have a voice at City Hall.
"We're going to work very hard to bring some unity back to the city," Child said. "We've had a real division in our city through this campaign."
Incumbent City Councilwoman Vicki L. Stock was re-elected to another four-year-term on the council. But the leading vote-getter in the City Council race was Wade L. George, a business owner and former member of the West Bountiful Planning and Zoning Commission.
Child said the citizens of West Bountiful didn't want negative campaigning and said so at the polls Tuesday night.
"There is no question in my mind . . . we didn't do any negative campaigning at all. We just went out there telling people what we've done and what we want to do and tried to mount a positive campaign," Child said. "I'm sure that's what the citizens heard and they said `I like that.' "