As ballots arrive and voters prepare to make their choices in the Park City Council and mayoral election, I urge residents to approach this decision with thoughtfulness and discernment. Elections are often shaped by those who take the time to weigh the issues carefully — prioritizing the values of responsibility, courage and independence that define our community.
When choosing your representatives, consider their ability to act independently. In a town like ours, independence is measured by a candidate’s willingness to question established interests and navigate challenges without succumbing to external pressures. Park City’s government belongs to its people — the last bastion of local democracy where we can still demand accountability and results. Your vote is a chance to ensure that remains true.
With Park City’s operating budget nearing $100 million, financial acumen is critical. We need leaders who can scrutinize expenditures, ask tough questions, and anticipate economic trends. Recent reports show declining Transient Room Tax revenue and reduced visitation to Main Street, reflecting broader tourism challenges. Our council must include serious, forward-thinking individuals who prioritize fiscal responsibility over popularity or social media presence. Governing is different from campaigning — it is not a popularity contest.
Given the dollars at stake, it is no surprise that several partisan county elected officials have tried to influence the City Council and mayoral races. Perhaps if these folks had reached out to all the candidates — rather than just their party brethren — I could give them a pass.
I’ve gotten to know one of them a bit. We both serve on the Central Wasatch Commission. They are a consummate dealmaker, and I have much to learn from them there. But what I’ve learned so far is that being on the other side of a deal with them is usually not the better side of the deal. Given their professed value of collaboration, it is telling — if not contradictory — that not a single one of them reached out to me to ask who I thought would be good to work with. They don’t hesitate to make that call when they want help with a BRT project or when I was asked to write a letter to the editor supporting the County Council. Park City residents should be concerned that these individuals — most of whom do not live in the city — are seeking to influence our election.
I also encourage voters to look beyond superficial narratives, such as attempts to frame this election as a contest of personalities. Governance is not about being agreeable — it’s about capability and courage. Effective leaders ask hard questions, propose bold solutions, and drive meaningful change, even when it sparks difficult conversations. As former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval once said, “If everyone agrees with you, then you are lying to someone.”
Collaboration and partnership are vital, but they must deliver tangible results for our city — not just fleeting consensus. Collaboration is important, but often those we seek to collaborate with have different priorities that do not reflect the needs of our constituents. Too often, they view Park City as the goose that laid the golden egg and assume we will pay for it. Disagreement is not a flaw — it is a feature of healthy democracy.
The challenges we face — such as the departure of Sundance and the loss of the Kimball Arts Center — demand proactive leadership that stays ahead of the curve. Choose candidates who embrace the complexity of governing and who lean into difficult decisions rather than seeking the easy way out. Park City deserves representatives who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and who prioritize the long-term well-being of our community.
Vote with your conscience, your wallet, and your intellect — guided by the issues that matter most to you and to the future of Park City.
Bill Ciraco
Park City Councilor