Longtime Oakley City Councilman Steve Wilmoth’s dedication to public service is rooted in gratitude and a passion to preserve the community’s unique character as it faces future growth.
Wilmoth has spent 24 years in Oakley and nearly a decade on the City Council. Voters have backed him during two previous elections, and now he’s asking for their support in his run for mayor.
“I love my town, I really do,” he said. “I think our town separates itself from everybody else because of the people. We have such amazing people in our town who are willing to help.”
Wilmoth was born and raised in Roy in Weber County and attended Weber State University. He started with a lumber company back in 1987 and married his wife, Carla, in 1992.
The couple originally wanted to move to the Wasatch Back, but Wilmoth recalled there weren’t enough jobs then and it wasn’t affordable to commute. Wilmoth worked his way up the career ladder, advancing into management, with work taking him from Utah to Colorado in the late 1990s.
He spent a few years in the Centennial State before he received a call asking him if he knew where Heber City is. Wilmoth said it was the perfect fit.
Oakley had everything: a rural, small-town life nestled in the beautiful mountains. Wilmoth was immediately charmed by the home he toured, and the couple has lived there ever since.
Wilmoth now manages a lumber yard in Heber for Sunpro, a local company. He credits his experience managing people and business for shaping his leadership style both professionally and in his public service. Wilmoth added that he is known for his candor and prefers to speak unscripted, lending to his desire to speak from the heart.
Wilmoth and his wife experienced a tragedy 11 years ago that led the community to come together to support them, igniting his love for Oakley. Wilmoth said he feels blessed to live where he does.
In 2016, an Oakley city councilor resigned and a vacancy needed to be filled. Wilmoth said several people told him he should put in for it. He didn’t really want to be involved in politics, but his wife encouraged him to consider it.
“She told me, ‘You’ve always said you don’t know how you would ever say thank you to everybody in this town that helped us out through our trying time. … Maybe this is what you’re supposed to do,’” Wilmoth recalled.
A handful of other residents asked to be appointed, but Wilmoth was ultimately selected. He ran for his first full term in the 2017 election and for reelection in 2021.
Wilmoth has prioritized community engagement during his tenure, striving to encourage residents to speak up and become involved so their voices are heard. He’s an advocate for involving the public in decision-making and strives for transparency in City Council operations.
The city councilman said he has an open-door policy and wants to foster an environment where there’s respect for differing viewpoints. Wilmoth isn’t afraid to say what he doesn’t like, but said he’s always open to hearing feedback and other perspectives. He added that it’s important for there to be discussion and thoughtful dialogue between officials and residents regarding the issues in the community.
“What we need to fight for is what we want in our town. To me, politics doesn’t have a lot to do with it. It’s (a town of about) 1,700 people trying to figure out how to get together and come up with one common goal,” Wilmoth said.
His City Council work has focused on managing Oakley’s growth while preserving its small-town character. Wilmoth has tackled infrastructure projects like improvements to the town’s water system, addressing housing and development issues, as well as treating city resources with care. Lately, the city center concept has also been a major topic of discussion.
Wilmoth said he isn’t opposed to the development, but he wants to see a phased approach with a proper plan to ensure the project’s success.
He added that he wants more collaboration from residents, too. He recognized the city won’t be able to achieve what everybody wants, but officials still value their input to help shape Oakley into what the community wants it to be.
Now, at the end of his second term, Wilmoth said he decided to run against incumbent Mayor Zane Woolstenhulme to ensure there was a contested election. Wilmoth said he’s committed to serving with integrity — win or lose. He also believes his experience on the City Council and direct management style will be an asset to Oakley in the coming years.
If elected, Wilmoth would view his role as mayor as a conductor who helps guide the City Council and pubic through decisions.
His top priorities would be the town center redevelopment, infrastructure upgrades, especially for sewer and roads, and fostering civic engagement. He advocated for smart, gradual growth and wants to preserve the small, rural, quaint town that residents value. Wilmoth also wants to promote the spirit of volunteerism and pointed to the Oakley Rodeo — he’s the man behind the fireworks — as an example of ways to become involved.
Wilmoth said Oakley is special because it’s beautiful, unique and full of passion.
“I’ve lived a lot of places in my life. … I’ve never lived anywhere like Oakley, never. I love it. I’m sure people just roll their eyes when I say that, but I truly do,” Wilmoth said.
Voters will elect either Wilmoth or Woolstenhulme in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.