Ogden Mayor Godfrey re-elected to third term

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Posted: 4:55 PM- OGDEN -- Mayor Matthew Godfrey has defeated Councilwoman Susan Van Hooser. The two had been only 181 votes apart; this afternoon's final vote count raised the mayor's advantage to 449 votes.

Making the difference: absentee and provisional ballots.

Council candidate Blain Johnson, who trailed Sheila Aardema by 18 votes on election night ended up winning that race by 65 votes.

The 37-year-old mayor, who will begin his third term in January, said he was relieved and eager to get on with goal of recruiting ski and other outdoor companies to Ogden. Crime reduction and rejuvenation of neighborhoods east of Washington Boulevard are also priorities, Godfrey said in a news conference in his office.

Van Hooser called the mayor to congratulate him on his victory.

"I'm hopeful she'll want to roll up her sleeves and contribute in the community," Godfrey said.

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