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Orem • Former City Councilman James T. Evans will preside over Utah's fifth-largest city.

The Orem City Council unanimously selected Evans on Monday from a field of 13 candidates to replace Mayor Jerry Washburn, who died in September after battling bladder cancer. Evans will be officially sworn into office at Tuesday's council meeting.

"I was expecting to go home and relax," Evans quipped after the meeting.

He said his first priority will be to get up to speed on the issues facing the city. The main issue he sees is increasing sales tax revenue, a key element in the city's budget.

Evans will serve the remaining two years of Washburn's term.

Evans served on the City Council in the mid-1990s, and has also served as a member of the Alpine School Board and is currently a member of the state Board of Regents.

He is also the chief operating officer of Xactware Solutions Inc.

Councilman Carl Hernandez, who served as mayor pro tem after Washburn's death, said it was a tribute to Washburn that so many stepped forward to fill his position, given the sacrifice that is required of the mayor.

Hernandez also paid tribute to Washburn, who was first elected in 1999 to serve the remainder of the late Mayor Joe Nelson's term.

"Mayor Washburn was a great leader in the community on this council for years," Hernandez said. "We are grateful for his service."

Evans said he had great respect for Washburn, whom he ran against in 1999. He said Washburn was the epitome of a statesman.

Evans said he hasn't decided whether he will run in his own right in 2013.

"I want to give the people a chance to see what I can do, and they can decide if they want to keep me," Evans said.

One of the candidates for mayor, Councilwoman Karen McCandless, gave Evans her full support.

"James is going to be great," McCandless said. "I'm excited to serve with him."

McCandless did not participate in the vote or the closed-door meetings where the council discussed the candidates.

Tana Evans, Evans' wife, said she was happy for her husband, noting that he ran in a field of excellent candidates.

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What's next?

James T. Evans will be sworn in at Tuesday's Orem City Council meeting. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at 50 E. Center St.