Two candidates are in the running to serve as mayor of Bluffdale for the next four years: incumbent Natalie Hall and challenger Connie Pavlakis.
Hall is wrapping up her first term as the southern Salt Lake Valley suburb’s leader now.
Hall was a Bluffdale city communications employee before becoming mayor. Pavlakis worked as an event manager, including for four years as a Bluffdale employee, and served nine years on the community’s planning commission.
The Salt Lake Tribune sent a survey to candidates in Salt Lake County’s Nov. 4 municipal mayoral elections. Answers may be edited for style and clarity. Responses are listed in alphabetical order by last name:
Outside of housing or transportation, what is the biggest problem your community faces and how would you overcome it?
Hall: With growth comes more demands on our resources. Bluffdale is not any different. With this growth, we have a need to plan for a better and more robust water infrastructure. We need to build more storage tanks and increase and improve our lines. We also need to work on our water conservation efforts. Also, with growth comes the need to increase our service levels for public safety. Bringing in more business helps with our sales tax base, and we will continue to look at options to increase our ability to hire full-time firefighters and increase our police resources.
Pavlakis: Many residents feel disconnected from decisions that impact them. When voices aren’t heard early, trust and collaboration break down. As mayor, I’ll strengthen resident-led governance by opening communication before decisions are made — through regular listening sessions, transparent budgeting and inclusive planning. When residents are part of the process, solutions become stronger and our city thrives.
What transportation improvements will you pursue to help residents get around easily, quickly and safely?
Hall: Bluffdale is improving east-west transportation by starting an innovative project on 14600 South to straighten the road and change the one-way bridge access. With 100% approval from Union Pacific, we will begin the unique project of box jacking with technology used in Europe, saving millions of dollars. Another priority is updating our transportation plan, with approval in 2026. This will help guide us in what our project priorities should be. Bluffdale makes sure that every road is maintained on a five-year rotation. This ensures that our roads stay safe and saves us money in the long run.
Pavlakis: Safety must come first in every transportation decision. I’ll focus on protecting our neighborhoods by improving road safety, supporting safe routes to schools and minimizing outside traffic cutting through residential areas. For higher-density areas that desire it, I’ll also pursue reasonable public transportation options. By listening to residents early, we can create safer, smarter streets that truly serve Bluffdale families.
Utah is now tied with Idaho and Rhode Island for the seventh most expensive housing market in the nation. As mayor, how will you approach affordability, growth and growing pains in your city?
Hall: Bluffdale has a couple of redevelopment areas, and we have an opportunity to contribute funding for moderate-income housing through these Bluffdale City Redevelopment Agency funds, bringing down the cost of rent in several areas of our city. We have also approved and allowed detached accessory dwelling units and internal accessory dwelling units to increase our housing options. Another way to contribute to the demand of affordable housing is to allow for diverse housing products.
Pavlakis: While cities can’t control the cost of housing, we can plan wisely for Bluffdale’s future. As mayor, I’ll support growth that responsibly extends infrastructure to suitable areas instead of crowding neighborhoods. I’ll promote development that protects our small-town character and reflects what residents value most. By guiding smart, resident-led growth and using transparent budgeting, we can support attainable housing while keeping Bluffdale the wonderful community we love.
Immigration has been an important issue in many communities, especially in those that are considering law enforcement partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Would you support such a partnership in your community?
Hall: Yes.
Pavlakis: Yes.
If elected, would you advocate for your community to conserve more water to aid the Great Salt Lake?
Hall: Yes.
Pavlakis: Yes.
What’s a fun or interesting fact about yourself?
Hall: I am a University of Utah graduate with a degree in marketing but spend my spare time teaching flute and cheering on our five hockey-loving kids. We had a chilled ice rink in our backyard for 10 years. Being the mayor has allowed me to encourage others to get involved in their community.
Pavlakis: I created and led Bluffdale’s Old West Days for over a decade, bringing families together and celebrating our community’s spirit. I’ve coached hundreds of athletes over 25 years, and I love finding creative ways to make events and programs memorable for everyone!