Cottonwood Heights Mayor Mike Weichers will face one challenger in his quest for a second term leading the suburb.
Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion, D-Cottonwood Heights, seeks to replace Weichers, who has led the city since 2022. Bennion has served in the Utah House of Representatives since 2021.
In his time as mayor, Weichers has served as the chair of the board of trustees for Unified Fire Authority and as a commissioner for the Central Wasatch Commission.
The Salt Lake Tribune sent a survey to candidates in Salt Lake County’s municipal mayoral elections. Answers may be edited for style and clarity. Here’s how Bennion and Weichers responded, 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?
Bennion: The biggest problems we face are transparency and short-term profit mindset. What I hear from citizens is the desire for balance and to thrive. I’ll ensure development on sensitive lands — such as the gravel pit — gives high priority to recommendations from geologists. The prior City Council set a limit of six stories for commercial development. Now an approved 12-story building sets precedence in the gravel pit. We need a community-driven approach that does not confuse short-term growth with long-term goals: water conservation, wildfire mitigation, street safety and mobility.
Weichers: We have many seniors on fixed incomes who are losing disposable income due to all of the taxing entities on property taxes raising their rates. We have worked hard over the last four years to not raise our rate and plan on increasing efficiencies and cutting costs to continue to keep our rate as low as possible.
What transportation improvements will you pursue to help residents get around easily, quickly and safely?
Bennion: With growing canyon demand, regional transit hubs would reduce traffic in our city. For Little Cottonwood Canyon (would also benefit Wasatch Boulevard), University of Utah students are studying proposals of a flex bus lane (would be a two-way bike lane outside the ski season) and an intelligent transportation system app. A “Complete Streets” citizen committee could propose where to best help residents improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Our state invests $45 million annually into an active transportation system. We need Complete Streets to get our residents to the system.
Weichers: I led an initiative to restore the third lane on Highland Drive that was lost a few years ago going south toward Ft. Union Boulevard. The loss of that lane has created congestion for many parts of the day for those travelers. We also obtained a state grant that will pay for the redesign and changes to the road. I am also fully supportive of the Intermodal Hub at the gravel pit that will allow for enhanced busing to ski resorts during peak hours.
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?
Bennion: Serving on Utah’s Strategic Housing Plan Technical Committee taught me a lot. While the state population grows, our city shrinks and schools close. We need housing options for seniors who may downsize and for young families. Residents are right to demand transparency from city leaders, and decisions free from profit-driven influence. I have no ties to developers, title companies, or finance. As mayor, I’ll serve the people, always. I’ll lead community discussions on affordable solutions like flex-ready and other missing middle homes, and work to cut building costs and approval delays.
Weichers: I do not believe in having a city subsidize housing. I believe the root cause of affordability is supply and demand and we live in a desirable location in Cottonwood Heights. I do believe we have a responsibility to allow for density in strategic locations that will not detract from our city’s suburban character.
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?
Bennion: No.
Weichers: No.
If elected, would you advocate for your community to conserve more water to aid the Great Salt Lake?
Bennion: Yes.
Weichers: Yes.
What’s a fun or interesting fact about yourself?
Bennion: People ask what got me involved in politics. Women’s State Legislative Council of Utah! It’s a 105-year-old, bipartisan women’s group that meets at the Capitol and works for better state policies. Look into it if you want to be more involved and better understand our state!
Weichers: My brother and I both played college football and another brother played tennis collegiately. I come from a family that loves athletics and being outdoors. I have coached little league football and basketball with my kids and coached high school football at Brighton High School.