Though the final pick came down to heads or tails, you can’t exactly say the Salt Lake City Council’s choice of Jennifer Napier-Pearce to fill its seat representing District 4 went entirely by chance.

The veteran journalist, ex-adviser to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and prominent nonprofit executive bubbled up from among 20 people interviewed by the council. Her lively pitch to the panel quickly landed her on a shortlist of three in an initial round of voting. She then won by a coin toss, edging out Scott Lyttle, nonprofit leader-turned-entrepreneur and owner of Tea Zaanti.

Among other things, Napier-Pearce, former editor of The Salt Lake Tribune, is promising to listen carefully and to bring stability to representation for the district spanning neighborhoods in downtown, Central City, Central Ninth and the east-central area — following the rocky ouster of her predecessor, Eva Lopez Chavez.

Here’s a quick Q&A from the newest member of the City Council:

What elements of your background do you think are most important for residents of Salt Lake City’s District 4 to know?

I’ve lived in Salt Lake City for 25-plus years with 15 of those in District 4. I raised my kids here, I work on Main Street downtown and care deeply about our capital city. I promise to use the skills I relied on for 20-plus years as a journalist — researching, listening and asking hard questions to understand complex problems — to serve the people of District 4.

What top issues facing the district motivated you to seek a seat on the council?

The district is growing at a break-neck pace and we need more housing options to meet the demand, especially for those with low and middle incomes. I want people to know that it’s possible to live, work, play and raise a family in the city, and that starts with housing at a variety of price points.

We also need to make sure our streets, parks and public spaces are beautiful, walkable and safe. Even as we provide excellent basic services, we’re the capital city and should be a showpiece for residents and visitors alike.

We have a tremendous opportunity to prepare Salt Lake City to host the world again in 2034, so I want to take advantage of this period of change to work together to beautify our city and make strategic investments that will enhance our quality of life for years to come.

What do you believe are some of the city’s most significant challenges?

We need more housing with a mix of housing options. We need the many new high-end apartments being constructed in downtown and around our urban core, and we also need to make it easier to build housing at every income level.

We should also work to preserve our historic downtown areas, and make sure that unique character doesn’t get lost in the transition.

And we can’t bring more people into the city without addressing congestion. We have to make sure our roads are well maintained and safe for cars, pedestrians and bikes while also making bus and TRAX service more practical and affordable.

What are your top examples of what the city does well?

Quality of life is tied to good public spaces, places where people can gather, recreate and explore, and the city has done a great job creating vibrant, walkable and welcoming corridors throughout the city. We just need more pocket parks, public art, trails, playgrounds, etc. as we grow.

Salt Lake City also has such a rich multicultural, multigenerational population and an eclectic vibe that I love, with historic districts, new high-rises, award-winning restaurants, nightlife and unique shopping experiences.

Downtown is a key portion of District 4. What do you see as its top challenges?

We need to make sure the capital city stays the state’s preeminent center for commerce, arts and entertainment. That means making sure our downtown is welcoming, clean and safe for everyone. Inflation and economic uncertainty are straining our local businesses, so I’d like to explore ways to keep businesses and the good paying jobs they provide in the downtown core.