Dear Draper City,
I am writing as a Draper resident of over 25 years to express my outrage regarding Mayor Troy Walker’s endorsement of Kathryn Dahlin in the current City Council race. While I understand that a mayor may legally endorse candidates, I believe that doing so is ethically questionable and reflects poor judgment.
The role of the City Council is designed to serve as a system of checks and balances to the mayor — not to operate as an aligned extension of the mayor’s priorities or preferred political circle. When a sitting mayor publicly supports and promotes a specific candidate for the council, it raises serious concerns about impartiality and independence within our local governing structure. The appearance of “stacking the council” with allies not only undermines community trust, but it erodes the foundational balance that ensures decisions are made with broad representation and accountability.
Our local government functions best when elected officials are encouraged to think independently, represent diverse viewpoints, and engage in healthy debate. A council that is shaped or influenced by the mayor risks losing the ability to provide necessary oversight. Regardless of legality, the ethics and optics of this situation are poor and diminish confidence in our city’s governance.
I encourage the council to review and consider strengthening Draper’s policies regarding public official endorsements in local races and to take steps to preserve the independence and integrity of our municipal government.
For this and this reason alone, I will not be voting for Mayor Walker or Ms. Dahlin in the coming election.
Chris Bell, Draper
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