Unfortunately, large numbers of us don’t do any of these things, which is also a choice we have because we are free. The real question is how do we best preserve these freedoms? We are approaching another municipal election year, and each of us will make some of those decisions this year without ever being aware of what’s going on around us in our local political world.

Cottonwood Heights is holding a General Election on November 3, 2009. We will be electing a Mayor and two City Council members to serve four-year terms beginning on January 4, 2010. Candidate filing is now completed. 

 

Cottonwood Heights Election 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is no excuse not to vote. Exercise that right by registering, learning about the candidates, and then casting an informed vote by mail, by early voting, or on Election Day at the polls.

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Cottonwood Heights is holding a General Election Tuesday, November 3, 2009. This election will be held in all council districts, but only districts 3 and 4 have contested races, and district 4 has a write-in candidate. District #3 went through a Primary Election on September 15 and Don Antczak and Nicole Omer were the top two vote-getters. They will face off against each other in the General Election. In district #4, incumbent Bruce Jones, who head filed to run for that seat, has removed his name from the ballot; Bob Warnick has filed a write-in candidacy to run against Tee Tyler whose name will be on the ballot. Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore is also running for re-election but is unopposed.  

 

Council District #3 consists of the northeast quarter of the city. Its boundaries are the Holladay City line on the north, Highland Drive on the west, Wasatch Blvd. to the east and Fort Union Blvd. on the south. Added to that district is the area from Fort Union south to Bengal Blvd., between Highland Drive and 2300 East, and Fort Union south to Cavalier Dr. (approximately 7300 South), between 2300 East and 2700 East.

Council District #4 is everything south of Fort Union Blvd., between approximately 3000 East and the eastern, western and southern boundaries of Butler Hill (see council district maps at www.cottonwoodheights.utah.gov).

Voting locations are mostly the same as usual, with a couple of exceptions. To be safe, check your polling location on page 8 of this paper or at www.clerk@slco.org/elections/2009, You can also call the county clerk’s office at 801-468-3427.

It is also possible to vote early by going to the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office, 2001 S State Street, #S1100, weekdays from 8 to 5, between October 5 and October 30, 2009. Early voting is also possible at the Cottonwood Heights City Offices – 1265 East Fort Union Bolvd., #250, weekdays from 9 to 5, between October 20 and October 30, 2009.

All voters should be aware that there are new voting requirements for 2009. Voters must present identification (ID) at the polls before voting. The ID must be current and show a name and photograph of the voter (Driver’s License, Utah Identification Car, U.S. Passport). If one doesn’t have an ID they can provide two (2) different documents that show their name and current address and be able to vote. Additional information on Municipal Election requirements are available at: www.clerk.slco.org/elections/2009.

It is now possible to register on-line to vote in the next election. By going to the clerk’s website at www.clerk.slco.org, one can access the registration page and follow instructions there.

 

Brief biographies on the District #3 and District #4 candidates follow:

 

Don Antczak is a lifetime resident of Cottonwood Heights, born and raised in what was then known as Butlerville. He graduated from Jordan High School and attended the University of Utah. He married Maryellen Sjoblom 57 years ago. They have two sons, a daughter, twelve grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Don worked for forty-five years in the retail clothing industry, the last 17 years as the men’s clothing buyer for ZCMI. Since retirement, he has been in real estate sales. He has served in many church and community leadership positions. While serving as Chairman of Cottonwood Heights Community Heights Recreation Service District and served as a Trustee from its inception in 1967 until 2006.

He was one of five official sponsors of the Cottonwood Heights City incorporation and presently serves as the Councilman for District #3. His Council assignment is liaison to Parks & Recreation, Arts Council, and Historical Committee.

 

Nicole Omer has lived in Cottonwood Heights, District #3, for nine years. She moved to the City after completing dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Business and Chemistry at Southern Utah University. After moving to the Cottonwood Heights area, she completed a Masters of Business Administration at the University of Utah Hospital.

Nicole is experienced in several professional fields including healthcare research, administration and development, clinical services, finance, and private equity and consulting. Each of the positions she has held has involved taking new departments, divisions, or companies to and through the next stage of strategic growth. Nicole currently works in healthcare administration at the University of Utah Hospital.

She is active in several local volunteer organizations, including the Salt Lake Marathon, and Camp Hobe’ (a summer camp for children with cancer). She also sits on the University of Utah Staff Council. Many of Nicole’s immediate and extended family members also live in the Cottonwood Heights area.

 

City Council District Four:

Tee Tyler has been a resident of Cottonwood Heights for over 33 years. He is a 1972 graduate of BYU and has worked in the banking business since the time. He and his wife Debbie, who is currently a member of the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Service Area Board of Trustees, have four children and 10 grandchildren. Tee and Debbie recently completed three years of volunteer work with the Salt Lake Valley Youth Detention Center.

A few years after graduation from BYU, Tee began his career as a banker with United Savings Bank/Western Mortgage. After 21 years with that company, part of which was as Regional Manager over residential lending, he moved to Zion’s Bank where he continued his banking career for 10 years. While there he became the Manager of the Residential Mortgage Lending Department. He retired from banking a few years ago and is currently employed by Surety Title Company of Utah. In his professional career, he also was President of the Utah Mortgage Lending Association.

Tee has worked as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Utah and has been involved in their fund-raising efforts. He also has been a volunteer for Salt Lake Neighborhood Housing, which is another organization that helps people get into new homes. This organization is a national non-profit organization that works to improve the housing in larger cities by tearing down old homes and building new ones.

 

Bob Warnick has lived half of his adult life in Cottonwood Heights. He first moved to this area in 1966 and has lived here for a total of 21 years since that time, including the last 16 years in his current home in district 4. Bob has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration Degree, both from the “U.” He and his wife Carol Julian will have been married 49 years in November. They have four children and 19 grand-children.

Bob has worked in both the public and private sectors. He has been a real estate/property management broker and an administrator for government and private business entities. His experience includes: city and county administrator, city recorder, adjunct instructor at University of Phoenix, special-interest group administrator. He has held elective positions with Cottonwood Heights Community Council, American Fork City Council, Utah County Commission, and Utah Legislature.

Bob was on the Cottonwood Heights’ incorporation committee and wrote much of the informational material used in that campaign. He worked as a volunteer recorder following the election, and took minutes for the newly elected city council. He currently works part-time as the Public Relations Officer. He writes and edits monthly News Journal. He is a military veteran and has been a volunteer in Little League, United Way, Utah Arthritis Foundation, Utah Valley Economic Development, American Fork Steel Days Chair, and in various service clubs.