Provo Municipal Council candidate Ari Emmanuel Webb was disqualified from the race due to not submitting financial disclosure statements by the deadline. He was running for the open Citywide II seat.

Webb said between work and his studies, he “lost track of time” and didn’t submit his financial disclosures as required.

“I was disappointed, but it was to be expected,” Webb said.

Provo city code requires candidates to submit financial disclosures 21 days and seven days before the primary election, 28 days after the primary election, 21 days and seven days before the general election and 28 days after the general election.

Heidi Allman, Provo city recorder, said she has been reminding candidates of disclosure deadlines a week before as well as the day before.

Allman told the Daily Herald she reached out to Webb the day before and the day of one of the deadlines and was unable to reach him, leading to his disqualification.

Webb confirmed that the city attempted to contact him and added the city wasn’t at fault. “I very much take responsibility for it,” he said.

For voters who have already returned their mail-in ballots and cast a vote for a disqualified candidate, it isn’t possible to change their vote to another candidate, said Tony Lara, elections specialist for the Utah County Clerk’s Office. Those voters will have their ballots tabulated as normal, Lara said, but any votes for Webb won’t be included.

Since he will not be in the race, Webb is endorsing Joseph Penrose for council, saying they agreed on many of the same issues and both wanted to focus on addressing homelessness in Provo.

Despite being disqualified, Webb said his experience running for council was “amazing” and added he plans to run for office again but will wait until he has more time to focus on a campaign.

Webb encouraged citizens to go out and vote next week, adding he especially urges young people to participate in the primaries.

The remaining candidates for the Citywide II seat are Joseph Penrose, Gary Garrett, Wendy Ahlman, Tanner Bennett, McKay Jensen and Nathan Smith Jones.

The primary election is on Tuesday. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Monday or returned to a drop box or voting location by Election Day. Voters can find their nearest in-person voting location at votesearch.utah.gov.

Newsletter