We are best served when mayor/council members run for office as individuals with differing opinions and backgrounds. When councils work together in good faith and harmony, a synergy is created that can’t be achieved in any other way. However, a recent troubling trend is for candidates with similar ideas to run together as a block. You may have noticed campaign signs for Dave Young (mayor), Dave Spencer and LaNae Millet (both City Council members), grouped together on fences throughout the city. These candidates have the same opinions and a predetermined agenda that they will promote if elected.

Back in 2022, these same candidates along with Councilman Peterson, gained a majority on the city council and used their 4-3 vote to push their agenda. They forced city employees who disagreed with them to resign, hired an extra attorney and publicist to work for the mayor/City Council, packed the planning commission, dismantled the State Street Master Plan, proposed an Orem-only school district, commissioned a questionable feasibility study, voted to put their proposal on the ballot, hired a public relations firm to promote it and openly campaigned for it themselves. They caused considerable contention and negativity in the community. They controlled the process with their 4-3 majority and will seek to regain that 4-3 majority in this upcoming election with Crystal Muhlestein as their plus one.

I am not writing this to be mean or because I dislike any one of these candidates, but because what happened in 2022 was not healthy for our community. In 2024, they lost the 4-3 majority when people who were more objective and balanced were elected to the City Council. Have you noticed the political peace we have had in Orem since 2024? Let’s vote to keep it that way!

Virginia Sokolowsky is a resident of Orem.