During his 2021 campaign, Mecham signed a formal agreement with Woodbury Corporation, the developer of University Place, allowing him to post campaign signs on their property in exchange for specific terms.

That act showed poor judgment and certainly not good governance. Woodbury is one of Orem’s most prominent developers, regularly seeking zoning approvals and city concessions. By entering into that arrangement, Mecham created an ongoing conflict of interest that would require him to recuse himself from any Woodbury-related decisions. Orem voters deserve council members who are independent of special interests — not indebted to them.

Misusing His BYU Title for Political Gain

Despite BYU’s strict policy prohibiting employees from using the university’s name or affiliation in political campaigns, Mecham has repeatedly used his BYU title on campaign materials and mailers, describing himself as:

“College professor who teaches courses on government at Brigham Young University.” and “BYU Professor…”

He did this knowing full well he shouldn’t, exploiting a respected institution to lend credibility to his campaign. Ethical leaders follow the rules even when it’s inconvenient — not when it suits them politically.

Recruiting Students for Campaign Work

In his 2021 campaign, Mecham solicited students through email to distribute campaign flyers and materials. Students later said they were paid for their time but had no idea what his positions were — they were simply “helping their professor.”

Using one’s position of authority for political benefit is a clear lapse in judgment and a violation of basic professional ethics. “Good governance” starts with integrity — not with leveraging students and university resources for personal gain.

Cronyism in City Committees

Mecham currently serves as chair of the Orem Natural Resources Stewardship Committee, now in his third term, even though historic city policy limits members to two terms. When his second term expired, Councilmember Jenn Gale — a Stronger Together member — requested a special exception to keep him in place. That courtesy wasn’t offered to anyone else. This is cronyism, plain and simple — bending historical policy to benefit political allies.

Vague Promises, Troubling Hints

Mecham’s campaign website features broad slogans like “A better State Street,” but offers no details on how he would achieve it. Even more concerning, at a recent cottage meeting, Mecham was heard saying he could support high-density housing in certain areas. Which areas? Could it be near your home?

Voters deserve clear positions, not open-ended statements that could later justify developer-driven projects Orem doesn’t want or need.

Political Alignments and Hidden Background

Mecham is endorsed by nearly every Stronger Together leader — Jenn Gale, Tom MacDonald, Margaret Black, Chuck Bearce, Karen McCandless, Sam Lentz, Chris Kilpack, Amy Poole, and Anna Greene.

He now markets himself as conservative, yet previously served as a speechwriter for Hillary Clinton — a fact absent from his campaign materials. If he’s proud of his background, why hide it? Selective transparency isn’t honesty — and it’s certainly not good governance.

Public service demands trust, honesty, and accountability. Orem deserves leaders who don’t just talk about good governance — they live it every day.

Col. (R) Curtis Wood is a concerned Orem citizen.