From managing multimillion-dollar portfolios to running our city efficiently, Mayor Dave Young has a record that speaks for itself.

In 1992, he founded Paragon Wealth Management, where he successfully managed hundreds of millions in client funds over 40 years, without a single customer complaint. Between 1998 and 2024, his flagship Top Flight Portfolio achieved a 1,608 percent return, far surpassing the S&P 500’s 894 percent performance. He even anticipated major downturns like the “Black Monday” crash, saving clients millions, and earned Small Business of the Year honors from the Utah County Chamber of Commerce during the 2008 financial crisis.

As Mayor since 2021, Young’s record of fiscal integrity has only continued. He oversaw construction of a $37 million City Hall and other major projects without raising taxes or taking on new debt. Under his leadership, Orem earned its first-ever AAA bond rating from S&P and secured millions in state and federal grants. After hiring a new city manager, Young streamlined city operations, cutting overspending and saving taxpayers $2 million annually.

Mayor Young even put his successful career on hold to serve the people of Orem. Despite facing smear campaigns and personal attacks, he has delivered measurable results that strengthen our community. On top of his fiscal record, he stands firm for family, faith, and what is right, no matter what challenges arise.

Karen McCandless: A Troubling Financial Track Record

By contrast, Karen McCandless’s record raises serious concerns about her ability to responsibly manage Orem’s finances. During her tenure as CEO of Community Action Services and Food Bank (CASFB), a 2024 independent audit uncovered a series of alarming financial trends that call her leadership into question. Administrative costs ballooned by roughly 55% without any corresponding increase in revenue or program output. This is part of a much larger pattern showing a more than 529% increase in overhead expenses since 2017, from $243,000 to $1.45 million. This kind of unchecked growth suggests that resources were increasingly diverted from community impact to management overhead.

Meanwhile, the organization’s financial stability deteriorated rapidly. Cash reserves plummeted from $2.4 million to just $474,000, an 80% drop that signals serious overspending and weak forecasting. Net assets declined by $1.45 million, and tax filings revealed a $1.3 million loss over just the past two years. To make matters worse, the 2024 IRS Form 990, an essential transparency document, still had not been filed as of its June 2025 due date.

From a governance standpoint, these trends suggest a shift away from fiscal restraint and toward operational comfort, at the expense of those the organization was created to serve. Many observers also note that CASFB’s decision to shut down its Springville location came just months after McCandless stepped down, a closure many attribute to the same financial mismanagement outlined in the audit. Combined with her previous record on the Orem City Council, where she supported a 50% tax increase between 2001 and 2014, McCandless’s track record raises serious questions about her ability to manage Orem’s $177 million budget responsibly.

A Clear Choice for Orem’s Future

Whether managing a nonprofit or a city, the same principles apply: responsibility, transparency, and results. Mayor Dave Young has demonstrated all three. His experience, discipline, and proven track record stand in sharp contrast to the fiscal missteps and management concerns that shadow his opponent’s record.

Before casting your vote, consider what kind of leadership Orem needs. Can our city afford a return to the kind of financial instability that drives up administrative costs and drains reserves? Is being perceived as “nice” really more important than having the skill and judgment to manage a $177 million city budget responsibly?

Orem is fortunate to have a leader who combines financial acumen with integrity and results. Mayor Dave Young has delivered measurable progress for our city–strengthening finances, improving operations, and earning Orem the highest possible bond rating in its history. He has kept his promises without raising taxes, taken on tough challenges without flinching, and proven he can be trusted to manage the people’s money wisely.

In this election, the choice could not be clearer. Vote to re-elect Mayor Dave Young, because Orem deserves results, not uncertainty.

Cortt Kindrick is a resident of Orem who follows local policy and city-planning issues.