This year’s elections carry added significance as longtime County Commissioner and Chairman Scott Bartholomew prepares to retire in December after 14 years of service.

Among those seeking to fill the open seat is Planning and Zoning Commissioner Cody Harmer, who enters the race with a lengthy record of public service. Harmer previously served eight years on the Spring City Council and is also a local business owner and builder, co-owning the popular Das Café in Spring City.

Manti City Councilman A.J. Mower is widely viewed as Harmer’s strongest challenger. Mower has served three years on the Manti City Council, previously worked as a roads supervisor for the city, and is currently employed in construction with CentraCom. Both candidates come from deep Sanpete roots, with Mower noting his family’s six-generation history in Utah agriculture.

The two candidates have taken different approaches to securing a place on the ballot.

“I know I could have gotten friends to sign a petition,” Harmer said. “But I feel like the people must choose you–up or down. Go to the convention and allow the process to work. If I receive over half the votes of delegates, I feel I’ve earned my place on the ballot.”

Mower, meanwhile, opted for a more direct route.

“I went to work door to door,” he said. “I didn’t want to wait for the convention.”

Both paths are permitted under Utah law. If successful, Mower would face Harmer for the Republican nomination in the June 23, 2026, primary election.

Two additional candidates–Johnny Carter of the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office and Fairview business owner Kurt Watts–are also expected to introduce themselves to delegates during Thursday’s convention.

Key issues shaping the 2026 election include ongoing drought conditions and the management of Sanpete County’s limited water resources. Continued population growth from the Wasatch Front is placing additional strain on infrastructure, with law enforcement, road maintenance, and highway safety among the top concerns for residents.

At the same time, local politics in Spring City are drawing significant attention. A special city council meeting is scheduled for the evening of April 2, coinciding with the county GOP convention, to address two sudden vacancies on the council.

Councilmembers Marty McCain and Courtney Syme recently resigned within hours of each other, surprising residents and leaving the city with multiple open seats. Both were part of the 2025 council that faced a lawsuit filed by local citizens in Manti’s Sixth District Court.

The resignations follow a period of heightened tension in Spring City. In the November 2025 election, voters rejected the council’s approach to growth and development, including the approval of $10 million in utility bonds to be repaid by residents–costs that are often borne by developers in similar projects.

With the latest departures, four of the five councilmembers named in the lawsuit have now either been voted out or stepped down.

Former councilmember Randy Strate, who lost his seat in the 2025 election, is now backing a proposed referendum that could significantly reshape the community. The measure would allow half-acre lot sizes and permit accessory dwelling units on each property–changes that could substantially increase the size and density of the historic town.

As Sanpete County voters prepare for the months ahead, both county and city races are expected to play a key role in shaping the region’s future growth, resources, and identity.