On paper, the results of the 2025 Provo Mayoral election showed a near toss up in the residents’ candidate preferences, with Marsha Judkins defeating incumbent Michelle Kaufusi by just 422 votes out of 16,984. 

A breakdown of the election by precincts, though, uncovers how fragmented the city actually was in its voting behavior, with Judkins winning more than 60% of the vote in many west and south precincts, and Kaufusi showing equal dominance in many north and east precincts. 

Three months into her first term of office, Judkins is conscious of these divides, and said she wants to help foster an environment that ties the city together and gives people from every neighborhood a say in their government.

This is Part 2 of a recap of the Daily Herald’s conversation Monday with Judkins. 

“I just want people to feel empowered,” Judkins said. “People can sway elections in any area of the city, and that’s political power that I think needs to be heard. So I’m hoping that people all over the city feel empowered to get out and vote. If we could just get everybody to vote, it would be my dream, whether they voted for me or not. I don’t care. I just think people need to feel like they can have a say in their city government.”

Judkins said historically, the west side, where she hails from, has traditionally not had political power in the city. She cited a lack of gathering spaces in the area as a reason. 

“We’ve just been kind of on our own for a long time,” she said. 

The fact that Judkins was elected suggests that times have changed.  With her mayoral authority Judkins is committed to representing her westside constituents. 

One way she has done so is working with the parks department to open westside fields to public access. Starting this month, one field each at Epic Sports Park, Footprinter Park and Fort Utah Park will be accessible when they’re not in competitive use, she said. 

The other ongoing west side hot topic is a grocery store. 

Judkins is opposed to bringing a Walmart Supercenter to south Provo, something that was approved by the planning commission last year with some conditions, but has yet to come to the city council for a rezoning vote. 

She said it will box out grocery stores from finally going into west and southeast Provo — locations she said have gotten some interest and would enhance those communities. 

“Four (grocery stores) have shown interest in saying “Hey, we want to do this, but we don’t want to do it if Walmart comes in.'” Judkins said. “There are people who say ‘Yeah, but you’ve had a lot of time to get a grocery store down there.’ That was because Smith’s was hanging over (the city’s) head. So nobody wanted to go in, because if Smith’s went in, that would be bad for them. And then as soon as we get that taken care of, we’re courting Walmart.”

The decision, though, will ultimately be the city council’s. Judkins said she recognizes this was already in play before she got into office, but said she hopes she can sway the council to side with her on the issue. 

“A grocery store has been really important to the west side for so long, and if putting a Walmart in means we don’t get that, to me, that’s going to cause more of a divide,” Judkins said.

Regardless of what happens, the east-west divide runs deeper than a zoning or retail decision. Judkins said she is setting out to pull the whole community together, and early in her first term, her ideas are plentiful.

One thing Judkins started  is hosting town halls. The first one was held at the city library, the second will be at the rec center during senior lunch. She said she hopes to do some at parks around Provo this year, hearing people’s feedback and letting them know what’s happening in other parts of town.

“Sometimes it’s just hearing a different point of view,” Judkins said. “Because when I go to the west side, when I’m talking to them, and if they start talking about the east side, or whatever it is, I can say, ‘You know what? Here’s what we’re doing for you, and here’s the sacrifices they’re making.’ I think we just need to hear the other point of view.”

Judkins also said she wants to get more geographic diversity on the number of city boards and commissions, which include the library board, ag commission, planning commission, arts commission, and the landmarks commission, among others. People will be able to apply for open board positions on the incoming city transparency portal, she said.

“A lot of times it’s just the same people, because nobody really knows (about it),” she said.

Other ideas involve event plans. The city is working to put on the Rooftop Concert Series again. She also has visions of rewriting the city’s transportation master plan to include more public transportation.

“I just think community is vital, and creating situations where communities can be together is vital,” Judkins said.