OGDEN -- A jubilant Mike Caldwell thanked campaign supporters and voters Tuesday night for electing him mayor while promising to keep the city on the path to continued prosperity.
"Hopefully, you won't have to listen to how we talk," Caldwell told dozens of supporters at a victory party at the Ogden Marriott Hotel downtown. "You get to see what we do. We are going to get to work."
Caldwell, who has never held an elected office, also praised the hard work of his campaign staff who went door to door to meet voters and placed signs throughout the city.
"I can't tell you how well it went," he said during his victory speech. "I can't thank you for all you have done."
Caldwell, 40, Weber County's public information officer and manager of the Weber County Ice Sheet, defeated challenger City Councilman Brandon Stephenson. Caldwell received 4,281 votes to Stephenson's 2,656.
The election drew a voter turnout of about 24 percent.
Stephenson, 42, congratulated Caldwell on his victory.
"I've gotten to know Mike and know he will do a great job. I wish him well," he said. "I will give him any support he needs."
Stephenson said he is proud of his volunteer campaign.
Caldwell takes office in January, succeeding Matthew Godfrey, who did not seek a fourth term.
During his campaign, Caldwell said he will take time to get to know the city's various department leaders to determine their challenges and explore ways to foster teamwork.
He also promised to work with existing businesses to expand and hire more employees and to establish a favorable business climate to attract new companies.
Caldwell wants to the city to continue to work closely with the Governor's Office of Economic Development and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah to achieve his goal of bringing at least 3,000 new jobs to the downtown area over four years.
Caldwell also aims to increase tourism-related revenue by 25 percent during his first term.
Caldwell intends to establish community councils made up of residents from neighborhoods throughout Ogden who would provide recommendations on crime prevention, infrastructure improvements and other quality-of-life issues.
Caldwell said he will also keep lines of communication open with the city council.
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