OGDEN — As the jockeying for votes in the Ogden mayoral race enters the home stretch, some of the contenders’ supporters are speaking out, offering their thoughts on who ought to get the nod.

Make up your own mind, but below are some of the endorsements the hopefuls have received, both from community members and organizations. Contending for the leadership spot are Bart Blair, Oscar Mata, Chris Barragan, Ben Nadolski, Jon Greiner, Angel Castillo and Taylor Knuth.

Mail-in voting has started with ballots due on Sept. 5. The top two vote-getters move on to the November general election to see who replaces three-term Mayor Mike Caldwell, who isn’t running again.

Jon Greiner: Greiner reports the backing of Matthew Godfrey, a former Ogden mayor; John E. Lindquist of Lindquist Mortuaries and Cemeteries; Lt. Gen. Kevin Sullivan and Maj. Gen. Stephen Condon, former Hill Air Force Base commanders; and Steve Handy, a former Utah House member from Layton.

He also has the support of  Paul Wheelwright of Wheelwright Lumber, Orluff Opheikens of R&O Construction, Gary Kapp of Kapp Construction, Chuck Swanson of the Swanson Family Foundation, John Gullo of the American Dream Foundation and Sheryl Cox of Ogden Pioneer Days.

Other backers are John Clarke of Coldwell Banker, Bud Toliver of Model Linen, Suzanne Lindquist of the Ogden School Foundation, Rick Fairbanks and Alan Abdulla.

“There are more, of course, but these are the ones most Ogden-based,” Greiner said.

Chris Barragan: “I have not spent time seeking endorsements from different organizations or individuals. Maybe it’s the novice in me as a first-time candidate. Instead, I’ve been out meeting everyone in the community,” Barragan said.

Oscar Mata: Mata reports the support of Ben McAdams, the former U.S. House member; Utah Rep. Carol Spackman Moss of Salt Lake City; Jennifer Graviet, a former Utah State Board of Education board member; and Iain Hueton, a former member of the Ogden Planning Commission.

He also has the backing of the Weber County Democratic Party; the Utah State Hispanic Democratic Caucus; the family of the late LaWanna “Lou” Shurtliff, a former Utah House member from Ogden; and the family of the late Dee Smith, a former Weber County attorney.

Bart Blair: Blair said he hasn’t received any “organization endorsements.”

Taylor Knuth: Knuth reports the backing of Utah Rep. Rosemary Lesser of Ogden, Ogden City Council Chairperson Angela Choberka, Ogden school board member Stacy Bernal, Roosters Brewing Co. owner Kym Buttschardt, and Kye and Lisa Hallows, owners of Lavender Vinyl.

He also has the support of disabilities advocate Kari Harbath; Kathie Darby and Priscilla Martinez, community leaders; Patrick Ramsay, owner of Happy Magpie Book and Quill bookshop; and former Ogden City Council members Kent Jorgenson and Amy Wicks.

He’s got organizational endorsements from O2 Utah, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Run For Something and Equality Utah.

Angel Castillo: She didn’t supply a list of endorsements. But on Castillo’s website, she lists endorsements from Casey Welch, Penny Allred-Dayley, Kelly Dodge, Natalie Blair, Ed McKenney, Lutgart Adriaensens-Seawell and Bill Dodge.

Other backers include Brian Wallace, Flor Lopez, Don Salazar, C.J. Hernandez, Lew Wheelwright, Terry Wilmer, Dave Timmerman, Nancy Jones and Jamie Carter Park.

O2 Utah also backs Castillo.

Ben Nadolski: Some of the public endorsements Nadolski has received are from Delores Banks-Green, Jack and Bonnie Wahlen, Jason and Nickie Coates, Critt and Britt Aardema, and former Weber State University football Coach Dave Arslanian.

He also has the backing of Emmett and Gina White, Nate Tuatagaloa, Steve and Margit Lister, Jeff and Beth Furton, Rich and Kathy Peterson, and Judith and Leon Jones.

“Our campaign has focused on values such as faith, families and service to others rather than partisanship. As such, we have gained the support of voters and community leaders across the political spectrum,” Nadolski said.

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