They range in age from 29 to 72 and include two hopefuls who have lived in the city all or nearly all of their lives and others drawn here more recently by work, the mountains and opportunity. They include a former police chief, a service station operator, a school administrator and more.

The Standard-Examiner has already asked the candidates about their views on housing, downtown development, Ogden-Hinckley Airport, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah and more. Now the hopefuls offer up some of the basics about themselves — their jobs, their connection to Ogden and more.

Mail-in ballots, due Sept. 5, are already out, and the top two vote-getters will face off in the November general election. Now for a look at the backgrounds of the seven contenders:

Name: Ben Nadolski

Age: 46

Occupation: He is regional supervisor at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. In that capacity, he oversees division operations in Northern Utah, including land management initiatives, acquisition and restoration efforts, management and conservation of water and land species, conservation outreach and management of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, among other things.

He has also worked in other capacities for the division over the years — as a wildlife and fisheries biologist, legislative affairs coordinator and policy advisor. He worked on former Gov. Gary Herbert’s Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office on a range of public land issues.

Political experience: He was first elected to the Ogden City Council in 2016 and was reelected in 2020, representing District 4, the southernmost part of the city.

Ogden roots: Nadolski came to Ogden in 1997 from Phoenix, Arizona, to play football at Weber State University on a scholarship. He has lived here ever since.

Education: He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Weber State and a master’s degree in fisheries biology from Utah State University. He graduated from high school in Phoenix.

While studying for his master’s degree, he “spent two years afield studying the biotic and abiotic factors that influenced Bonneville cutthroat trout and brook trout density and distribution in streams and rivers in the Uinta Mountains,” he said.

He has also received certifications in varied areas.

Name: Angel Castillo

Age: 55

Occupation: She runs a small marketing company that focuses on things like branding, messaging, product launch, advertising campaigns and more.

“My job duties vary from project to project as no two companies’ needs are the same. What does remain consistent is the client needs assessment, problem analysis, solution, execution strategy and milestones,” she wrote. “Sometimes I will be doing all of the work if it’s a small enough project, and other times I have to bring in team members who have very specific knowledge/experience that is needed.”

Before Ogden, she lived in Los Angeles, drawn there by “the dot.com boom,” and worked for MTV and VH1 along the way, she said. She’s worked in marketing since 2008, a mix of short projects and long-term contracts.

Political experience: She unsuccessfully ran for Ogden mayor in 2019, losing to incumbent Mike Caldwell. She served on the Ogden Planning Commission, an appointed post, for nearly two years, from April 2018 to March 2020, and has served other organizations as well in appointed positions.

Ogden roots: She experienced Ogden in 2014 when taking part in a bicycle race. “I loved it. Such beautiful mountains, trails and people,” she said.

She and her fiance waited out completion of his four-year commercial lease on property in the Los Angeles area, moving from California to Ogden in January 2018. She’s originally from Chicago.

Education: She graduated from Palatine High School in the Chicago, Illinois, area, and keeps up her education through seminars, online education programs and “a minor book-buying addiction.” She completed a continuing-education leadership program offered by Harvard Business School.

She didn’t get a bachelor’s degree, she said, due to lack of money. “I would have loved to have a typical college experience with parents footing the bill, but that was not in the cards for me. Nor was stacking incredible debt to cover the expenses full (federal student aid) doesn’t cover,” Castillo said.

Name: Taylor Knuth

Age: 30

Occupation: He serves as deputy director in the Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development. There, he “leads a team of dedicated individuals, a budget of approximately $3,500,000 and many economic development projects on behalf of our capital city,” he said.

He started his professional career at United Way of Northern Utah, serving as community services and engagement director. Then he took a post at Onstage Ogden, a local arts nonprofit, followed by a fundraising job at Weber State before taking the Salt Lake City post.

In his younger years, he worked as a paperboy and a dishwasher. While a student at Weber State, he worked for the Browning Center for Performing Arts, “where he developed a love for arts administration,” his campaign said.

Political experience: He unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Ogden City Council in 2017.

Ogden roots: He moved to Ogden in 2011 to attend Weber State University. He grew up in Clearfield, but as a kid, he and his family spent a lot of time in Ogden and the Ogden Valley.

Education: He graduated from Clearfield High School, has a bachelor’s degree in musical theater from Weber State and a master’s degree in arts administration from Southern Utah University. He’s now working on a doctorate degree in culture and society at the University of Utah.

Name: Bart Blair

Age: 50

Occupation: He helps run Blair’s Service Center at 2991 Monroe Blvd., a business that has been in family hands for more than 60 years.

“I am the third generation that has been a part of Blair’s Service Center, and I am grateful for the valuable lessons I’ve been able to learn through our business,” he said. “As owner of a small family business, I have the responsibility of managing/maintaining inventory, facility maintenance, hiring/terminating employees, managing employees, setting budgets, analyzing profit/loss, accounts receivable/accounts payable, human resources and, most importantly, head of customer service.”

Political experience: He was first elected to the Ogden City Council in 2009 and is now in his fourth term on the body.

Ogden roots: He was born and raised in the city. “I grew up on the 1400 block of Swan Street. I have lived in Ogden my whole life,” he said.

Education: He went through Ogden schools, graduating from Ogden High School. He has a bachelor’s degree from Weber State.

Name: Oscar Mata

Age: 29

Occupation: He’s dean of students at DaVinci Academy, an Ogden charter school, responsible for connecting students to post-secondary education and job opportunities. “In this role, I’ve tripled the placement rate of our students at vocational education programs and tech colleges,” he said.

He’s worked at DaVinci since 2015, serving as community outreach director at the school before taking on the dean of students role.

He’s also founder and chief financial officer of The Ethical Assessment Center. The company, formed in 2015, provides substance abuse and domestic violence assessments for clients across Utah in their efforts “to help them get their lives back on track after a mental health issue surfaces.”

Political experience: He previously ran unsuccessfully for the District 8 seat in the Utah House of Representatives and the Ogden school board. He’s vice chairperson of the Utah Democratic Party. He has been active in the Weber County Democratic Party and with local candidates for office.

Ogden roots: He moved from Payson to Ogden in 2009, when he was a high school sophomore. His mother needed medical care, determining McKay-Dee Hospital was “best-suited for her situation,” prompting the move.

Education: He graduated from DaVinci Academy in 2012.

Name: Jon Greiner

Age: 72

Occupation: He’s currently retired but worked 43 years for the City of Ogden. He served the Ogden Police Department for 38 years, 16 of them as chief, and also worked five years as manager of Ogden-Hinckley Airport, which is owned by the city.

He also served 22 years in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Political experience: He served one term in the Utah Senate, from 2007 through 2010. He previously ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Weber County Commission.

Ogden roots: He was born and raised in Ogden and has lived in the city 70 of his 72 years, with brief stints in Roy and South Ogden.

Education: He has Bachelor of Science degrees in finance-business administration and police science from Weber State and a master’s degree in social science-public administration from Utah State. He graduated from Ogden High School.

He also studied at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Name: Chris Barragan

Age: 46

Occupation: He and his wife own an Ogden bakery, Brookey Bakes at 290 25th St., and he also works as a territory manager for a health care company.

He held a fundraising post at Weber State from 2013 to 2018, the job that brought him to Ogden. Then he worked for the University of Utah School of Medicine, co-founded a fundraising consulting firm and worked at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City before taking the position he now holds with the health care firm.

Political experience: He had never run for public office before his mayoral bid.

Ogden roots: He came to Ogden in July 2013, lured by work. With four kids under 4 years old, he had just lost his job after a reorganization.

“I figured that moment was as good a time as any to pray for some help! The answer came in a position as a university fundraiser for Weber State,” he said. “Not knowing Weber State or Ogden, we packed up our family and made the best move ever!”

He came to Ogden from Boulder City, Nevada, and is originally from Half Moon Bay, California.

Education: He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a master’s in health administration from Weber State. He graduated from Half Moon Bay High School in California.