From campaign events to an extension of the election season, candidates had to wait as long as the week of Thanksgiving to learn whether or not they would be successful.

But one candidate in Ogden’s slate of municipal races would find out much earlier. The day that filings were closed, three-term incumbent Councilman Richard Hyer was the only person to file for the District 2 race.

Post-election, Hyer told the Standard-Examiner that he feels the nature of the other two council races made them more attractive for new candidates.

“I thought that the candidates were drawn to the other two vacant seats vs coming into a race against an incumbent,” he said.

Erin Hooley, Standard-Examiner file photo

Indeed, the other two council races were for seats being vacated by sitting members.

Still, Hyer said he was keeping himself busy during the campaign season, even if he wasn’t facing a challenger for his own seat.

“I remained actively involved in supporting fellow candidates during the campaign, particularly Mayor-elect Ben Nadolski,” he said. “I advocated for him, offering assistance wherever possible. My other focus remained on community needs and I am committed to collaboration within the City Council.”

With the elevation of District 4 council member Ben Nadolski to mayor-elect and the election of familiar city figures in the other two council races — Ogden businessman Shaun Myers and former Ogden Planning Commission member Dave Graf — Hyer said it’s clear that the majority of Ogden trusts in these individuals’ experience.

“I think the city is going in a positive direction. But like any organization, there will always be areas for improvement as well as course corrections that need to take place,” he said. “Overall, the citizens of Ogden love our city and the course we are on and they voted for the most qualified candidates to continue with that vision and direction.”

Photo supplied, City of Ogden

However, he noted that there is still some vocal dissatisfaction and that he would like to help in addressing it.

“We can improve our communication and messaging,” he said. “Differing opinions will always exist regarding the way things are done, with some preferring different approaches or resisting changes. … To address this dissatisfaction, my focus is on fostering open communication and actively engaging with residents. Additionally, the council does prioritize transparent decision making and adopt initiatives that demonstrate responsiveness to community concerns. Building trust through these efforts is essential in restoring confidence among city residents.”

With the Jan. 2 reorganization of the council approaching and a new mayor set to take office, Hyer said he hopes to help with that transition in his new term along with conducting the business of Ogden City.

“The goal is to promote ongoing economic development to strengthen our tax base, ensuring property taxes remain as low as possible,” he said. “I also hope to help our new City Council members and mayor in smoothly transitioning into their new roles.”