OGDEN — Sebsatian Benitez has often used his voice in the Ogden City Council chambers over the last few years.

“I’ve participated in the City Council (meetings). I lose (track of) how many times I’ve been there talking,” he said.

Now, he’s making another bid to add his voice to the board.

At the close of filing last week, Benitez was among those who had filed to run for the District 4 seat.

He has run in multiple races in the past, most recently in 2021 when he lost to Bart Blair in the at-large race.

Benitez told the Standard-Examiner that he’s running, in part, to help keep giving a voice to Ogden’s large Latino population.

“I want to continue raising my voice,” he said. “We need to keep the legacy of Luis Lopez. Luis Lopez is a great representation for the Spanish-speaking population in Ogden — (Ogden is) 36% Spanish speaking. They deserve someone like Luis Lopez or someone like Sebastian Benitez to represent this percent of the community.”

Council member Lopez, who is currently the at-large representative on the council, opted not to run again in 2023.

Benitez added that he’s also running to bolster public safety in several facets and to improve parks.

He said that one of his biggest priorities, if elected, would be making sure that city government works cohesively.

“The City Council and the mayor have to work together,” he said. “We need unity. We need to be together. … It’s not just one person making a decision for our city.”

Benitez said it’s paramount that people get ready for this election.

“For the people who aren’t registered, please go and register and vote for (who) you think the best person will be,” he said.

Current District 4 council member Ben Nadolski is vacating the position to run for mayor of Ogden. Benitez is joined by Steven Van Wagoner, Austin Raymond, Alexander Castagno and Dave Graf in contesting the empty seat.

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