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Candidates for Ogden City Council districts 1, 3 lay out pitches to constituents

By Staff | Aug 7, 2025

Mitch Shaw, Standard-Examiner file photo

The Ogden Municipal Building is shown in this undated photo.

OGDEN — The following is a questionnaire that was distributed to candidates for open seats on the Ogden City Council.

Seats for districts 1 and 3 are both open this year — as are at-large Seat A and at-large Seat B, whose candidates had their responses printed separately.

The Aug. 12 primary election will see voters narrow down the field until each contest has two candidates each.

Answers and formatting have largely been kept as submitted to the Standard-Examiner.

District 1

Jase Reyneveld

What (if any) prior or ongoing political/organizational experience do you have?

“Served as a Special Warfare Officer in the Air Force for 10 years including a deployment to CENTCOM running operations in Iraq and Syria for CJTF-OIR, own and operate a small business consulting firm for the past 5 years helping to bring innovative technology into the DoD.”

Why are you running for this position?

“I am running for the District 1 City Council Seat because I believe I can represent Central Ogden voters with courage and common sense. I recognize that candidates who have never served on the council must be careful about making promises to voters that cannot be kept, but I am committed to communicating with the residents of my district to make sure their concerns and priorities are effectively relayed to city leadership. I believe I am well-suited for the job because I live, work, and shop here in District 1 and I interact with folks in Central Ogden everyday so I am intimately familiar with the primary issues facing our particular neighborhoods.”

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing your municipality?

“The biggest challenge for Ogden City as a corporation is balancing the cost of providing a range of services and maintaining infrastructure while attempting to develop the downtown area into a more attractive place for residents and visitors. I think some of the challenges for the residents of my district are making ends meet with rising costs of housing, food, property taxes, and utilities as well as a general dilapidation of the area (sidewalks, roads, older homes etc) that creates a disparity with other parts of Ogden.”

If elected, what would be your priorities?

“My priorities will be to improve the road conditions and sidewalks in Central Ogden and modify traffic flows to reduce driving speeds on roads that are primarily residential. I will not support higher property taxes or new spending obligations that do not align with the Ogden Corporation’s core responsibilities to its citizens. I will work to find ways to encourage private development into Ogden (that do not use taxpayer dollars) as well as strategies to attract small businesses that will create more employment opportunities for locals and family-friendly environments and services that help to build a more vibrant culture.”

Where should people go to get more information about your campaign?

jasereyneveld.com

Flor Lopez

What (if any) prior or ongoing political/organizational experience do you have?

“I have ongoing experience in community organizing and advocacy. I’ve worked closely with local organizations to promote civic engagement, support small businesses, and advocate for underserved communities. I’ve also supported other local candidates in their campaigns–making calls, and helping mobilize voters–because I believe in building leadership that reflects our values. While I haven’t held elected office myself, I’ve led and participated in initiatives that bring people together to address local concerns, and I’ve worked with city departments and nonprofits to help improve access to resources. My focus has always been on empowering residents and ensuring their voices are heard.”

Why are you running for this position?

“I’m running for Ogden City Council because I believe our community deserves a stronger voice–one that understands the daily struggles of working families, small business owners, and underrepresented residents. As someone who lives, works, and raises a family here, I know the importance of safe neighborhoods, accessible housing, and opportunities for all. I’ve spent years advocating for our community through grassroots efforts, supporting local candidates, and working alongside organizations that uplift our city. But advocacy alone isn’t enough–we need leaders at the table who will listen, take action, and truly represent the people. I’m running to bring accountability, transparency, and a deep commitment to service back to city government. I want Ogden to grow in a way that honors our history, strengthens our economy, and ensures no one is left behind. I’m ready to fight for the future our community deserves.”

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing your municipality?

“One of the biggest challenges Ogden faces is ensuring that growth benefits everyone–not just developers or newcomers, but also long-time residents, families, and small businesses. We’re seeing rising housing costs, gentrification pressures, and a lack of affordable options for working-class families. At the same time, infrastructure and public services haven’t kept pace with our city’s growth. We also need to address public safety in a way that builds trust between law enforcement and the community, especially in underserved neighborhoods. Economic development is crucial, but it must include equitable access to opportunities, workforce training, and support for local entrepreneurs. Another major challenge is protecting our city’s unique character and history while moving forward with smart, inclusive planning. These issues are all connected, and tackling them requires a city council that listens, acts boldly, and puts people first. I’m committed to helping create that kind of leadership for Ogden.”

If elected, what would be your priorities?

“If elected, my top priorities will be affordable housing, public safety, and economic opportunity. I want to ensure every Ogden resident can find safe, affordable places to live without being pushed out by rising costs. I will work to strengthen community policing efforts that build trust and keep neighborhoods safe for all. Supporting small businesses and creating workforce development programs will be key to growing our local economy and providing good jobs. Additionally, I will prioritize investing in infrastructure and public services to keep up with our city’s growth, making Ogden more accessible and livable. Finally, I’m committed to preserving our city’s unique history and culture while promoting sustainable development that benefits everyone. My goal is to build an inclusive, vibrant Ogden where all residents feel valued and have a real chance to thrive.”

Where should people go to get more information about your campaign?

www.florlopez.com, https://www.facebook.com/florlopezforogden/, https://www.instagram.com/florforogden/

District 3

Ken Richey

What (if any) prior or ongoing political/organizational experience do you have?

“I’ve served over the past 4 years on the City Council representing District 3. I’ve also served as Vice Chair of the Council in 2023 and Chair of the Council 2024.”

Why are you running for this position?

“Over the past 4 years, I’ve learned a great deal about our city, how the Council works, and what it takes to lead effectively. I’m running for a 2nd term because I believe my experience will help me make thoughtful, informed decisions as we continue to address big challenges–like affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and economic development, especially in the North end. It’s been a privilege to serve, listen to neighbors, and advocate for what matters most–public safety, clean parks, and strong, connected community.”

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing your municipality?

“Population growth trends suggest we are behind on the number of housing units needed and that shortage is increasing. We need to plan effectively for appropriate high density housing. The general plan update currently underway is a big step in that direction. In addition, working on strategies to preserve and revitalize the naturally occurring affordable housing in Ogden through the Quality Neighborhood Initiative are working and should be continued. There is no magic wand to fix the infrastructure challenges of the city. We do have a consistent, and well thought out approach to systematically address these challenges while being nimble and responsive to unanticipated system failures. We should continue to support these efforts. Over the past 4 years we’ve taken important steps to ensure our police and fire are appropriately compensated which has led to full staffing and positive moral. Crime is down and continued support is needed to ensure the safety of our neighborhoods.”

If elected, what would be your priorities?

“Continue working alongside city administration and other council members to support economic development, affordable housing efforts and public safety. We are in a good position with so many good things happening around the city. There is positive momentum with redevelopment and revitalization. The general plan and zone updates are being completed and will serve as a framework for many decisions that need to be made. In addition, harnessing the excitement of the 2034 Olympics to make smart improvements as we prepare to welcome the world to Ogden.”

Where should people go to get more information about your campaign?

www.voterichey.com

Heath Satow

What (if any) prior or ongoing political/organizational experience do you have?

“For seven years, I’ve attended nearly every Ogden work session and council meeting, listening, learning, and speaking up. I’ve gotten a real feel for how City Hall operates. My 35 years as a public artist means I turn big ideas into reality, from a major sculpture for a cancer center to a 9/11 memorial and the centerpiece sculpture for the new Weber-Morgan Children’s Justice Center. This work demands creative problem-solving, organization, and ensuring projects don’t just ‘work,’ but work right, every time. I’ve navigated permits, road closures, and government hurdles nationwide. This hands-on experience, combined with my commitment to our community, is why I’m running. I want our government to foster, not frustrate, our best ideas.”

Why are you running for this position?

“I didn’t plan to run for city council. I planned on doing what I’ve done for the past seven years: show up, ask questions, take notes, and hold decision-makers accountable. After sitting through meeting after meeting, watching deals get pushed through without real answers, seeing small businesses struggle to open their doors, and seeing neighbors getting priced out, I realized something. If we wait for someone else to step up, we could lose the Ogden we love. So I said yes. Not because I wanted a title, but because this is my home. I believe in showing up. I believe in doing the work, asking the hard questions, and standing up for our families and neighbors. That is why I’m running: to kick the tires on every deal and make sure Ogden decisions put our community first.”

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing your municipality?

“The biggest challenge we face is that we’ve let too much slide for decades. Water lines, roads, and sidewalks are starting to see some attention. But the truth is, we’re playing catch-up. Past administrations focused on giving land and tax breaks to developers. That made sense in the 80s, when Ogden was struggling. But the giveaways continued long after we were back on our feet. While those deals keep coming, the basics get left behind. The things we all rely on haven’t always been prioritized. Second, housing. Regular people are stuck in a maze of zoning and permit delays. Want to build a rental for your mom or open a small shop? You’ll easily wait a year, sometimes two. Third, trust. People feel like decisions are made behind closed doors. We need to take care of home first, fix what’s been neglected, and bring neighbors back into the conversation.”

If elected, what would be your priorities?

“My priorities come straight from what I’ve seen as a neighbor, sitting in those city council meetings for the last seven years. First, we need to fix what’s under our feet. I’ve tripped over enough cracked sidewalks and driven enough rutted streets to know we’ve got serious catch-up to do. We need to prioritize taking care of what we already have. Second, we’ve got to stop making everyday people wait a year or more just to build a home addition or open a small business. Our zoning and permit process needs to work for neighbors, not just big developers with lawyers on speed dial. And third, we’ve got to restore trust. When public comment is cut short or deals get passed and neighbors don’t even understand what happened, we’ve lost our way. I’m running to ask the hard questions and stand up for neighbors who call Ogden home.”

Where should people go to get more information about your campaign?

heath4ogden.com

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