Lifelong supporter of community organizations Kenneth Richey is running against Priscilla Martinez for a vacant seat on the Ogden City Council. District 3 was represented by Doug Stevens for 16 years before deciding he would not seek another term in 2021.

As a business leader, Richey said he never expected to get involved with politics until he was approached by a handful of people in the community and pushed to run for City Council. He felt his various leadership roles with organizations in the area, and the partnerships formed, were no different than serving the community on the City Council.

Richey spent 10 years working with the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce Spikers Committee reaching out to the community and attending ribbon-cutting ceremonies as the vice head Gandy Dancer. While he no longer holds a position with OWCOC, he is still involved with them and says he always plans to be.

Richey has worked with a host of local organizations, including the Weber State Wildcat Club board and the Boy Scouts of America, affiliations that have since come to an end. As such, he is seeking a new path to become involved in his hometown.

“I feel I have a good pulse,” Richey said of his time spent working with people throughout the community.

Richey’s slogan — Safeguard Ogden’s Identity — received much criticism, he said, with some people ask him why he would want to preserve the city’s identity.

He said he’s been told by outsiders that “Ogden’s a dump.” But for Richey, it is where he was born and raised. “Some people just don’t understand,” he said.

Ogden needs safer neighborhoods, according to Richey, and improving police officer retention is how he plans to address it. After taking a ride along with Ogden Police Department, he believes officers are well trained and carry a heavy burden.

The experience was eye opening and he feels Ogden needs to do more than recognizing officers when they die in the line of fire.

The city’s budget, housing and water shortages are also on Richey’s list of priorities to address should he win the election.

As a third-generation financial advisor for New York Life Insurance with 25 years of financial experience, Richey said he’s confident he can offer the City Council a fresh pair of eyes and a new perspective.

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