© 2024 KPCW

KPCW
Spencer F. Eccles Broadcast Center
PO Box 1372 | 460 Swede Alley
Park City | UT | 84060
Office: (435) 649-9004 | Studio: (435) 655-8255

Music & Artist Inquiries: music@kpcw.org
News Tips & Press Releases: news@kpcw.org
Volunteer Opportunities
General Inquiries: info@kpcw.org
Listen Like a Local Park City & Heber City Summit & Wasatch counties, Utah
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Wasatch County
Heber, Midway and Wasatch County

Election Preview: Wasatch County Council East

Vote.Utah.Gov

As mail-in ballots arrive in your mailbox KPCW is interviewing local candidates about their platforms. The race for the Wasatch County Council East seat features Republican party nominee Jeff Wade and Democratic party nominee Mike Dorsey.

Democratic Party Candidate Mike Dorsey has been a teacher for 44 years he explains why he’s running for the Wasatch County Council East seat.

“Danny Goode who’s on the county council encouraged me.” Dorsey said, “I kind of have thought about running for quite a long time just because I feel like everybody should take their turn and participate in the system. The other thing though is that I felt like nobody should be running unopposed. That was the reason why I ran two years ago, after running two years ago I was encouraged by people to try again. There are some things that I think are issues. One of the things as I’ve been walking around through the community I’ve gotten the message that certain parts of my particular area feel like they never have a voice on the council. So, I want to be the voice of the people from that section. My big issue right now is to see public transportation system that can connect Heber to Park City and Heber down to Provo so that senior citizens and kids could actually have a way of getting around.”

Dorsey’s opponent Republican Jeff Wade is a life-long resident of Wasatch County.

“The main reason is I just have lived in this valley my whole life and I want to keep it the place that it is.” Wade continued, “I really enjoy it here, I raised my kids here and I want it to continue to be a great place. I mean there’s some things that I think need to be worked on. Of course, the traffic situation is something that’s going to have to be worked out. My main thing is just the rural feel that this valley has always had. I think that we need to really work on how the growth continues to make sure that there is that rural feel. That it continues to have that small town feel that I know a lot of people really love.”

Dorsey says his qualifications come from his desires to serve.

“I do have an interest in people in general. I do want to serve people, as a teacher we do a lot of service with kids.” Dorsey explained, “I don’t know that I have any more qualifications than some other people. I felt like when I ran against Steve Farrell I really wasn’t as qualified as he was. I feel like I am as qualified as my opponent this time and that I do deal with people all the time. I’m really good at communicating with people and being able to work well with people and compromise to be able to make things happen.”

Wade’s claims his success as a businessman as one of his qualifications for county council.

“I’ve actually never been in politics at all and never really been involved in politics.” Wade said, “I’ve lived here my whole life, I’ve ran a number of successful businesses in this valley. I think I understand what the people want. I think I have the business tools to help with balancing budgets and doing things like that that I think will help. That’s going to be a big issue too, being able to maintain the services that we need as this valley does grow.”

Dorsey says that it’s in his nature to see needs and address them.

“I’m not somebody who sits back and just watches everybody else do things.” Dorsey continued, “I’ve run chess programs in the schools that I’ve been at for about the last 27 years, in Wasatch County I’m the one that really has been responsible for all the Wasatch County chess tournaments that we’ve had over the last eight years. I’m ready to step up and do whatever I need to and not just sit back and let other people do it.”

Wade says he’s committed to representing the majority of his constituents’ interests.

“Probably just the main thing is that if I do win I’m here to do their bidding.” Wade explained, “I’m here to work for them. Hopefully, I know we’re not all going to be on the same page on everything, but I’d really like to hopefully put forward what the majority of the people of this valley want. Do what I can to help us continue to have a nice place to live.”

That’s Jeff Wade. He’s the republican candidate for the Wasatch County Council East seat. His opponent is Democrat Mike Dorsey. for more election coverage in the Wasatch Back visit KPCW.org

KPCW reporter David Boyle covers all things in the Heber Valley as well as sports and breaking news.
Related Content