Why Balance Matters

Written By Ari Ioannides

Very few issues before the Summit County Council are partisan, so why is having balanced representation on the council important?

The answer is simple: diversity of ideas and viewpoints leads to better decisions. While most issues before the council are not partisan, Balanced representation provides many advantages to our community.

  • Representation from the county's east side will bring a much-needed perspective to the council.

  • Bipartisan representation gives a voice to residents in Summit County who feel like representatives from Park City represent them.

  • Having balanced representation builds community trust in our governance process.

  • Republicans govern most Towns and Municipalities in Summit County. A bipartisan County Council will promote regional goodwill and regional collaboration.

  • Having a Republican on the council will help knock down barriers and work with leaders in the state government.

Understanding HB 356 and the Redistricting Process in Summit County

In the 2024 legislative session, the Utah Legislature passed HB 356, requiring Summit County to transition from at-large County Council elections to a district-based system. This marks a significant change in how residents will elect local leaders—and it’s important that the facts are clear.

Why the Change?

Historically, all five County Council seats in Summit County were elected at-large, meaning every voter cast ballots for every seat, regardless of geography. While that system works for Park City and the Snyderville Basin, it favors population centers and diminishes representation from smaller or more rural communities. HB 356 aims to address this by requiring five geographically drawn districts, each electing one council member.

This model is already used in most other Utah counties, school boards, and the legislature. It’s based on the principle of equal representation, ensuring that voices from across the county—Park City, the Snyderville Basin, North Summit, South Summit, and everywhere in between—have a fair opportunity to elect someone from their community.

How the Process Works

A Districting Commission has been formed, consisting of:

  • One representative from each municipality in Summit County (including Hideout),

  • One from unincorporated areas (currently Malena Stevens),

  • And the County Clerk (Eve Furse, non-voting).

The commission is meeting throughout the summer to draft a map that creates five roughly equal-population districts using 2020 Census data. These districts must fall within a 10% deviation in population size to comply with federal law.

Key dates:

  • Final map due: October 1, 2025

  • Public hearing: To be held within 30 days of map submission

  • Implementation: Districts will be used in the 2026 election cycle

Addressing Common Concerns

There has been public debate about the process and the bill. Some concerns raised include:

  • Commission makeup: The current structure follows the model used in other Utah counties. While two-thirds of Summit County residents live in unincorporated areas, all municipalities have unique needs and perspectives. The commission represents the entire county because mayors are geographically distributed across Summit County and are in tune with the needs of the voters in and around their cities. Adding more council-appointed members risks tipping the balance and undermining the commission’s neutrality.

  • Council authority over the map: Allowing seated council members to override or redraw districts would create an obvious conflict of interest. HB 356 rightly puts that power in the hands of a bipartisan districting commission to protect public trust and ensure fair representation, just as it is done for legislative and congressional districts.

  • Loss of Countywide Perspective: The current system concentrates power in Park City and Snyderville. True districting will finally ensure the entire county—including the East Side and rural communities—has representation. Voters will still be able to contact any council member, not just their district representative.

What Happens Next?

Once the commission completes its work, residents will have a chance to review and provide feedback during the public hearing. The County Council will then vote to accept or reject the proposed district map.

This is a major moment for Summit County. District-based elections are designed to provide fairer, more balanced representation and to ensure every part of our diverse county has a voice in local government.

Ari Ioannides