April 2026 | Vol. 12 Iss. 4
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South Salt Lake
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New appointments fill vacancies on South Salt Lake City Council By Linda Petersen | l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
Following the resignation of LeAnne Huff and the vacancy of Paul Sanchez’s seat, the council appointed Joy Glad and Irvin Jones Jr. to represent Districts 1 and 5.
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outh Salt Lake City has two new faces on its city council: Joy Glad in District 1 and Irvin Jones Jr., District 5. On Jan. 28, after six years on the council, Councilmember LeAnne Huff announced her resignation effective immediately. “I have decided it’s time for me to reorder my priorities and focus on other areas of my life,” said Huff at that time. At that same meeting, Council Chair Sharla Bynum announced that the seat formerly held by Paul Sanchez had been declared vacant. Bynum noted that Sanchez “failed to fulfill his responsibilities as a member of the South Salt Lake City Council since at least August 2025,” triggering a Utah law regarding absences of more than 60 days. On Feb. 25, councilmembers interviewed seven candidates—five for District 1 (Glad, Aaron Tate, Charles Connelly Jr., Laurie Robionson and Leo Shivers) and two for District 5 (Darlene McDonald and Jones) before voting to approve Glad and Jones. Mayor Cherie Wood expressed her gratitude for the applicants. “It’s always impressive to see people wanting to get involved in local government,” she said. “I believe that’s where the best and the biggest lift comes.”
Each candidate was given four minutes to answer four specific questions regarding their motivation, their unique district needs, and their future election plans. Glad, owner of Dynamic Safety and Environmental LLC, fills the District 1 seat. Holding a master’s degree in occupational health and safety, she emphasized her connection to her neighbors during the interview process. “My primary motivation for applying for this is that I want to be able to work with the people here,” Glad said. “I understand my community. I’ve talked to them, and I want to be there to advocate for them in what this community needs.” She added that her background in business helps her understand how to “balance budgets, manage resources efficiently, and make decisions that support both growth and sustainability.” Jones, who previously served on the council from 2010 to 2015 and owns Antique and Classic Auto Glass, returns to represent District 5. Jones noted that his motivation for returning stemmed from a desire for better representation. “I have no right to complain about the representation if I’m not willing to do something about it,” he said. He highlighted his previous experience on the city council, noting, “I’ve learned to be able to negotiate, to be moderate in both my tone and my perspective.” While he praised the city’s ability to maintain a “small-town feel” and serve the underserved, he pointed to communication
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Joy Glad and Irvin Jones Jr. are the new South Salt Lake City councilmembers. (Courtesy South Salt Lake) as a primary focus. “The problem is connecting these people that need to be served with the programs. We do the best we can, but I think we can do better,” he said. The two were sworn in that evening by
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City Recorder Ariel Andrus. In the council vote, Glad received four votes for her appointment, while Jones received three. Both will serve out the remainder of the current terms, with Glad’s concluding on Jan. 3, 2028. l
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