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Cedar Fort is a small community that is nestled in the Cedar Valley west of Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs. The town was settled in 1856 and in 2010 had a population of 368. In the 2017 general election there city had two 4 year Town Council seats and the Mayors set up for election. There were a total of 169 people who voted in the election (155 voted at the polling station, 12 provisional ballots, and 15 absentee ballots). Because of the small number of people involved in the election the mayoral race was decided by only seven (7) votes. David Gustin was elected as the new mayor of Cedar Fort over Kelly Berry by a vote of 87 to 80. Because of how close the election was, people felt that there was a need to have the election results certified. The 12 provisional ballots were certified by the Utah County Clerk/Auditor office. The following statement was made by Karlee Jo Jarvis, Deputy Clerk III, on November 9, 2017. “I checked 12 provisional ballots from Cedar Fort. Five of them were valid. Seven of them were invalid. Two absentees did not count because the voters were not registered at their correct address or have never registered at all. One absentee was valid.”
There were also some social media allegations that Vonda Cook, the Cedar Fort Clerk/Recorder, may of influenced the outcome of the election in some way. Bryan Thompson, the Utah County Clerk/Auditor, made the following statement in an email to Voda on November 22, 2017 about these allegations. “Thanks for providing me a copy of the official Canvass for Cedar Fort, and the additional explanation of the situation. From the information you provided it is my opinion that you have made every effort to be open and transparent with the Election process of Cedar Fort.” The email continues, “From my understanding of the situations and circumstances your dealt with in Cedar Fort, I feel you have given an accurate accounting of the Election. Thank you for all your dedication and efforts.”
Kelly Berry, made this statement on November 22nd in the “Cedar Valley Politics – Eagle Mountain, Cedar Fort, Fairfield” Facebook group, about the election and the . “I would like to thank all the voters. It was wonderful to see how many participated in the election and I have been deeply touched by the support I have received. I am proud to say that we had one of the highest voter turnouts in the history of Cedar Fort. My participation in this election has always been for the benefit of the community because I am concerned about the voice of the people being heard. My purpose in sending a petition following the post results was in accordance with State law and was just that, a concern that every voice be heard and that every vote that was cast be counted.” Kelly continues, “My hope is that our new elected officials will set aside bias and listen to the voices of the people. I hope that we as citizens will continue to be involved so that we can all preserve and strengthen our community. Questioning should not be looked down upon. I am proud of the freedom to vote and proud of the freedom to speak.” Kelly concludes with, “Our community was divided in this election, but now is the time to come together. I congratulate David and the council members that have been elected. I pray that they will be successful in guiding our community.” “Thank you again and best wishes, Kelly Berry.”
Ellen Cibula (83 Votes), and Wyatt Cook (110 Votes) were also elected to serve on the Cedar Fort Town Council, along with Dee Harold Draper (137 votes) who ran uncontested to fill the seat vacated by Larry Mohler.
Additional Resources
2017 Canvass Report Email and Letter from Utah County Clerk/Auditor
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.