Newly elected Ogden City Council Member Ken Richey and reelected Council Members Bart Blair and Marcia White took the oath of office on Monday, Jan. 3. Due to a scheduling conflict, Council Member Angela Choberka was unable to attend the Monday afternoon meeting and will take the oath of office during the regular City Council meeting at 6 p.m. MST on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
Richey now represents Municipal District 3 on the Council, a seat occupied by former Council Member Doug Stephens for four terms before he announced his retirement from public office.
“I have some strong emotions about this day, but I know it was the right decision (to not run for reelection),” Stephens said, “It was time to step away and do something else. I have some mixed emotions because there is unfinished business at hand, but there will always be unfinished business.”
Stephens was the most tenured member on the Council, a designation that now passes to Council Member Bart Blair who enters his fourth term.
“We may be losing a council member here, but what we’re not losing is a mentor. We’re not losing an example, and we’re not losing a friend,” Blair said, referring to Stephens. “I’m very excited that Ken is here now. I’m excited for what he brings to the Council. I’m excited for his passion and his enthusiasm for this city.”
The rest of the attending Council Members and Mayor Michael Caldwell also expressed their gratitude to Stephens for his service and welcomed Richey with excitement to begin working together.
“This is a little overwhelming,” Richey said. “I’ve known Doug for a long time. He sold me my first suit a long time ago. I’ve seen him around the city at various functions and he always represented the city well. I know that the shoes I have to fill are big.”
Born and raised in Ogden, Richey is a certified financial planner and has volunteered for many organizations within Ogden.
“From election day it has felt like 100 years waiting for this opportunity to finally get up here and take this oath,” Richey added. “There’s a lot of emotions running through me at this time as I think about that opportunity. I’ve got a lot to learn.”
For additional information, please contact Ogden City Council Executive Director Janene Eller-Smith, janeneeller-smith@ogdencity.com; 801-629-8165
###