2011 Ogden Municipal Election: The Aftermath - Updated

A WCF reader invitation to do a post-mortem on the "cleanest" and most uplifting Ogden City Municipal Election during the six years in which Weber County Forum has been covering Ogden election races

I can't tell you how well it went. I can't thank you for all you have done.

Mike Caldwell
Caldwell wins Ogden mayoral race
November 9, 2011

I’m excited to work with a new administration. From my experience working with Mike ... he’s a consensus builder, and that’s a refreshing change. Even if you have the greatest ideas, if you can’t articulate them to the public, it creates problems.

Amy Wicks
Wicks, Hyer secure spots on Ogden City Council
November 9, 2011

I’ve watched the administration and the council barter back and forth for years now, although bartering may not be the right word. Maybe it’s barking. But I think I can bring some unity to city government

Richard Hyer
Wicks, Hyer secure spots on Ogden City Council
November 9, 2011

As we reported last night, the final (unofficial) results are in; and Mike Caldwell, Richard Hyer, Caitlin Gochnour and Amy Wicks emerge as the clear winners from what turned out to be the "cleanest" and most uplifting Ogden City Municipal Election during the six years in which Weber County Forum has been covering Ogden election races. Both the Standard-Examiner and Salt Lake Tribune had reporters working into the wee hours, and we accordingly provide the following post-election stories "bright and early" this morning:

• Caldwell wins Ogden mayoral race
• Wicks, Hyer secure spots on Ogden City Council
• In Ogden, Caldwell becomes first new mayor in more than a decade

The floor's open, Weber County Forum readers. Who'll be the first to offer their own take on the true meaning of all this?

Update 11/9/11 9:52 a.m.: Thanks to a tip from another sharp-eyed and alert WCF reader, we're delighted to link this Jennifer Neil post-election concession statement and thank you note, which just popped up on the Standard-Examiner website:

• Candidate promises to be proactive

Seems to us that there just has to be a place for a smart, talented and community-dedicated Ogden citizen like narrowly-defeated Ogden Council Ward 2 candidate Jennifer J Neil somewhere in Ogden City government. With all due respect for her vote-count prevailing 2011 Ogden Municipal Election opponent, Richard Hyer, it still seems to us that the voters of Ogden's City's Ward 2 seriously missed the boat, in failing to select her for the Ward 2 Council position. Ms. Neil does however mention her understanding that "there will (soon) be an opening (Mr. Hyer's PC seat) on the City Planning Commission ...." We'll consequently be keeping our fingers crossed that Ms. Neil will be submitting her planning commission (or some other similar position of responsibility) application forthwith... Go Jennifer, Go!