Jesse Valdez is the first elected mayor of Kearns since the community became a full-fledged Utah city nearly two years ago. (Photo courtesy Jesse Valdez)
New Kearns Mayor Jesse Valdez – reportedly the first-ever Hispanic mayor elected in any Utah city – is a professional storyteller. Now, in his new “parttime” mayoral position, Valdez wants to do the same thing: shape the narrative about Kearns so people get to know his often-maligned community better.
“People outside Kearns can paint a negative picture of our community; but I know there is so much good here,” Valdez said. “I want to take more control of our narrative. If we don’t, someone else will; they have. My campaign was not about me. It was about moving forward. I want to see a vibrant Kearns. And I hope to involve lots of people to make that happen.”
The Utah State Legislature opened the door to Valdez’s election nearly two years ago with the unanimous passage of House Bill 35. With the sweep of Gov. Spencer Cox’s pen, Kearns, Magna, Copperton, Emigration Canyon and White City all lost their metro township status. All but one became Utah’s newest cities. Because its population is under 1,000, Copperton was designated a “town.”…