After three coin flips — all heads — and a late runoff, Utah’s second-largest city landed its newest council member Tuesday night.
The West Valley City Council selected former municipal planning commissioner Cindy Wood to take the District 4 seat vacated by now-Utah House Rep. Jake Fitisemanu. District 4 covers the community’s southwest corner.
“I’d just like to say thank you. Thank you for your support,” Wood said as she brushed away tears after taking the oath of office. “I am so excited. I’m just thrilled. I hope that I can serve as well as each of you have.”
Wood is now the second woman on the council, serving alongside Mayor Karen Lang. She overcame a crowded field of other applicants that featured former Republican House Rep. Fred Cox, former District 4 candidate Darrell Curtis and two planning commission colleagues.
In total, 15 candidates completed roughly five-minute interviews before the six remaining council members Tuesday night. In the first round of voting, four applicants received votes. Wood led with three votes in her favor.
Amitonu Wesley Amosa, the bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Samoan-speaking Mapusaga Ward; Greg McPherron, a claims adjustor; and Renee Layton, a city planning commissioner, each garnered one vote.
By state law, if no candidate wins a majority of the votes, the race goes to a runoff. The second round, however, can only include two candidates.
So, Amosa, McPherron and Layton were forced into a round-robin coin toss tournament, leaving their fates to a commemorative coin flipped by City Recorder Nichole Camac. Amosa won both of his matches and advanced to the runoff.
There, despite his stroke of luck, he faltered five votes to one to Wood.
“I would like to thank all of the candidates who applied for the West Valley City Council,” Lang said after the second round. “Your willingness to step up and serve our community is truly appreciated. I encourage each of you to stay active and engaged in shaping the future of our city.”
Wood, who works as the controller for intellectual property law firm Workman Nydegger, has lived in West Valley City for 38 years. In her remarks to the council before the first vote, she highlighted her financial acumen and her almost eight years of public service experience on the planning commission as strengths she will bring to the dais.
She wants to add affordable housing in Utah’s second-largest city and boost its public image as a great place to live, work and raise a family.
“I’m incredibly impressed by the caliber of so many of my neighbors who submitted their names to serve the people of District 4 on our City Council,” Fitisemanu, the Democratic state lawmaker, said via text on Wednesday. “I have full confidence that our mayor and council have made a decision that will serve our community well.”
Wood will have a little less than a year to pursue her priorities on the council. The current term ends in January 2026, but she plans to run for a new, full four-year cycle on the council.
