Local government shapes our daily lives, from roads to schools to public safety — so why aren’t more women at the table? As of 2025, women make up less than a third of Utah’s city council members and, in 38 cities, men hold every single seat, according to a new report. Meanwhile, only one town in Utah’s history has ever had an all-female mayor and council — and that was over a century ago. Having women on city councils leads to better, more representative decision-making that benefits entire communities, and improving representation is an attainable goal.
In a recent Utah Women and Leadership Project report, we analyzed women’s status in Utahn politics. We compared them to national numbers on all levels of government — but the local politics section especially caught my attention.
For this part of the project, we collected data from every municipality in the state that had a council, which ended up being 255 cities and towns. We gathered information from websites and then emailed and called to get the data that was not available online. When gender information was not readily available, we watched city council meetings and used other publicly available information.
As of January 2025, 58 of 253 mayors in Utah (22.9%), and 364 of 1174 council members (31.0%) are women. Combined, 1,427 Utahns currently serve on city councils, with 422 women serving — 29.5% of Utah councils. Less than a third of councils represent half of our population. That’s not terrible, but we can do better.
I don’t mean to snitch — that is not the point of this op-ed, or at least not the main point — but 50 cities in Utah have all-male city council members. Of those councils, 12 have a female mayor, and 38 are all-male across the board. Those 38 cities are the following: Aurora, Ballard, Cedar City, Cedar Fort, Cornish, Elwood, Enterprise, Erda, Ferron, Fillmore, Genola, Green River, Henefer, Hinckley, Howell, Joseph, Kanab, Kanarraville, Kanosh, Leamington Town, Milford, Morgan, Naples, New Harmony, Newton, Oak City, Oakley, Paradise, Salina, Santaquin, Scipio, Sigurd, Spring City, Toquerville, Tremonton, Trenton, Wales and Wellington.
There are plenty of diverse and representative city councils in the state, with many cities in Utah reaching that coveted 50% mark and even surpassing it. Including mayors in the council, 82 of 255 cities have 50% or more female council members, or 32.2% of cities in Utah. Notably, Bluff, Circleville, Cleveland, Vineyard and Virgin have 75% female city councils (80% including their female mayors). North Salt Lake comes out on top with four of its five council seats filled by women (80% of seats, not counting their male mayor).
Though an all-male city council is commonplace, only one town or city in Utah’s history has had an all-female mayor and city council. Kanab made history in 1911 when five women were elected to serve. Today, more than a century later, Kanab’s city council is entirely male.
As I combed through Utah’s 255 city websites, I saw the faces and names of real women and men who take their valuable time to serve in their community. While I carefully listened to audio recordings of council meetings to figure out the gender of “Kim” or “Kelly” or “Kerry” — they were usually men — I heard fellow Utahns working together on everything from zoning to mosquito abatement to awarding the Solid Waste Manager of the Year.
Research continues to support the important fact that organizations, governments and communities thrive when men and women work equally together to represent and serve their community. We are not aiming for complete female control in these councils; we need balanced collaboration and representation.
This level of representation is within reach — and it’s in our hands. With many city council seats opening across Utah in 2025, now is the time for women to step up and run. And just as importantly, we must show up and vote for them. Local elections are often decided by only a few votes, making every ballot even more powerful. Real change begins at the local level, and it starts with us.
For more information for Utah women wanting to run for office, read the Utah Women and Leadership Project’s 2021 report: Perceptions of Women Elected Officials in Utah. Those interested in more in-depth information on the status of women in Utahn cities and towns can also read our 2024 brief.
(Corinne Clarkson) Corinne Clarkson is an associate researcher with the Utah Women and Leadership Project.
Corinne Clarkson is an associate researcher with the Utah Women and Leadership Project.
The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.
