Gay Lynn Bennion was sworn in as the new mayor of Cottonwood Heights on Jan. 5. Councilmembers Shawn Newell and Ellen Birrell were reelected and pledged their service at the oath of office ceremony as well. All three elected officials spoke of the importance of collaborative discussion and encouraged residents to be civically engaged.  

“I’ve worked with you as a state representative. I’m excited to focus on our city and the things we can achieve together right here,” Bennion said. 

Bennion spoke of some challenges she would like to address during her term including water conservation to preserve the Great Salt Lake, providing safety and making the community more fire resistant, and striving for accurate and valid information in the face of misinformation and AI. 

“Our city is truly built on citizen leadership and engagement. I want to help that flourish,” said newly-elected Mayor Gay Lynn Bennion during the Cottonwood Heights oath of office ceremony Jan. 5. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights City)

“I want to commit, that whether you have supported me in the past or not, I will be your mayor,” Bennion said. “I will listen and…I want our office to always be open to you.” 

She committed to being available every Friday from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the city offices (2277 Bengal Blvd.) for residents to share their ideas and concerns. 

Bennion would also like to begin a book group that would meet three times per year. The first meeting is anticipated for March and will focus on the book “Critical Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High” by Stephen R. Covey. 

For her new four-year term, Birrell will continue to find ways to meet the challenges of higher water costs and blighting. “Let’s work together, share, and look for the best in each other and we will find it. There isn’t a single person that I couldn't find at least five things that we agree on.”

“The three main things that keep us going are air, water and soil…we cannot lose sight of the very things that sustain all living creatures,” Birrell said. “Let’s continue to find alignment and agreement and have compassion for those in our community who are struggling.”  

Newell encouraged residents to reach out to him personally with any questions or if they would like to gain more information about any city processes, discussions or decisions. 

“For the next four years, I will continue to devote myself to this community and work collaboratively with everyone involved like our residents, councils, committees and folks that come into our city,” Newell said.

Councilmember Suzanne Hyland also remarked on the importance of civil discussion, called for dignity and asked for grace.

“Every human life deserves dignity so that we continue to respect each other,” she said. “We can move forward because of the way we treat each other….Today is a great day to be kind and show respect to others.” 

“I stand back in awe…of the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power,” Hyland said. “It is amazing that…this country has survived and we are not subject to a dictatorship or a monarchy.” 

All mayors who have served or are serving Cottonwood Heights (from left to right: Mike Weichers, Mike Peterson, Gay Lynn Bennion and Kelvyn Cullimore) attended the 2026 oath of office ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights City)

Hyland was voted as the Cottonwood Heights Mayor Pro Tempore by her fellow councilmembers during their meeting Jan. 6. 

All former Cottonwood Heights mayors were acknowledged during the current councilmembers speeches.

“If we think for a minute about what it would be like to be Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore as he carried our city through when everything was new with minimal staff,” Bennion said. “I thank Mayor Mike Peterson who led the city through the pandemic with great leadership.”  

“Mayor Mike Weichers’s four years of service to this city brought many accomplishments,” Birrell said. 

Former Sens. Karen W. Morgan and Gordan Nicholl, who both worked for the incorporation of Cottonwood Heights, were recognized as well. 

Contact information for each elected official, as well as certain city staff members, can be found on the city’s website under the “Your Government" tab at: www.cottonwoodheights.utah.gov.

Cottonwood Heights residents can also get involved by volunteering on various city committees like the Architectural Review Commission, the Parks, Trails and Open Space Committee and the Arts Council. Other committees include the Historic Committee and Health in the Heights Committee. Residents can find more information about volunteering on the city’s website under the “Community” tab or by clicking the “Volunteer” header (right-hand top corner).