Fayette Mayor Jed Bartholomew to resign his seat

FAYETTE—Fayette Mayor Jed Bartholomew has announced his resignation after accepting a new job that requires him to step down from his position.

Bartholomew said his final meeting as mayor will be Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. During that meeting, the town council will begin the process of selecting his replacement.

In a letter shared with residents, Bartholomew said the decision was among the most difficult he has faced.

“It is difficult to find the right words to write this letter,” Bartholomew wrote. “This has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, and it is certainly not one that I came to lightly.”

Bartholomew recently accepted a position as a liaison between the state and a company working to implement inmate technology, specifically tablets within Utah’s correctional system. He said the position would create a conflict with his role as mayor, and the company asked him to resign.

“I still feel like I have something to give,” Bartholomew said. “I still wanted to keep serving, but I guess at the end of the day, I have to do what’s good for my family first.”

Bartholomew became involved in Fayette town government in 2019 after the previous mayor stepped down. At the time, Bartholomew, who had been serving on the town council. was the only candidate for mayor. He was sworn in for a second term following the November 2023 municipal elections.

As mayor, Bartholomew oversaw town operations, including the town office, cemetery maintenance, website operations and municipal grants.

After seven years serving as mayor, Bartholomew said the opportunity to serve Fayette has been one of the greatest honors of his life.

“I don’t know how to put it into words,” Bartholomew said. “The ability to serve my community, to give something back to the place I love the most, and to be able to defend this way of life and help keep my community going.”

Bartholomew said Fayette has supported him and his family throughout his 23 years of service with the Army National Guard, where he served with the 145th Artillery.

He also recently retired from the prison in Gunnison before accepting his new position.

“The community has really supported my family,” he said. “It’s been nice to be able to give something back.”

Tyson Holyoak, the town clerk in Fayette, said of Mayor Bartholomew, “I have known Jed as our families were very close growing up. It wasn’t until I moved into Fayette that my respect and appreciation for Jed grew. When I was building my house, he was always willing to come lend a hand, most of the time using the tractor to help me move necessary materials. When I was hired as the town clerk, my respect for him grew even larger. Working hand in hand with him showed me how much he truly cares about this community. He’s been a huge part of preparations for events, celebrations, town clean up, and even something as simple as spraying weeds. When the recent flood hit, Jed was the first to be out there with his tractor building berms, placing sandbags, and pumping water in an attempt to divert it and minimize the damage. He will be missed as Mayor, yet I know he will always be willing to help in any way he can.”

Bartholomew said one of the biggest challenges of serving as mayor was balancing the differing opinions within the community.

“Trying to keep everybody happy,” he said. “There’s so many different opinions out there, and everybody’s got one.”

He said social media and the current political climate have made public service more challenging. “The hardest part of it…is just having the thick skin and being able to carry that on your shoulders,” he said.

Bartholomew said public service has been a tradition in his family, following the example set by his father, Scott Bartholomew, who has served as a Sanpete County commissioner.

Bartholomew said recent flooding in Fayette highlighted the community spirit he has valued during his time as mayor.

He recalled packing sandbags alone during the flooding before two residents whose homes had been affected arrived to help.

“They had every excuse in the world not to be there, and they were the first ones there,” he said. “That represents what our community is about.”

Bartholomew said he has been proud to represent the values he believes define the town.

“It’s a great place to serve and a great place to live, raising a family,” he said. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all been about.”

Bartholomew also credited his faith as an important influence throughout his life and service.

He said there were times during difficult moments as mayor when he would step away, clear his mind and pray before returning to address challenges.

“Things just seem to work themselves out,” he said. He said he couldn’t help but believe “that there’s been a little faith involved in this.”