Fayette Town accepting mayoral applications through Sept. 8

FAYETTE—Fayette Town is accepting applications from citizens interested in serving as the town’s next mayor following the resignation of Mayor Jed Bartholomew.

Bartholomew submitted his resignation during the Fayette Town Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 4. His final day in office was Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Following his resignation, the town council appointed Councilwoman Melissa Mellor as mayor pro tem to serve as acting mayor from Aug. 6 until Tuesday, Sept. 8, when the council is expected to appoint a mayor to fill the vacancy.

Town Clerk Tyson Holyoak said applications for the mayoral vacancy will be accepted until the next regularly scheduled town council meeting on Sept. 8. The council is expected to review applications and appoint a new mayor during that meeting.

As of Wednesday, Aug. 12, Mellor is also the only person to have applied for mayor, according to Holyoak. Mellor has served on the Fayette Town Council since January 2022, when she was sworn into a four-year term.

“I want to continue working to keep our community safe, maintain our roads and public spaces and support responsible growth,” Mellor said. “Most importantly, I want every resident to know their voice matters and that their concerns will always be heard.

“I will lead with integrity, transparency, and respect. I believe the best decisions are made by listening to the people we serve and working together to solve problems.”

Bartholomew announced last month that he was stepping down after accepting a position as a liaison between the state of Utah and a company implementing inmate tablet technology within the state’s correctional system. He said the company asked him to resign because of a possible conflict with his role as mayor.

In a letter to residents announcing his resignation, Bartholomew said the decision was among the most difficult he had ever made.

Bartholomew became involved in 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.

Residents interested in serving as mayor may submit an application through the Fayette Town Office before the Sept. 8 council meeting. The person appointed by the council will serve until the next municipal election, when voters will elect a mayor to complete the remainder of the unexpired term.