Cedar Hills mayoral race is down to one man
H.R. Brown withdrew earlier this month, citing a lack of time to serve in the position.
"I just didn't have the time to give what it really needed to be given," Brown said. "It's a 25-hour-a-week job if you do it right, and that's a lot of time to put in."
Brown said he was spurred on by his neighbors to run for mayor, and he did so because he didn't want McGee, the incumbent, to run unopposed.
"I wasn't going to join if anybody else entered (the mayoral race)," he said.
By about 3 p.m. on the final day to file for office, only McGee had made his candidacy official, Brown said.
"So I drove back down to Cedar Hills from Salt Lake and put my name in the hat," he said. "I just didn't want anybody running unopposed."
City Councilman Rob Fotheringham then made it a three-man mayoral race by declaring his candidacy before the filing deadline. But Fotheringham pulled out of the race in September, something Brown said he was also planning to do.
"(After Fotheringham withdrew) I was sitting in the same situation of not really knowing if I want someone running unopposed," he said.
"I believe he's honest," Brown said of McGee. "He's a pretty savvy guy. He has developed some good relationships in the last 18 months that will serve us in getting commercial (development in Cedar Hills) and in improving some of the infrastructure and improving parks and trails."
Brown said he plans to volunteer for one of the town commissions, and McGee has indicated he'd like Brown to be involved in that capacity.
"I'll be happy to donate my time that way," Brown said. "I'm just not really a politician at heart."
Brown's decision to withdraw from the mayoral race didn't come as a surprise to McGee.
"(Brown) expressed a little concern over the time aspect of it," the mayor said. "He's got a young family and a brand-new business. I can relate to that. He just felt that his time was better devoted elsewhere, and I think he was probably right."
Despite the lack of challengers, McGee still has campaign goals.
"I have to get one vote," he joked. "I'm out campaigning for that one. What will be embarrassing is if I don't get two. I'll know how my wife voted then."
McGee has served as mayor of Cedar Hills since June 2004. He was appointed to the position after Brad Sears resigned for personal reasons.
E-mail: jpage@desnews.com
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