KSL reported that Jesse Valdez was sworn in on January 12, 2026 as the first mayor of Kearns, which formally incorporated as a city in 2024. The article calls him apparently the first Latino mayor in Utah history. Valdez told KSL that he believes this is the case and that the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District, which researched the question, could not find an earlier one.[1]
According to the article, Valdez had volunteered for the community in various capacities before running, and the mayoral race was his first bid for elected office. KSL cites U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Latinos make up 41 percent of Kearns' population.[1]
What he said about serving the city
Valdez told KSL he aims to serve everyone in the city and wants to tap into parts of the community that may have felt unheard. This is his own description of his goal, not a record of actions in office.[1]
Profile sources
Profile refreshed October 27, 2026. Candidate statements describe the candidate's own experience or positions; official records and reporting are labeled separately.
The council voted 3-2 Oct. 26 after public comment, according to OpenCity's meeting summary, and then approved Resolution R2026-18 recognizing her nearly three decades of volunteer service.
· From Kearns City Council
AI-generated illustration: The Utah Ledger · Original graphic · The Utah Ledger
A July 21 ordinance raised the maximum yearly compensation for Kearns's first city administrator from $180,000 to $225,000 and directed staff to amend the budget. In September the council created the administrator's office in city code.
