Newly elected Mayor Marsha Judkins and several City Council members were sworn into office on Monday, Jan. 5, at Provo City Hall, emphasizing the importance of shared responsibility, cooperation and civic engagement within the local community.
Judkins began her remarks by thanking her predecessor, Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, whom she narrowly defeated in the recent election by 322 votes. Kaufusi served two terms as mayor.
Judkins expressed gratitude to those who supported her campaign and outlined her intentions as mayor.
“I am your mayor,” she said. “My goal is to listen, to build trust and to work toward a place that matters to us all.”
She identified safe neighborhoods, strong families, fairness and economic opportunity as central goals, while also expressing appreciation for city employees whose work often occurs behind the scenes.
In an interview following her inaugural address, Judkins emphasized the importance of civic engagement, particularly among students at Brigham Young University.
“They probably don’t realize how much clout they actually have,” she said.
Judkins credited student voters as a key factor in her narrow victory and encouraged young residents to recognize their impact on local elections and become involved in city government. She pointed to opportunities such as attending City Council meetings, participating in neighborhood district meetings and engaging in community events.
Among her priorities, Judkins said she hopes to better regulate student housing, particularly near the BYU campus.
“There’s a lot of students living in illegal rentals,” she said. “It’s not a good situation for the neighborhoods, and it’s not a good situation for students because they can be evicted.”
Judkins said increasing the availability of affordable, regulated student housing is among her top priorities for her first term as mayor.
She also teased a revival of Provo’s Rooftop Concert Series, which she said will be overseen by a committee of local artists and musicians connected to the city’s music scene.
Three City Council members were also sworn in that night: Katrice Mackey, citywide; Jeff Whitlock, District 2; and Rachel Whipple, District 5.
Newly elected Council member Jeff Whitlock shared a personal connection to Provo, recalling how community members supported him during a difficult period in his life. He said that experience shaped his desire to serve. Whitlock emphasized that while elections can be divisive, governance requires cooperation.
“I commit to listening to those who disagree with me,” Whitlock said. “I commit to working hard to represent everyone in Provo, including and especially those who did not vote for me.”
Whipple, who is beginning her second term, described her path to public service as rooted in gratitude. She credited Provo’s neighborhoods for welcoming her family and providing opportunities to volunteer and lead.
“I’m so grateful that I have this chance to serve and that I have the confidence of my neighbors to continue doing this work,” Whipple said. “I will do my best to advocate for you, to represent you and to help you understand the issues we are grappling with.”
Provo’s newly inaugurated officials shared a common message of cooperation and community engagement as they began their new terms.