Council District Four Midterm Vacancy
The process of selecting a new District Four Council Member.
District Four has a new Council Member. On Tuesday, June 9, the Council selected Jennifer Napier-Pearce as the new District Four Council Member following two rounds of interviews. She was sworn in by the City Recorder that same evening and will serve as the District Four representative until Jan. 3, 2028. The District Four seat will also be on the ballot in the 2027 Municipal election.
About the Process
If a Council seat opens up in the middle of a term, state law requires the remaining Council Members to select a qualified replacement within 30 days. The Council follows steps set by state law and city rules, including giving public notice, interviewing all applicants, and choosing a replacement by majority vote.
Eligibility & Application
The City Recorder’s Office accepted applications from May 18 to June 1 at 5 p.m.
To be eligible, an applicant had to:
- Be a registered voter.
- Have lived in Council District Four for at least 12 consecutive months before the appointment date and continue living in the District for the remainder of the term.
- Have not been found mentally incompetent or convicted of a felony, treason, or election-related crime, unless your rights have been legally restored.
- Not employed by Salt Lake City at the time of appointment.
- Submit a Conflict of Interest disclosure form as part of their application.
Selection Process
How was the new Council Member selected?
The Council interviewed applicants at its Tuesday, June 9 meeting before appointing Jennifer Napier-Pearce to represent Council District Four.
After hearing from each applicant, the Council held an initial vote, with Jennifer Napier-Pearce and Scott Lyttle emerging as the top two candidates and advancing to a second round. In that round, both finalists responded to an additional question before the Council voted again, resulting in a tie. As required by state law, the tie was broken by a coin toss, which Napier-Pearce won. She was sworn in by the City Recorder the same night as the new District Four Council Member.
Key Dates
| May 13 | Vacancy Effective Date |
| May 18 | Application Period Opens |
| June 1 | Application Deadline All applications were received by Monday, June 1 at 5:00 PM. |
| June 9 | Interviews The Council interviewed all eligible applicants during its June 9 meeting. |
| June 9 | Council Vote |
| June 9 | Sworn-in Jennifer Napier-Pearce was sworn in by the City Recorder immediately following her selection on June 9. |
| June 11 | Deadline to fill Vacancy |
What does a Council Member do?
Council Members serve as the City’s legislative and policy-making body. They set the City’s overall policy direction and allocate resources through the adoption of annual budgets and ordinances. Key duties include passing laws, approving the City budget, setting City policies, and advising on mayoral appointments to City boards and commissions.
The Council also serves as the Board of Directors for Salt Lake City’s Community Reinvestment Agency, the Local Building Authority, and jointly with the Mayor as the Board of Canvassers.
Outside of their legislative role, Council Members review meeting materials to prepare for each Council meeting, which are typically held on three Tuesdays (afternoons and evenings) a month. They also meet with constituents, attend community events, and participate in trainings and conferences.
City Budget
The Council is currently reviewing the City’s budget. The Council’s role is to review, adjust, and adopt a balanced budget. Learn about the proposed city budget and how the budget process works by visiting link.slc.gov/SLCFY27.