With candidate filings now finalized, the 2025 Murray City municipal elections are entering a crowded primary season. Four individuals are running for mayor, while three city council seats—Districts 2, 3, and 4—have drawn a combined 12 candidates. Three races include more than two contenders, meaning the field will be narrowed in the Aug. 12 primary, with the top two vote-getters in each contest advancing to the general election on Nov. 4.

Mayoral Race: Incumbent Seeks Another Term Amid Three Challengers

Mayor Brett A. Hales, seeking a second term, was first elected in 2021. He previously served on the Murray City Council from 2012 to 2020 and has a background in
financial services, having worked as a vice president at Cyprus Credit Union. A longtime
resident of Murray, Hales has also participated in several civic and community
service organizations.

John Jeffrey Evans is entering his first campaign for public office. Employed in the real estate sector, Evans lists his current employer as RealtyPath. Though he has no prior elected experience, he has completed the necessary filings for candidacy.

Bruce Turner, an operations manager with Murray City Power, is also a first-time candidate. His background includes decades of work in municipal utilities. This is Turner’s first run for office, though he has worked within city departments for several years.

District 2: Familiar Names Join Newcomers in Four-Way Race

In District 2, Councilmember Pamela Cotter is seeking re-election. Cotter was initially appointed to the council in 2017 and was subsequently elected to a full term in 2021. Before entering public office, she worked as an educator in the Murray School District for over 30 years. She has also served on various arts and community boards.

Dale Cox, a former city council member, previously held the District 2 seat from 2018 to 2021. A longtime union representative and labor leader, Cox did not seek reelection in 2021 but is now attempting a return to the council.

Jared Eborn is making his first run for elected office. A communications professional, Eborn has covered Utah politics and organized sporting events. He currently serves on the executive board as secretary of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party.

Aaron Holbrook is also a first-time candidate. A Murray resident since 2013, Holbrook has worked in operations and customer service roles. He has participated in local neighborhood and school events but has not previously held or sought public office.

District 3: Interim Council member Among Four Candidates for Two-Year Term

The District 3 seat, currently a two-year unexpired term, is held by Scott Goodman, who was appointed to the position in January 2025. This is his first run for elected office. A retired U.S. Army Reserve Command Sergeant Major, Goodman later worked as a manager at GE HealthCare.

Clark Bullen previously ran for city council in 2023 and mayor in 2021, where he placed among the top primary vote-getters but did not win in the general election. Bullen has experience in local business development and community engagement.

Ben Peck, also a first-time municipal candidate, recently ran for chair of the Utah Democratic Party in May 2025, finishing second. Peck formerly served as Executive Director of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party and has worked in political
organizing sectors.

Leann Parker-Reed, a former elementary school teacher, ran for District Office in 2023. She has held leadership roles in parent-teacher associations and has been a longtime volunteer with Murray community programs and youth organizations.

District 4: Incumbent Faces Last Minute Challenger

Diane Turner, the current District 4 representative, is running for reelection. She has served on the Murray City Council since 2014 and was appointed as Acting Mayor in 2017 following a mayoral death. A former juvenile justice administrator, Turner holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Utah.

Adrian Lambrinos, a first-time candidate, works in inventory and project management for the U.S. Air Force. He has not previously run for office or applied for an appointed city position. A KSL-TV story mentions Lambrinos as a member of “the Party for Socialism and Liberation.”

Looking Ahead

Each race will be decided by two rounds of voting. The Aug. 12 primary will reduce each field to two candidates, who will appear on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. Voter information, candidate filings, and election updates are available on the Murray City Recorder’s website and through the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Election Division. λ

Editor's note: a previous version of this story had Joe Christensen included as a mayoral candidate and he is no longer running. It also included Leann Parker-Reed had never run for office before.