Murray City’s 2025 primary election, held Aug. 12, drew a modest but notable turnout and set the stage for a November contest where campaign finance may prove just as consequential as policy. Nearly 30% of registered voters participated, with 8,613 ballots cast, according to official results.

Pam Cotter vs. Jared Eborn (District 2); Clark Bullen vs. Ben Peck (District 3); Diane Turner (District 5, unopposed). (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

 In the mayoral race, incumbent Brett Hales advanced comfortably with 58.8% of the vote. Bruce Turner secured second place at 24.6%, edging out Jeff Evans, who drew 16.6%. The two remaining candidates will now compete in the November general election.

Two city council seats also appeared on the primary ballot. In District 2, incumbent Pam Cotter led the field with 45.8%. In tight competition to complete the ballot, Jared Eborn with 24% to former City Councilor Dale Cox 20.5%. Cox and Aaron Holbrook, who received 9.7% of votes, were eliminated. 

In keeping Murray’s tradition of tossing out appointed city council members, District 3’s Scott Goodman will lose his seat after securing 18.3% of the vote. Clark Bullen topped the race with 44.7%, advancing alongside Ben Peck, who garnered 27.7%. Leeann Parker Read received 9.3%.

According to Aug. 5 financial disclosures, filed with the city before the primary, reveal a campaign environment shaped by three distinct funding patterns: large institutional donations, organized labor support and candidates relying heavily on their own checkbooks.

Hales, the sitting mayor, raised just under $8,000. His campaign was buoyed by a $4,500 contribution from the Salt Lake Board of Realtors, one of the most prominent institutional donors across all races. 

Bruce Turner’s campaign, by contrast, relied almost entirely on self-financing. Of the nearly $13,000 reported, more than $12,000 came from loans Turner made to his own committee. The rest consisted of small contributions in the $25 to $300 range. Evans, who failed to advance, followed a similar pattern: his $6,900 in receipts included a $3,700 personal loan.

In District 2, the most significant financial disparity emerged. Eborn reported $5,215 in contributions, $4,500 of which came from the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. Cotter raised about $3,100, largely through personal funds. But Cox, despite finishing outside the top two, reported by far the largest war chest—more than $20,000. His contributions included a $4,000 check from the Realtors, but Cox, the former head of Utah’s AFL-CIO, received several significant contributions from labor groups. Holbrook posted a total of $2,616 in contributions received.

In District 3, candidates differed as much in how they raised money as in how much they collected. District 3 represents downtown Murray, the site of several new developments. Outgoing city councilor Scott Goodman listed a $4,500 contribution from the Realtors. Ben Peck assembled $5,700 augmented by $1,500 from the Realtors. Clark Bullen reported $4,925, also with $1,500 from the Realtors, while Leeann Parker Reed, reported $934, placing well behind the frontrunners and the only district candidate without a Realtor contribution.

Diane Turner, the current District 4 council member, will not face a challenger after Adrian Lambrinos withdrew, leaving her unopposed.

The Salt Lake Board of Realtors, established in 1917, is a trade association representing real estate professionals across the Wasatch Front. The organization provides continuing education, legal support and professional services for its members. It also operates a political action committee and frequently contributes to local campaigns.

In Murray’s primary, the group’s financial presence was unmistakable. The Realtors contributed at least $4,500 each to Hales and Eborn, $4,000 to Cox and Goodman, and $1,500 apiece to Peck and Bullen. Their donations made the association the largest single institutional player in the election. In sum, the group donated $16,000 toward Murray candidates.

The organization’s stated mission emphasizes advocacy, education and the defense of property rights. Its 16-member board of directors includes representatives from major brokerage firms, and it often participates in municipal debates over housing, zoning and development.

The general election, scheduled for Nov. 4, will feature head-to-head contests in the mayoral race and in council districts 2 and 3. 

Utah makes voter registration accessible through several methods—online, by mail or in person. Residents can register online at voter.utah.gov using a valid Utah driver license or state ID, provided their address is current with the DMV; otherwise, they must print, sign and mail the form. Voters may also register by completing a paper application and sending it to their county clerk’s office, which must receive the form no later than 5 p.m. 11 days before Election Day.

For those who miss the deadline, in-person and same-day registration are available either during early voting or on Election Day itself. In those cases, voters must cast a provisional ballot and present one primary photo ID—such as a driver license—along with proof of residency, like a utility bill or lease agreement. This range of options is designed to make registration straightforward and widely accessible.

Scott Goodman lost his bid to retain his District 3 city council seat. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)