In an afternoon built around tradition and transition, Murray City’s newly elected and returning leaders raised their right hands Jan. 5, 2025, at the Murray Armory and took the oath of office — a civic ritual that marks the end of campaigning and the beginning of governing.

With family members, city employees and residents seated inside the Armory’s historic hall, the ceremony reaffirmed the city’s nonpartisan leadership structure and its distinctly local political culture — one grounded less in ideology than in public service, neighborhood relationships and accountability.

The event capped a municipal election cycle that returned Mayor Brett Hales to office and renewed several council positions, including the continued service of longtime Councilmembers Diane Turner and Pamela Cotter. Clark Bullen (District 3) became the rookie on the city council. 

Though the swearing-in itself lasted only moments, the speeches delivered afterward offered a clearer picture of what city leaders say they intend to prioritize in the new term — and what kind of governing style they hope to bring to residents.

A second term for Hales

Hales entered the ceremony not merely as Murray’s mayor, but as a mayor freshly tested by reelection — the most direct measure of whether voters believe city leadership is on the right track.

In 2025, Hales sought a second term after first taking the city’s helm in 2022, a role that carries broad influence in Murray’s strong mayor-council form of government. Hales initially was elected to the city council in 2012.

The election itself became a straightforward choice for voters: continuation under Hales, or a pivot to challenger Bruce E. Turner. In early reporting on the primary, Hales advanced comfortably with 58.8% of the vote, with Turner finishing second. 

By the general election, the results solidified. According to the notes from the oath ceremony, Hales won reelection with 6,490 votes (61.84%), while Turner received 4,005 votes (38.16%). 

At the end of his second term, Hale’s will have edged out former Mayor Dan Snarr as the longest elected official in Murray history.

Diane Turner begins fourth term

If Hales represented re-authorization by voters, Councilmember Turner represented something different: continuity.

Turner has long been one of the most recognizable figures in Murray City government, with years of involvement, first elected in 2014, that have made her part of the city’s institutional memory. Her background has included not only council service but also a brief period serving as acting mayor in 2017 after Mayor Ted Eyre’s death — the first woman to hold the role in Murray. 

In the 2025 cycle, Turner’s council race was not contested. As noted in the ceremony materials, she was unopposed and received 1,435 votes (100%). 

That unchallenged candidacy is notable in municipal politics: while it can reflect a quiet election season, it can also signal public confidence — or at least the absence of public dissatisfaction strong enough to fuel a challenger.

In her candidate profile, Turner emphasized deep local roots, describing herself as a multi-generation Murray resident and underscoring her educational background and focus on community history and future priorities. 

Against the backdrop of the oath ceremony, Turner’s ongoing service functioned as a stabilizing element — a reminder that while the mayoral election attracted attention, the city’s work is ultimately conducted in the steady accumulation of council decisions, budgets, development negotiations and constituent response.

Bullen given a shot to serve

Newly sworn-in Councilmember Bullen used his remarks to frame municipal service less as political accomplishment and more as the ongoing obligation of listening — particularly in a role where residents expect visibility and access.

In a line that stood out for its directness, Bullen emphasized the short length of his term as a built-in accountability mechanism.

“The benefit of only having a 2-year term is accountability… a 2-year term means you never really stop running,” Bullen said. 

That statement captured one of the underlying themes of the evening: in Murray’s local political culture, elected office remains close enough to voters that officials are rarely insulated from day-to-day feedback.

Bullen won his District 4 contest with 1,336 votes (56.44%), defeating Ben Peck, who received 1,031 (43.56%). 

Pam Cotter: a promise of access, not distance

Councilmember Cotter, elected in District 2, focused her remarks less on broad political messaging and more on practical service — how residents reach their elected representatives, and what kind of relationship she intends to maintain with her constituents.

In one of the clearest commitments of the night, Cotter promised that representation should not depend on how someone voted.

“Those that didn’t vote for me, I want you to know that I am here to represent everyone equally,” Cotter said. 

Cotter also emphasized responsiveness in daily life and outside formal settings — the kind of retail politics that still defines city government in a place like Murray.

“I will be there to answer your phone calls…your emails…or our conversations out in your front yard…or at Smith’s,” Cotter said. 

She won her council race with 1,423 votes (54.77%) over opponent Jared Eborn, who received 1,175 votes (45.23%). 

This is Cotter’s third time taking the oath for District 3, as she served several months on the council to fill Blair Camp’s role after he was appointed mayor after Eyre’s death and was elected to her own term in 2021. 

Service as the city’s shared language

Low-turnout municipal elections often hinge on a relatively small slice of residents — and that structure, according to political scientists, tends to favor incumbents. In cities like Murray, the voters most likely to participate typically skew older, include more property owners, and represent high-frequency voters who rarely miss local elections. Murray’s 2025 primary turnout of 30.31% is not insignificant for a municipal primary, but it still reflects an electorate dominated by consistent voters. All incumbents won their seats, with District 3 guaranteed a new face to fill that seat after the resignation of Rosalba Dominguez.

Did large donors play a role in election results? Murray’s results are mixed. Some large contributions from groups like the Salt Lake Board of Realtors and some labor groups did not pay off as both Turner and Cotter refused these donations and ran conservative campaigns. 

Political scientist Jessica Trounstine of UC Merced would characterize Murray City as a “service city” rather than a “culture war city,” meaning that the electorate valued services (public safety and utilities) and land use issues more.