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List of mayors of Murray, Utah facts for kids

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Murray, Utah became an official city on July 3, 1902. When it became a city, it set up a special way of being governed called a mayor-council system. This means the city has a mayor who leads, and a city council that helps make decisions. The mayor's job in Murray used to be connected to political parties (this is called partisan), but now it's not. This means the mayor doesn't represent a specific political party, which is called non-partisan. Also, the mayor's term in office used to be two years. But in the 1940s, it changed to a four-year term, just like state law suggested. Below, you'll find a list of all the people who have served as mayor of Murray, Utah.

What is a Mayor?

A mayor is the top leader of a city or town. They are usually elected by the people who live there. The mayor's job is to make sure the city runs smoothly. They work with the city council to make important decisions. These decisions can be about things like city services, parks, and how the city grows.

Murray's Government System

Murray, Utah, uses a mayor-council form of government. In this system, the mayor is the chief executive. This means they are in charge of the city's day-to-day operations. The city council acts like a legislative body. They create and approve the city's laws and budget.

The mayor's position in Murray used to be partisan. This means candidates would run for mayor as part of a political party, like Democrats or Republicans. Over time, this changed. Now, the mayor's position is non-partisan. This means candidates do not run as members of a political party. They focus on their own ideas for the city.

How Long Does a Mayor Serve?

When Murray first became a city, the mayor served for two years. This was a common term length for many local leaders. However, in the 1940s, the state of Utah changed its laws. To match these new state rules, Murray also changed its mayor's term. Since then, the mayor of Murray serves a four-year term. This longer term allows the mayor more time to work on projects and see them through.

Past Mayors of Murray

Here is a list of the people who have served as mayor of Murray, Utah, since the city was founded.

No. Image Name Term began Term ended
1 Chillion L. Miller January 1, 1902 December 31, 1903
2 Joseph Stratton January 1, 1904 December 31, 1905
3 Charles Brown January 1, 1906 December 31, 1909
4 Phillip Bentz January 1, 1910 December 31, 1911
5 George Huscher January 1, 1912 December 31, 1915
6 James W. McHenry January 1, 1916 December 31, 1917
7 Norman Erekson January 1, 1918 December 31, 1919
8 Charles Anderson January 1, 1920 December 31, 1923
9 Isaac Lester January 1, 1924 December 31, 1929
10 Arthur Townsend January 1, 1930 December 31, 1931
11 Fred Peters January 1, 1932 December 31, 1933
12 Gottlieb Berger.jpg Gottlieb Berger January 1, 1934 December 31, 1941
13 Curtis Shaw January 1, 1942 December 31, 1943
14 J. Clifford Hansen January 1, 1944 December 31, 1945
15 William Ernest Smith January 1, 1946 December 31, 1947
16 J. Clifford Hansen January 1, 1948 December 31, 1957
17 Ray Greenwood January 1, 1958 December 31, 1965
18 William E. Dunn January 1, 1966 December 31, 1970
19 Vaughn Soffe Murray Mayor.JPG Vaughn Soffe January 1, 1971 December 31, 1977
20 Larell Muir.jpg LaRell Muir January 1, 1978 December 31, 1985
21 Lavar McMillan January 1, 1986 December 31, 1989
22 Lynn Pett.JPG Lynn Pett January 1, 1990 December 31, 1998
23 Dan Snarr.JPG Dan Snarr January 1, 1999 December 31, 2013
24 Ted Eyre January 1, 2014 September 19, 2017
25 Blair Camp September 19, 2017 December 31, 2021
26 Brett Hales January 1, 2022
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List of mayors of Murray, Utah Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.