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SALT LAKE CITY — Stan Penfold will not seek a third term on the Salt Lake City Council in November, the council chairman told KSL on Thursday.
"As much as I really, truly loved it, it was kind of time to move on to a new adventure," he said.
Penfold became the first openly gay member of the Salt Lake City Council when he was elected in 2009. He's making the announcement now, he said, to give potential candidates plenty of time to prepare their campaigns to represent the 3rd District.
Penfold said he has spoken with "at least two" people interested in throwing their hat in the ring but were "pretty clear they didn't want to run against me."
"I felt like I needed to say something sooner so they have an opportunity to prepare," he said.
Penfold's current term runs through January. The deadline to file for candidacy for the 3rd District council seat is June 7.
A petition was recently submitted to the Utah Aids Foundation calling on the organization to review Penfold's performance as its executive director.
The change.org petition, which had gathered 255 signatures by Friday afternoon, asked the organization to "evaluate conflicts of interest and time spent on City Council work rather than as a representative for the Utah AIDS Foundation."
Penfold said the petition "wasn't a factor in my decision at all."
"My board of directors and the staff (at the Utah AIDS Foundation) have been so incredibly supportive from the day I first suggested to them that I might be interested in running for council. … The board has been so aligned with me and my commitment," he said. "I've never received any hesitation from my board in my role as City Council member."
The man who started the petition is a "former employee who was actually terminated for cause," Penfold said.
"I didn't base my decision on a disgruntled employee," he said.
Penfold said he has not committed to endorsing any one candidate who may be interested in filling his seat. He expects several people to run, noting there were seven candidates for the seat in 2009.
Penfold said moving on from public office will be difficult but he's at peace with his decision.
"It really has been something I will always remember and truly cherish because it was just an incredible experience," he said. "I knew it was going to be tough to announce … but I still feel like it's the right thing to do at this point."
