24-year-old makes history as Vineyard's youngest — and first Black — City Council member

VINEYARD — Jacob Wood is making history in more ways than one.

At just 24 years old, Wood is now the youngest person ever elected to Vineyard's City Council — and the first Black council member in the city's history.

Fresh off his win, Wood isn't wasting any time. He's already diving into the issues that matter most to him and his peers — starting with parking.

"They booted over 200 people, people my age," Wood said, referring to a controversial city parking policy.

Before even launching his campaign, Wood organized a petition to challenge the policy. He rallied more than 400 residents, mostly young adults, and successfully pushed for change.

"We rallied together and we actually got (the policy) paused," he said.

That early victory helped fuel his campaign, which centered on the slogan: "Hope on the horizon."

"No matter how bad your day is, no matter what's going on in your life, great things are always on the horizon," Wood said.

His mother, Debbie Wood, couldn't be prouder.

"He's got a good work ethic. I think (it's) his love for politics, for the people in his community," she said. "He moved to Vineyard two years ago, and he truly loves Vineyard."

Vineyard Mayor Julie Fullmer praised Wood, saying he has "taken so much time to reach out and find pathways for our community," and added she's "excited for the next four years" as Wood and the new council members "give it their all to keep making our community the best place to live."

Wood had some stiff competition. He beat out four other candidates including an incumbent City Council member, and a tenured Utah County administrator.

Wood will officially be sworn in on Jan. 5. Until then, he said he's focused on listening to residents and preparing to serve.

"I'm just so excited to have the opportunity to work for you," he said. "And it's going to be awesome."

This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL's editorial standards are upheld.

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