- South Salt Lake City Council faces vacancies in districts 1 and 5.
- Paul Sanchez's District 5 seat is vacant due to alleged absenteeism since August 2025.
- LeAnne Huff resigned from District 1 citing life changes; applications are open until Feb. 18.
SOUTH SALT LAKE — A previously censured South Salt Lake City Council member has been removed from his position, while another council member announced her resignation, leaving the governing body with two vacancies to start the year.
The City Council announced Monday a vacancy in the District 5 seat, which was held by Councilman Paul Sanchez since October 2023.
Initially, the City Council did not indicate a reason for the sudden opening, which sparked a couple of comments on the Stand Up For South Salt Lake Facebook page about what happened.
During Wednesday night's meeting, District 3 Councilwoman Sharla Bynum said Sanchez was notified last week that his seat had become vacant because he had not fulfilled his responsibilities as a South Salt Lake City Council member since August 2025.
"On Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, council member Paul Sanchez was provided notice that his council seat is now vacant, pursuant to Utah Code 10-3-301(5), which states that 'an elected municipal office is automatically vacant if the officer elected to the municipal office, during the officer's term of office … is absent from the district that the elected officer represents for a continuous period of more than 60 days," Bynum said in a prepared statement.
Bynum added that the city of South Salt Lake is obligated to abide by state law, and it has 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
"I would also just say we do wish former council member Sanchez the best of luck," she said.
However, Sanchez told KSL when reached on Thursday for comment that he disagrees with the council's action and plans to fight back.
"I sent the response objecting to the vacancy and saying they're misinterpreting the state law," he said.
As KSL previously reported, in early March 2024, Sanchez was censured by his fellow council members, who accused him of violating the council's code of conduct through social media posts. Council members alleged that Sanchez's posts were criticizing elected officials.
He told KSL in an interview at the time that he felt South Salt Lake City Council members censured him because of his work to expose corruption within the city.
Sanchez faced several penalties as part of the censure, including being prohibited from attending in-person meetings; he was also asked to resign from the position.
Sanchez was later arrested and accused of trespassing after he allegedly tried to gain access to City Hall ahead of a scheduled City Council meeting, a police booking affidavit said.
Despite the incidents, a city spokesperson said Sanchez had been attending meetings virtually "before his 60-day abandonment with no communication to the City Council."
Sanchez told KSL on Thursday that he'd been having some medical issues, which he said City Council members were aware of.
He feels that the censure placed on him may still be a factor in the City Council removing him from the District 5 seat.
"They've been trying to find a way to get me out for a while, so I'm not surprised," Sanchez said.
In addition to the seat left by Sanchez's opening on the City Council, during Wednesday's meeting, District 1 Councilwoman LeAnne Huff announced that she is stepping down, effective immediately, citing a "change in life priorities."
"It has been a profound honor to represent the residents of District 1 over the past six years. I want to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to serve this community and for the privilege of working alongside each and every one of you and with the residents, dedicated staff who make this place a vibrant place to live," she told Mayor Cherie Wood and fellow council members.
Huff said she wants to focus on "other areas" of her life but is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for her successor and the community.
According to a boundary map, District 1 primarily covers the northeast portion of South Salt Lake, while District 5 covers a large portion of the city's southwest.
As for now, applications for both positions are being accepted through Feb. 18.
Candidates will be interviewed by the City Council during its work meeting a week later, on Feb. 25. Council members will vote to appoint the applicants they deem best suited to serve in each district during its regular meeting that same evening.
Both successors will serve the remainder of their terms through the end of 2027. Both positions will come up for reelection in the 2027 municipal election.
A full list of requirements and qualifications is available online.
"A fully staffed and functioning council is in the best interest of the city and all its residents and businesses," Joseph Dane, communications manager for South Salt Lake, said in a statement.
