County clerk, 2 commission seats up for election in Utah County Republican primary

PROVO — Change could be on the horizon for Utah County as county-wide seats are up for grabs, with some familiar faces hoping to join the ranks.

Home to some of the fastest-growing cities in the state, Utah County is seeing its fair share of challenges in housing affordability, outdated infrastructure and increasing taxes while the population continues to skyrocket. Many of the candidates in the Republican primary emphasize budgeting, taxes and efficiency in their campaigns.

Ballots were sent out this week and must be returned by primary election day on June 23.

Two of the three county commissioner seats are open, with both commissioners Brandon Gordon and Amelia Powers Gardner not running for reelection.

County Commission Seat A

For seat A, political newcomer Brent V. Bowles faces off with seasoned politician Michelle Kaufusi in the Republican primary.

Bowles is a former firefighter and nurse anesthetist who has lived in Utah County for more than three decades. He describes himself as a political outsider and is focusing his campaign on budget reform and reducing government inefficiency.

"I'm running because I believe Utah County is at a crossroads. Families are paying more for housing, groceries, utilities and taxes, while county government keeps growing and taxpayers too often feel ignored. I believe government should live within its means, just like the families who pay for it," Bowles said.

Bowles signed a "no property tax rate increase pledge" and said he will fight for budgeting, transparency, accountability and "common-sense leadership." He was nominated by the Utah County Republican Party.

Kaufusi was the first female mayor of Provo, serving in the position from 2018 to 2025 before narrowly losing to Marsha Judkins in last year's municipal election.

"When I first took office as mayor of Provo city, my goal was simple: to leave the city better than I found it. I'm ready to bring that same proven, conservative leadership to serve the entire county," she said in January when she announced her campaign.

Kaufusi said she loves Utah County and wants to protect what makes it special while "preparing responsibly for its future." She has the support of both Powers Gardner and Gordon, as well as several other local mayors in the county.

"As mayor of Provo, Michelle Kaufusi led major, complex projects. County government demands that same kind of leadership. It requires leaders who have a clear vision and the ability to execute it. Michelle has proven she can do both, and she's ready to lead at the county level," Powers Gardner said.

County Commission Seat B

Three Republicans have thrown their hats into the ring for the seat B primary: Isaac Paxman, David M. Spencer and Carolina Herrin.

Paxman is an assistant attorney general for the Utah Attorney General's Office and he served as Provo's deputy mayor for the last eight years with Kaufusi.

"Utah County is at a pivotal moment ... we have the foundation to become the best‑run county in the nation, but that requires experienced commissioners who can seize opportunities while staying true to our principles of limited government and strong family values," he said on his campaign website.

Paxman has received endorsements from former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, Commissioner Gordon and several mayors in the county.

"Growth, transportation, water and taxes will shape our county for decades. The decisions being made today require someone who has already managed large organizations, worked with state leaders, balanced competing priorities and delivered results," he said.

Spencer was serving as an Orem City Councilman before he was beat out in last year's municipal election. He has touted accomplishments Orem made without raising taxes and publicly criticized the county commission's tax hikes and salary increases.

"While serving on the Orem City Council, David earned a reputation for being accessible, thoughtful and willing to ask hard questions, especially when it came to growth, infrastructure, public safety and how taxpayer dollars are spent," his campaign website states.

Spencer emphasized transparency, fiscal discipline and a focus on long-term solutions. He says he wants to establish a strategy and innovation department to conduct "deep-dive reviews of every county department to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and modernize operations."

Herrin is an immigrant from Brazil who came to Utah at 13 years old. She's worked at the Utah State Prison, as a Utah Highway Patrol trooper, and at the Utah Attorney General's Office where she investigated major crimes as an undercover agent. She has also worked as a senior policy advisor for the county and as the legislative affairs director for the Utah Department of Corrections.

Herrin was endorsed by the Speaker of the House Mike Schultz, House Majority Whip Candice Pierucci and the Utah County Fraternal Order of Police.

"I'm running to bring experienced, steady leadership that protects taxpayers, strengthens public safety and keeps government accountable to the people it serves," she said.

Both Spencer and Herrin have been nominated by the Utah County Republican Party.

The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted debates for both commission seats which can be viewed here.

Utah County Clerk

The other race to pay attention to is the county clerk.

Incumbent Aaron Davidson said he is running for reelection because "voters deserve honesty, transparency, and a clerk that's willing to stand alone fighting for change to implement the best policies and practices to ensure the integrity of the election process and the security of every ballot here in Utah."

Davidson has faced criticism during his tenure for implementing a controversial 'fast cast voting' system which caused discrepancies and high signature rejection rates in the 2024 election. He was also reprimanded by the state elections office in 2024 for filling in the party affiliation of a candidate's filing form after the state-imposed filing deadline had passed.

Corey K. Astill hopes to usurp Davidson, claiming Davidson's tenure has been marked by "operational election failures" and an "unprecedented loss of experienced elections staff."

"Astill is running for Utah County Clerk because he believes Utah County deserves a clerk who prioritizes the integrity of elections without injecting personal agendas or creating unnecessary barriers for voters," his campaign said.

Astill has worked in government for several years including serving as a legislative director for the U.S. Senate an as a law clerk. Astill says he will bring "professionalism, operational competence and transparency" to the clerk's office.

Depending where one resides in Utah County, primary ballots will also include races for Nebo School District, state school board district 11 and 14, and state senate districts 18 and 21. Some Utah County residents will also have the opportunity to vote in the Republican primary for Congressional District 3 where incumbent Celeste Maloy faces off with Phil Lyman.

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