Tuesday, Spanish Fork Mayor Steve Leifson announced that he will not be seeking re-election for Spanish Fork Mayor and that he is strongly supporting current City Council member Mike Mendenhall in his run to be the next Mayor. Leifson has served his longtime home for the past eight years as Mayor and for eight years prior as a City Council member.
In his announcement, Leifson states, “When you love and serve a community as long as I have, it’s very difficult to step away and leave it in someone else’s hands. I don’t think I could do it without knowing there was a great choice to hand the reins to. As Mayor, I have been honored to work with Mike Mendenhall on the City Council for eight years and I strongly support him in his run for Mayor. I am very confident that our city will be in good hands with Mike taking the lead. He has always been someone that cares deeply for our community and been willing to work hard to serve in whatever capacity he could to make a difference. I can always count on Mike to get the job done promptly and to be effective and professional in doing the job well. I admire the ethical and principled manner with which he tackles every aspect of his life. Mike is a great leader that will selflessly serve this great city and I hope you will join me in supporting him for Mayor.”
As Leifson leaves office to spend more time with family, it is clear his absence will be felt, as Mr. Mendenhall explains in his statement.
“As I file to run for Mayor of Spanish Fork, I do so with both excitement and sadness. It has been my honor to work with Mayor Leifson for eight years and he will be missed. It is difficult to express how much I love and respect him as a Mayor, and as a man. He deeply loves Spanish Fork and the people that make it such a great place. His roots here are strong and wide; roots that have dug deep through difficult times, roots that have kept us steady and strong through good years, tough years, and a lot of change. Our reputation for being a strong community takes great leadership, determination, and vision. It takes someone more committed to the people and the community than one’s personal interest. Steve Leifson has been that person. I am honored by his enthusiastic support and confidence and will do my best to serve the great people in this community with the same love and dedication he has.”
Mike Mendenhall has served the last 8 years as a member of the Spanish Fork City Council. During that time he also served as President of the Utah League of Cities and Towns and as Mayor Pro Tem. In 2011 he served as President of the Spanish Fork/Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. He works as a licensed Financial Advisor here in Spanish Fork. He is married to Amber Geslison also of Spanish Fork and they have 3 children.
For questions or for interview requests please contact Mike Mendenhall at: 801-358-6229 or Mike@MayorMikeMendenhall.com or Steve Leifson at: 801-372-3590.
