TAYLOR KNUTH ANNOUNCES MAYORAL BID: ‘OGDEN WAS THE CITY THAT BUILT ME’

Long-time Ogden City resident Taylor Knuth officially launched candidacy for Ogden City Mayor at the Marshall White Community Center on Monday with a personal speech—”I believe that our next mayor needs to be of, by, and for the community—and that’s exactly who I am.”

By Deann Armes

NEWS

Taylor Knuth announces candidacy for Ogden City Mayor at Marshall White Center. Photo by Deann Armes

Taylor Knuth announced his candidacy for Ogden City Mayor in front of the Marshall White Center on Monday, January 9 at 1 p.m. surrounded by supporters in the rain who were visibly moved by his emotional, community-focused speech. Ogden City Council member Angela Choberka introduced Knuth and expressed her full support: “He does so much more than talk about what should be done; he does the work to make our community better,” she said.

Knuth, a resident of Ogden since 2011, shared stories in today’s speech about his Northern Utah roots and childhood in poverty raised by a single, hardworking mother—and the community. “I spent so much time in a community center of my own, just like this one,” he said in today’s campaign launch speech.

He fought with 200 Ogden City residents to restore The Marshall White Center. “It was a number one priority,” as chair of the Ogden Diversity Commission, he said. Over the last 12 years, Knuth has worked on several other community projects including addressing health disparities in the LatinO/A communities of Ogden during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, and raising millions of dollars for Ogden organizations working to improve the community.

After moving to Ogden to attend Weber State University and starting his professional career working with United Way of Northern Utah in Community Engagement, Knuth decided to build his life here. “Like generations of my family before me,” he said, “I decided to put down roots here and what I quickly learned is Ogden is the place where despite who you are, what you are going through, and where you came from, your dreams can become reality.”

From “the kind of poor that limits a young kid from dreaming about the future” to candidate for Ogden Mayor City, Knuth says that after his years of building community it’s time to give back.

“Our next mayor needs to know the names of the barbers and bartenders, the police officers and the postal workers, the service members, and the school teachers. Our next mayor needs to center out past to shape our future. And our next mayor needs to be by, of, and for the community—and that’s exactly who I am,” said Knuth.

Taylor Knuth is currently the Deputy Director in the Department of Economic Development for Salt Lake City.

If elected, Taylor Knuth will be the first openly queer person of color to be elected to a mayoral seat in the State of Utah. He is the first openly gay mayoral candidate in the history of Ogden City.

Follow Taylor Knuth @taylorforogden on Facebook and Instagram, and taylorforogden.com.

Supporters gather in the rain for Taylor Knuth’s mayoral bid launch. Photo by Deann Armes