Lifferth said Richardson stood out to him as a strong candidate because of his financial background and moral integrity.

Richardson, a California native, has a bachelor's degree in business management from Brigham Young University with an emphasis on finance. He and his family — wife, Liz, and children, Deborah, 7; Anna, 5; and Sarah, 2 — have lived in Eagle Mountain for two years.

According to a budget change enacted by the City Council Tuesday night, the city will hire a full-time city administrator to help the mayor handle the city's day-to-day functions. Richardson said he could not comment on whether former chief of staff Mike Wren will be chosen as the new city administrator because he had not yet talked to him.

The position has been posted, however, and the city has so far received 18 applicants, according to Eagle Mountain spokeswoman Linda Peterson.

Richardson said he is anxious to meet with the city's department heads and "see where we're at." Then, he hopes, the city will be on the path to overcoming its tumultuous reputation.

"We're a very young town," Richardson said. "We're trying to get our roots, and we've had turnover, obviously. But I think right now there needs to be a vision, and with that vision, we can start growing and concentrating on the most important things of the city."

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