Big political drama in tiny Ophir

TOOELE (AP) — Ophir doesn't often have political drama. This year, however, the historic canyon town of about 10 full-time residents in the Oquirrh Mountains, has had it in spades.

The town's mayor resigned twice before winning re-election as a write-in candidate in the November election; the entire Town Council resigned en masse under orders from the Lieutenant Governor's Office; and even after a new council was elected, one seat had be decided by two candidates drawing lots.

The complex drama began five months ago when Walt Shubert, Ophir mayor of 20 years, announced he was going to retire with two years left on his term. Ed St. Clair took over as acting mayor for a three-week period before Shubert decided the town still needed him.

"If I can't retire, I sure as hell am not going to resign," Shubert said, of resuming his duties as mayor. "I'm not a quitter."

Then, in October, Shubert quit again.

This time he resigned in a show of solidarity with the Ophir Town Council after the Lieutenant Governor's Office declared the seven-member council too large for a town of Ophir's size. To ensure a fair election for a new, four-member council, the entire sitting council resigned en masse.

Shubert's saga came full circle on Nov. 6 when he was re-elected as mayor by a landslide, taking 23 of 35 total votes.

Shubert said he's comforted knowing that people think he's doing a good job as mayor. He said another reason for his second resignation was that he needed to know the residents of Ophir still wanted him to be mayor.

"It's easy to get downhearted, because you can't please everybody," he said. "It's a real challenge."

Shubert has a home in Tooele but said his heart is with his other home in Ophir.

"My house is in Tooele, but my home is in Ophir," he said.

In the past, Shubert said there have been as many as eight Town Council members in Ophir to increase the chances of having a quorum present during meetings, a difficult proposition in a town where much of the population is part-time.

When the town was informed its council was too big, it was too late to hold a primary, so candidates who wanted to be considered for a council position told their friends and neighbors. With no names on the general election ballot, everyone became a write-in candidate.

"All positions were placed as write-ins, and you had to let it be known if you were willing to accept a position, and everybody that was elected did," Shubert said. "Nobody wrote someone in just for kicks."

But one of the council positions, a four-year term, was up in the air after Scott Degelbeck and Doug Tate tied with 18 votes.

"Its unique," Shubert said of the tie. "That doesn't happen very often."

Tooele County Clerk Marilyn Gillette said two identical pieces of paper — one with Tate's name and the other with Degelbeck's — were placed in an envelope. Then one was drawn out. Tate was declared the winner of the four-year seat.

The drawing last week was witnessed by Shubert, St. Clair, the two candidates and three employees from the clerk's office.

Along with St. Clair and Tate, the other two council members are Robert Johnson and Al Isi.