Clearfield's new mayor resigns

CLEARFIELD — The field is wide open for what may be a repeat of the 2005 mayoral election after the sudden resignation of Mayor Dan W. Phelps, who stepped down early this week.

Phelps, who came into office Jan. 3 after an election victory last November, cited personal and family reasons for his leaving the post.

Since that announcement, one City Council member and one recently ousted member have both sent letters of interest to the city recorder.

A former mayor, who was also recently ousted, is considering throwing his hat in the ring, and so is a defeated mayoral candidate from the November 2005 election.

"It is with deep regret that I must write this letter," Phelps wrote to the city's attorney, Larry Waggoner. "I want to thank the city staff and the City Council for their kindness in helping me these past two months."

Phelps won the election with 46 percent of the vote. He beat out incumbent mayor Tom Waggoner, who ran as a write-in candidate, and Mark Shepherd, vice chairman of the city's Planning Commission.

"I apologize especially to the citizens of Clearfield who supported my campaign and voted for me," Phelps wrote.

Wednesday, Phelps told the Deseret Morning News that the decision to step down was his, and it was one he debated over the three-day weekend. Tuesday, he sent an e-mail to Larry Waggoner.

He also stepped down as a teacher at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seminary at Central Davis Junior High School.

The City Council convened in an emergency work session Tuesday to discuss the change, which many city employees didn't learn about until Wednesday morning.

"It caught everybody off guard," Larry Waggoner said. "We're sorry to see him go."

Phelps said he doesn't expect to get into politics again, but thinks the city will recover from his departure and run smoothly.

But following Phelps' resignation, the council canceled a Wednesday work meeting dealing with an update on the site for a commuter rail station.

"I think they have able and capable people," he said.

Among those, he said, is Don Wood, who has been on the City Council since 2004. Wood is the mayor pro tem and has put his name on the list to be considered for an appointment as mayor, Larry Waggoner said.