South Salt Lake councilman Shane Siwik resigns

SOUTH SALT LAKE — Embattled Councilman Shane Siwik resigned from his position as quietly as possible Tuesday night, waiting to give notice to the city recorder until both men were in the City Hall parking lot, ready to head home.

Siwik said he decided to quit because his family of eight needs to move to a bigger home. Siwik also is pursuing business opportunities in gardening that he believes will take up much of his time.

"It was time to move on," he said. "It's just the right time to get my family into something a little bit more comfortable."

Siwik has been on the council for 10 years. His resignation comes after a series of disputes with other council members, including a failed vote to "censure" Siwik in February 2008 over comments he made to reporters.

During the recent campaign season, Siwik aligned himself with former Mayor Wes Losser, who was ousted in 2005 after serving just one term. Losser ran against assistant mayor Cherie Wood and was defeated by a 24-point margin.

In coming months, the remaining six members of the South Salt Lake City Council will interview candidates to replace Siwik. The decision could mean a big shift for the council, as Siwik often voted in the minority of 4-3 split decisions.

Siwik has been talking about a resignation for months. He hopes to relocate to northern Montana or south-central Utah, he said.

— Rebecca Palmer