Nordfelt new West Valley mayor

WEST VALLEY CITY — Former West Valley City police chief and the city's one-time Olympic coordinator Dennis Nordfelt beat out 11 applicants Tuesday for the seat of mayor.

He fills the vacancy left by the sudden death last month of Mayor Gearld Wright.

"(Wright) was very good at developing consensus and moving forward united instead of individually," Nordfelt said. "I hope to be able to follow his example."

Nordfelt, who will be sworn in next week, will keep the post at least through November 2003, when he would have to run for mayor in order to serve out the remaining two years of Wright's term. He said Tuesday he plans to run.

A father of nine, Nordfelt, 59, said that while in the City Council chambers he'll focus on how decisions made there affect families and emphasize whenever possible the importance of a traditional family.

Picked, in part, for his understanding of the city's strong city manager form of government, Nordfelt said he'll represent the residents in his new role.

"The government should only do what its citizens want to have done but cannot do for themselves," he said.

Nordfelt was appointed by a four-member City Council — two members threw their hat in the ring and could not vote. Acting mayor and Council Chairwoman Margaret Peterson said Nordfelt was chosen because of his abilities as a communicator.

"Dennis scored tops in his ability to communicate," she said.

Nordfelt will assume a role that puts him in several seats, representing the city on the Wasatch Front Regional Council, Council of Governments and other area governmental agencies.

"He will be a dynamic leader in this state," said city manager John Patterson.

Another role will be for Nordfelt to help communicate that West Valley City is not the crime-ridden, blue-collar, bedroom community that some people still consider it.

"These are all stereotypes we're trying to kill," said Patterson.

For a small group of Scouts looking for a lively civics lesson, Tuesday's 2 1/2-hour selection process provided well.

Twelve candidates in all vied for the vacancy. A 13th was discovered to be bogus after candidate Darlene Averett didn't show for her seven-minute presentation/interview with the council. Turns out someone else sent in a letter of application in her name.