East Carbon City, Bias, Nepotism, and Conflict of Interest

 

As of January 5, 2026, East Carbon has a new Mayor, Carolyn Abeyta, one new Councilwoman Rakele Palmer, and one new Councilman Grant Neath, replacing David Avery, Don Logston, and Liz Ferguson. Will there be change? I seriously doubt this very much. I expect the same exact status-quo to carry on until change actually happens. The left wing localized ruling class will continue in power as long as the vast majority of the remaining citizens of ECC continue keeping their heads buried in the ground, by not voting. I predict the next four years to be null and void, as in previous years. Does nepotism and conflict of interest Utah State Code §67-16-9 ring a bell here, our new mayor being married to Councilman Chuck Abeyta should ring it loudly. We still have Jesse Stewart, a police officer also serving as a City Councilman Utah State Code §67-16-9. Even previous Councilman Phillip Holt at the time was also serving as a police officer for East Carbon City Utah State Code §67-16-9. Incompatible offices, where one supervises the other (ie: Councilman voting on a pay raise for policemen, which would be himself). Talk about playing both sides of the fence at the same time. Dual office holding restrictions, in the Utah State Constitution generally forbids someone from holding two or more municipal offices at the same time. Local policies not only should be implemented, but need to be put into place to prevent one person from not holding just multiple governmental positions, but multiple municipal jobs too. Most everyone who was elected and holds positions at east Carbon City also will hold multiple other positions too. This is not just wrong ethically, but is also wrong on strong moral issues too.