YOUR AD HERE »

Park City honors retiring mayor, City Councilor

Margarethe Thomas, the wife of Park City Mayor Jack Thomas, left, talks about his impending retirement alongside Park City Councilor Tim Henney on Thursday evening at the Marsac Building. The mayor officiated his last scheduled City Council meeting on Thursday, garnering numerous accolades from the audience.
Tanzi Propst/Park Record |

A Marsac Building crowd honored the retiring Mayor Jack Thomas on Thursday evening, listing accolade after accolade as family members, City Hall officials and business leaders described what they considered his greatest accomplishments over an extraordinary four-year stretch in the community.

Thomas leaves office in early January after one term. He did not seek re-election. The Park City Council meeting on Thursday was the last scheduled during his administration. People packed into the City Council chambers to honor the architect and former member of the Park City Planning Commission.

Thomas offered limited comments, saying brilliant people surround him.



“I will always have the community,” the mayor said.

Others, though, provided extensive testimony about the mayor as they lined up to praise his service. The Thomas administration spanned just one term, but the four years were marked by upheaval in the resort industry, great success in City Hall’s open space program with the acquisition of the high-altitude Bonanza Flat and numerous other high-profile events and issues.



Martina Platte, the mayor’s youngest daughter, talked about character growth and development as she addressed her father and the other elected officials. She recalled hiking and mountain biking in Bonanza Flat as she grew up.

“Thank you from my generation,” Platte said.

Cindy Matsumoto, who is retiring from the City Council after two terms, was also honored at the meeting. The Park City Planning Department announced that an annual historic preservation award will be renamed in her honor. In her brief comments, Matsumoto said she wanted to serve as a City Councilor to keep Park City a great place.

The two received a standing ovation from a crowd that was larger than those at many recent City Council meetings. It appeared much of the crowd was there in honor of the retirements.

Speakers addressed both the mayor and Matsumoto as they outlined City Hall successes. Park City Attorney Mark Harrington said the two are devoted to their families and have the fortitude to make a difference. The crowd was shown a video highlighting accomplishments like the Bonanza Flat acquisition, advances in work force or otherwise affordable housing and a revamped paid-parking system in the Main Street core.

Wendy Fisher, the leader of Utah Open Lands, talked about the Bonanza Flat acquisition as she spoke about the service of Thomas and Matsumoto. Betsy Wallace, the chief financial officer and managing director of the Sundance Institute, said the two elected officials are important to the relationship between City Hall and Sundance. Police Chief Wade Carpenter thanked Thomas and Matsumoto for their support of the Police Department. City Manager Diane Foster acknowledged Matsumoto’s support of open space and the mayor’s work on the Bonanza Flat acquisition and a planned arts district. Brad Olch, a former three-term mayor, said the accomplishments of Thomas and Matsumoto will have long-lasting effects on the community.

Bob Wheaton, who is the president and chief operating officer of Deer Valley Resort, and Park City Mountain Resort Chief Operating Officer Bill Rock attended to thank the mayor and Matsumoto for their service. City Councilor Becca Gerber said the two retiring officials bring “humanity” to their roles.

“Thank you for giving me something to live up to,” Gerber said.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Park City and Summit County make the Park Record's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.