Elections

Candidate Statements

Craig Whiting said: "I was the strongest voice against nuclear as a planning commissioner... I'm against nuclear in our city," and I'm...100% for positioning it outside city boundaries (and hopefully a long ways from city boundaries!)."

Emily Buss said: "I’m not comfortable with nuclear energy projects within city limits. As Eagle Mountain continues to grow, I think it makes more sense to explore nuclear in less populated areas across the state, places that aren’t so close to Utah Lake or natural washes."

Brett Wright for city council said: "...at some point in time nuclear will become part of the solution... I am not opposed to considering these options...I'm open minded to the possible solutions that nuclear may present, assuming it could be done safely."

Laura Jensen for city council said: "I’m open to learning more about emerging options like small scale nuclear energy but only if they meet the highest standards of safety, undergo thorough environmental review, and have clear benefits for our residents over time." 

Oreta Tupola for city council said: "While nuclear energy offers long-term benefits, any proposal must go through rigorous safety, environmental, and public review."

Charlotte Ducos for city council said: "I am supportive of nuclear and other alternative energy projects in the City as long as they are properly vetted, zoned, and have all safety protocols in place. Nuclear energy has been proven to be both clean and safe."

(Source for city council candidates' stances: post (https://www.facebook.com/groups/177302272300906/?multi_permalinks=24575486045389189&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen) in private city Facebook group.) (https://www.facebook.com/groups/177302272300906/)

The 2 mayoral candidates with the most votes in the primary will be on the general November 4 ballot. 

At a June 2025  cottage meeting (minute 1:15:50) (https://youtu.be/jDK7FPFV26Y?si=TMEEyzEI9lBL7O3G&t=4551) for Eagle Mountain mayoral candidates, candidate Jared Gray said that nuclear-pursuing data centers are "cash cows that our city needs, wants, and should should pursue," and incumbent Tom Westmoreland enthused about how rich the city could become if it only allowed nuclear power and tech companies into the city. Melissa Clark said, "If nuclear is the very best, and there are reasons we need to be concerned about it, we should work to fix those reasons before we bring it in." She went on to compare fears about nuclear energy to historic societal fears about electricity that compared it to witchcraft. Donna Burnham said, "I do support nuclear...the only way that we're going to get power that's clean is through nuclear."

The only mayoral candidate who clearly said he was against nuclear energy in Eagle Mountain was viral newcomer and political outsider, Duncan Searcy. "I wouldn't want one in the city limits or anywhere nearby...We have a vast secured military base out in Dugway. If the state is serious about our energy issues, I encourage them to look at that as a possible venue for a nuclear reactor. I definitely believe in the science of nuclear, but do I want to be the guinea pig?...No, I would oppose it as far as I could, and if I was powerless to do anything, I would resign as mayor and probably move." 

All the other candidates either didn't give a clear no to nuclear or gave open support to it at that meeting.

Funding

Funding statements (https://cedarvalleysentinel.com/opinions-voices/insider-2025/get-informed-a-look-at-eagle-mountain-mayor-and-city-council-candidates-contributions-and-expenditures/) have also shown a clear tie between incumbent mayor Tom Westmoreland and pro-nuclear (https://www.ksl.com/article/51162544/utah-political-leaders-say-state-is-ready-to-be-a-big-player-in-nuclear-energy) Governor Cox and John Curtis, according to a recent report from local newspaper, the Cedar Valley Sentinel.