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- Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson resigned following accusations of an affair and was in violation of city policy, the city said.
- City Councilman Paul Glover will assume mayoral duties until a replacement is appointed.
- The council aims for a smooth leadership transition, with applications open until Nov. 20.
MIDVALE — Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson has resigned from office less than a week after he was accused of having an affair and being in violation of city policy, according to the city.
The city announced Stevenson's departure Thursday and said City Councilman Paul Glover will step in to fill mayoral duties until the council appoints a replacement — which it is obligated to do within 30 days.
City officials said the city received a complaint from Stevenson's wife on Friday that he was having an affair and in violation of city policy. The city prohibits romantic relationships between employees who work within the same chain of command.
The city brought in a third-party law firm, which determined the mayor had not broken the law but they were still evaluating whether he violated the city's policy. The investigation was suspended with Stevenson's resignation.
"After much consideration, and with a heavy heart, I'm submitting my resignation as mayor of Midvale city, effective immediately," Stevenson wrote in his resignation letter. "In recent weeks, my personal life has drastically changed, and I've determined that it would be best for me to step away at this time. I ask for understanding and privacy. Serving as mayor has been the most rewarding and challenging experience of my life. I truly cannot thank our community enough for giving me the opportunity to serve in this capacity."
A source close to Stevenson's wife confirmed the mayor was having an affair with a woman he met through his job at the city. The couple is in the process of filing for divorce.
Stevenson was first elected in 2021, and at 27, was the youngest mayor in city history, according to his official biography. His profile says he hails from a family devoted to public service, and his proudest accomplishment is his family, his wife and their three boys.
Stevenson's social media accounts appear to have been deleted, and the former mayor could not be reached for comment through the contact info listed on Midvale's website.
The council issued a statement saying it has accepted Stevenson's resignation.
"Though we are deeply disappointed by the circumstances surrounding his departure, we remain committed to moving forward with integrity and accountability," the council said. It did not provide more information about the circumstances of his resignation.
"Our priority now is to ensure a smooth transition of leadership," the council continued. "The City Council has taken swift and deliberate action to maintain the stability of city operations and continue serving our residents with the high standards they deserve. We are focused on maintaining the trust of our community and will work to ensure that our leadership reflects the values of accountability and public service."
Utah law tasks the council with appointing a replacement to fill the remainder of Stevenson's term. The council said interested applicants can apply at midvale.utah.gov by Nov. 20 for consideration.
Prior to taking office, Stevenson worked for Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren's 2020 presidential campaign and served as campaign manager to David Garbett when Garbett ran for mayor of Salt Lake City in 2019. And before that, he worked for Rep. Ben McAdams' congressional campaign.
Contributing: Garna Mejia
Correction: An earlier version incorrectly said Midvale announced Stevenson's resignation on Tuesday. It was announced Thursday.
