About Me

 

I have lived in Centerville for 18 years and spent most of my life in Davis County.  I grew up in Layton (which, yes, I pronounce without the “t”).  My husband, Bret, and I purchased our first home together in Bountiful.  In 2005, when our family expanded, we moved to Centerville.  I’ve been blessed to be able to raise my children here and cannot imagine living anywhere else.  This community is my home.  

 

What I Would Bring to Centerville’s City Council

 

When our City Council is made up of members with different backgrounds, our City benefits from their diverse professional skills and experiences. In addition to bringing a fresh new perspective, I would bring to our City Council two specific backgrounds that would complement the professional skills and backgrounds of our existing City Council members:

 

1.  Human resources and problem solving experience; and

2.  Citizen planning experience.  

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Human Resources & Problem Solving Experience

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First, I would bring my education, background, and expertise as an experienced labor and employment attorney.  I am a shareholder with the law firm of Parr Brown Gee & Loveless and have been practicing law for twenty years.  My practice focuses on counseling employers, both private and public, in all aspects of human resource and employment matters.  Although I represent clients in litigation and enjoy doing so, I feel strongly that my clients are best served when I can help them prevent litigation in the first place by taking common sense preventative measures up front.  To that end, I work with my clients to help them develop effective policies and procedures for their organizations and conduct training programs for their supervisors and employees.  I regularly counsel human resource professionals and employers when conflicts arise to help them resolve employee concerns.  Ultimately, I view my role as a problem solver.

 

As a reflection of my success in problem solving for my clients, I am incredibly honored to have been recognized by my peers in the legal community.  I have been listed as a Mountain States Super Lawyer, recognized as one of Utah’s Legal Elite by Utah Business Magazine, and was most recently ranked as a top Utah lawyer for labor and employment law by Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and included in the 2020-2023 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment-Law Management and Litigation-Labor and Employment. 

 

If I am elected, I intend to approach decisions as a member of the City Council in the same way I approach advising my own clients.  I will carefully review and consider all perspectives, actively listen to interested parties, research and consult with subject matter experts as appropriate, and strategically weigh all evidence before making any decision that will impact our City.  I will use these problem-solving skills to identify areas of concern within our City and work to proactively implement strategies and plans to avoid minor concerns turning into major issues.    

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My extensive background and expertise in human resource matters will be particularly beneficial because I understand that several of our City's department heads are planning upcoming retirements.  The City Council will need to fill those critical positions.  As an experienced employment attorney, I am well equipped to assist the City Council in making those important hiring decisions for our community.

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Citizen Planning Experience

 

In addition to my legal background, I will bring to the City Council my knowledge and experience as a member of the Centerville City Planning Commission.  I half blame our former Mayor Paul Cutler for my current decision to run for City Council. He approached me eight years ago and invited me to apply for a position on the Planning Commission.  At that time, I knew practically nothing about land use or zoning.  (I think my exact words to him were: “You know I’m an employment attorney, not a real estate attorney, right?”)  But I care deeply about my community and our City.  After careful reflection, I concluded that I could make a meaningful contribution as a citizen planner. I took Mayor Cutler up on his invitation and submitted my application, and the City Council appointed me to the Planning Commission in 2015. 

 

For the next 6 years, I had the privilege of serving our City on the Planning Commission. As a planning commissioner, I worked hard to educate myself on land use, zoning, and planning issues.  I carefully weighed every land use decision that came before our commission, and I strove to allow all stakeholders and interested members of the public the opportunity to be heard before making any decision.  I was honored to be elected by my fellow commissioners as chairman of the Planning Commission the last two years of my term.   

 

Personal Background

 

I am the proud mom of two children, the youngest of which graduated from Viewmont High School this spring.  It seems incomprehensible to me that I will be an empty nester this fall, but I look forward to exploring new hobbies with my husband … and maybe, just maybe, finally beating him at golf.  I am a proud dance mom who loves to run and binge-watch documentaries in my spare time.  I also have two very spoiled dogs. 

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I believe that community service is important.  Currently, I am the Chair of the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission.  I also serve as a member on the Utah State Bar’s Character & Fitness Committee, and I serve on the board of trustees of the non-profit Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company.          

 

I would be honored to serve on your City Council. If you have any suggestions about how we can continue to improve our community or concerns about the services our City currently provides to our residents, I would love to hear from you!  You are welcome to email me at cheylynn.centerville@gmail.com or call/text me at 801-529-3466.   

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I also encourage you to follow me on my Facebook page Cheylynn for Centerville.