By Mariden Williams | [email protected]

The city of South Jordan is one of three finalists for the 2020 Bill Daniels Ethical Leadership Award. The awards program, held by the University of Utah and paid for by the Daniels Fund, recognizes Utah businesses, nonprofit organizations and government entities that embody best practices in ethical behaviors. 

"It's really an honor to be one of the top three chosen for this," said South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey.

Because of the nomination, Ramsey and City Manager Gary Whatcott were invited to the University of Utah to conduct a video interview, which will be reviewed by the judges as they select the winners.

"It was a privilege for both of us to really talk about the high standard of ethics that we maintain in our city leadership," Ramsey said . "Transparency and accountability and ethics—we strive very hard as elected officials and staff to maintain those here in South Jordan. What an honor it is to be to be chosen as a top three finalists for that award. It's a pretty big deal." 

Ordinarily the awards ceremony is held as part of a breakfast banquet, but this year South Jordan officials will find out whether or not they've won via a Zoom meeting, to be held on Sept. 16.

"It's obviously not going to be in person right now, this year," Ramsey said.

City staff filed the initial application to be considered for the award some months ago. Applications first opened in May 2020.

"It was just a small application that the staff put together, based on a lot of work that the mayor and city council as well staff jointly do together,” said Don Tingey, South Jordan's strategic services director. “It was a privilege to put that application together, and like [Ramsey] said, a privilege to be one of the three finalists." 

The identity of the nominees is meant to be a secret until the award ceremony is held. But thanks to a chance encounter at the University of Utah, Ramsey has an idea as to who at least one of the other nominees might be.

"I saw the CEO of mountain America walk in right after me; I said hi to him when he walked in," Ramsey said . "I barely recognized him. We were all in masks, you know. So, I don't know if Mountain America is one of the other nominees, but I don't know why else he would be walking in where we were."

According to Ramsey, Mountain America Credit Union CEO Sterling Nielsen is a South Jordan resident, so should Mountain America take the award, in a way it will still be a win for South Jordan.