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Show The announcement came as something of a shock to many people, since he was a popular Mayor, having been elected twice to that post. He left the City of Orein with a caveat, based on his own experience as a "pan-time" Mayor: "I have become more convinced that Orem would be well-served with a full-time Mayor," he said " The many kinds of situations that arise in the City of Orem on a daily basis, could be effectively addressed with a full-time Mayor." Mayor Willes resigned his Orem City post, effective July 1, 1991, and began his duties with the Utah State Tax Commission on that same day. I personally believe, that Mayor Willes would never have left the Mayor's position that he loved, had the position been the full-time job, fairly compensated, which he recommended in his farewell message. In 1991 there were two unique women, serving as members of the Orem City Council, both of whom were giving good accounts of themselves in their service on the Council: Lucille Steele and Joyce Johnson. Council Member Johnson represented Orem City, as a member of the SCERA Board of Directors, during the time I was also serving on that Board. She was a gracious and effective member of the SCERA Board, with whom I enjoyed working. Before he left office, Mayor Willes publicly endorsed Joyce Johnson to be appointed as Mayor of Orem. During the short time which the Council members had to deliberate, concerning who should serve as Mayor of Orem for the last six months of 1991, there must have been a number of scenarios painted in behalf of the many people who were interested in filling the post, as Mayor. Joyce Johnson was well-seasoned well-seasoned in the legislative work of the City of Orem, and she set about to make good use of the next six months, for which she had been appointed to serve. With the City's population approaching 70,000 people, Orem became the largest city in the State of Utah, having a woman for its Mayor. Having served as a member of the Orem City Council for the same time period that Blaine Willes had served as Mayor, Joyce Johnson was well-seasoned well-seasoned in the legislative work of the City of Orem, and she set about to make good use of the next six months, for which she had been appointed to serve. With such a relatively short time to serve, Mayor Johnson faced the daunting challenge of carrying on the agenda, already outlined by the Orem City Council, as well as in advancing her candidacy in running for the last two years of the term to which Blaine Willes had been elected. Holding down a full-time career. assignment as an executive at Orem's Z.C.M.I. store, Joyce Johnson discovered, jusr as Blaine Willes had done, that the job as Mayor of Orem might well be considered a full-time full-time position. . Ilf r if-, Ljf!?d$rA Orem Lions Club donates Christmas presents pre-sents to youth. Page 68 |