Tish Buroker was sworn in as Riverton’s new mayor on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Alexander Johnson (District 3) and Shannon Smith (District 4), also took the Oath of Office to join Riverton’s City Council as the newest councilmembers. 

Buroker requested the ceremony be held at the Sandra N. Lloyd Community Center, paying tribute to the history of the building and honoring Riverton’s first female mayor.

“It’s called the Sandra Lloyd building because she was the mayor who helped it remain instead of being destroyed when the school moved to a different location,” Buroker said. “I remember as a child in sixth grade, sitting up there in those chairs, because those were the best chairs in the auditorium…Who would imagine that an ordinary person like me would have the opportunity to now stand before you as mayor? It’s extraordinary, and I recognize it and appreciate that opportunity.”

Buroker served two terms as a council member before winning the mayoral seat in November with more than 70% of the vote. She thanked the city staff for the professionalism and efficiency she witnessed during her time on the council and expressed her eagerness to continue serving with them during her tenure as mayor. 

“I’m so excited to be working with them and my message for them is we are going to work hard, we are going to be honest with each other, we are going to accomplish great things and we are going to have a lot of fun doing it,” she said.

Buroker thanked the people who supported her during the campaign, including her uncle Hank Eberle, who served as a mayor in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania for more than 20 years.

“He would call me up and he would give me encouragement and give me feedback,” Buroker said. “There are four things he taught me. One, don’t use inflammatory words. Two, stick to the facts. Three, set goals. And four, stay positive. I really tried to run my campaign that way. I’m trying to run my life that way, and he made that difference in my life.”

Representing District 3, Johnson is a seventh-generation resident of Riverton who served on the city’s Historic Preservation and the Parks, Recreation and Trails committees. He and his wife, Sara, recently welcomed an eighth-generation of Riverton residents with the birth of their daughter, Opal Alexandria.

When his neighborhood was heavily affected by the Bangerter construction at 13600 South, he wrote a letter to the city council, asking for help to relieve the onslaught of traffic in their area. Johnson found that representing his neighborhood in that capacity was engaging and fun, so he decided to throw his hat into the city council race.

“The biggest priority for me is transportation. We have some really big issues,” Johnson said. “I want to help people with roads and streetlights. I’m looking forward to being that voice to get the little things done, because after a while, those little things become a lot.”

For Smith, who represents District 4, growing up in Iran during the revolution influenced her interest in local politics. When her family finally left Iran, Smith was 10 years old. Although she loved Persian culture, she was grateful to be safely back on American soil. 

When she studied political science at Utah State University, her professor told her that local laws and city policies influence a person’s life the most. That message stuck with her. Smith served as PTA President and Legislative Representative for Riverton schools and worked in economic development for the State of Utah. She plans to reach out to constituents and learn more about their concerns. 

“My priority is to continue to do what I did when I was knocking doors and to listen to everyone,” Smith said. “Because people trust me, they feel like I have integrity. I’ll be honest. So my biggest priority is to make sure I continue to have that integrity, honesty and character that they trust.”

Riverton City Council meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month at City Hall (12830 S. Redwood Rd.) The public is invited and encouraged to attend.