When Vineyard City leaders voted to move forward with a $35 million new City Hall, Zack Stratton took a stand for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and the right of voters to be heard. Concerned that the project was rushed through without adequate public input, Zack sponsored a citizen-led referendum to put the brakes on what he saw as an unnecessary and costly expansion of local government.

Zack’s concerns were clear:

• The public was not given a real opportunity to weigh in before the vote to authorize the bonds.

• The project would require significant long-term debt.

• At $35 million, the proposed City Hall was more expensive than Orem’s, even though -Orem has five times the population.

• Orem recently completed a $24 million debt-free City Hall—proving responsible, efficient government is possible without overburdening taxpayers.

Within just one week, over 500 Vineyard residents signed the referendum, sending a powerful message to city leaders: Slow down. Listen to the people. Rethink the priorities.

That message worked. In response to the overwhelming citizen engagement, the City Council reconvened and voted to cancel the project.

Zack’s leadership helped prevent Vineyard from taking on millions in debt for a project the public never approved. His actions reaffirm his core beliefs:

• Government should live within its means

• Big decisions should be made in the open—not behind closed doors

• Citizens deserve a voice before their tax dollars are spent

“This was never about stopping progress,” Zack said. “It was about making sure the people were part of the process. Strong communities aren’t built by bigger buildings—they’re built by listening, planning, and respecting taxpayers.”

Now running for Mayor of Vineyard, Zack Stratton is committed to bringing that same leadership to City Hall—a mayor who asks the tough questions, listens to residents, and puts taxpayers first.