Midvale city mayor resigns after ‘extramarital affair’ accusations, city says
Nov 14, 2024, 11:43 AM | Updated: Nov 20, 2024, 9:09 am
MIDVALE — Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson announced he would resign from office Thursday, effective immediately.
“After much consideration, and with a heavy heart, I’m submitting my resignation as mayor of Midvale city, effective immediately,” Stevenson said in a news release. “In recent weeks, my personal life has drastically changed, and I’ve determined that it would be best for me to step away at this time. I ask for understanding and privacy.”
A wife’s complaint
On Thursday, Midvale city said Stevenson’s wife filed a formal complaint against him, alleging he was having an affair and was in violation of city policy and law. According to Midvale policy, city officials are prohibited from having romantic relationships with employees who work within the same chain of command.
KSL TV obtained a redacted version of that complaint on Friday. In it, she said she witnessed her husband “in circumstances with another individual that gave me reason to believe he was engaged in an extramarital affair.” When she confronted him, he admitted to the affair and “indicated it was ‘someone he works with.'”
She further revealed the individual was a “current employee of Midvale City and subordinate of the Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Stevenson.” Stevenson’s wife said she obtained “substantial evidence,” including video footage, text messages, audio recordings, phone records and “direct communication exchanged between myself and the other involved.”
The city said it brought in a third-party law firm to investigate the allegations. The attorneys determined the mayor had not broken the law, but they were still evaluating whether he violated city policy. Stevenson’s resignation suspended the investigation.
‘I am shocked’
“Serving as mayor has been the most rewarding and challenging experience of my life,” Stevenson said. “I truly cannot thank our community enough for giving me the opportunity to serve in this capacity.”
Stevenson gave no further details regarding the accusations made against him, and, as of Thursday afternoon, his online social accounts appeared to have been deleted.
The city’s communications department said the interim mayor would be awarded to Paul Glover until the city council appoints a replacement, which the city is required to do within 30 days.
“I am shocked. Didn’t expect this at all. You need to know that Mayor Stevenson was a good mayor, and I will miss him. I worked with him, and it’s been great. But I want you to know that Midvale city will move forward,” Glover said.
According to the city, Stevenson was elected in 2021 and was the youngest in its history at 27 years old. Before his time in city office, Stevenson served as David Garbett’s campaign manager for his run for Salt Lake City mayor in 2019. Before that, he served former Rep. Ben McAdams as a fundraising director and campaign coordinator during his run, and eventual win, against incumbent Mia Love.
His most recent work before taking office though, was with Elizabeth Warren in her campaign run for U.S. president in 2020.
This story was updated with further information after its initial publish date.
