Dustin Gettel: This Utah Mayor Won’t Remove His Rainbow Flags
There is a new face in Midvale City Hall, and he is not afraid to show his true colours. Mayor Dustin Gettel, who stepped into office in January, is making his presence known. As reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, he is taking a quiet stand, and it all centres on a couple of small rainbow flags on his desk.
A Quiet Stand with a Dash of Rainbow
Just three months after Mayor Gettel began his term, a statewide ban on displaying certain flags, including pride flags, on government property came into force in Utah. Governor Spencer Cox let the bill become law without his signature. But those little flags on Gettel’s desk? He says they are staying put. “HB77 is a clear violation of the First Amendment,” Gettel stated firmly, adding, “and I’m very passionate about these rights not only for myself, but for every resident of Midvale.”
He points out his office is relatively private and anticipates the new law will face legal challenges. So, why make a fuss over office decorations? For Gettel, it is about a larger principle. “What’s next? I can’t put a picture of my partner on my desk, for fear that what — someone’s going to come in and see that?” he questioned last month. He also believes there are “much more important issues facing the state of Utah than if you can or can’t have pride flags in a municipal building.” It seems Midvale’s new leader is more interested in substance than superficial squabbles.
From Coin Toss to City Boss
Gettel’s path to the mayor’s office was certainly out of the ordinary. He was appointed in December following the November resignation of the previous mayor, Marcus Stevenson, whose departure was linked to allegations of an affair with a city employee. Talk about stepping in after a bit of local drama.
When the Midvale City Council had to pick a replacement from 12 hopefuls, things got interesting. After an initial vote left candidates tied, Gettel found himself in what he amusingly called “the coin toss heard around the world.” After eight flips, fate was on his side, and a subsequent council vote secured him the position. He was sworn in on January 2, tasked with serving the remainder of Stevenson’s term until next January.
Turning a New Page for Midvale
Despite the turbulent circumstances that brought him to office, Gettel is focused on the future of the city he has come to love. “My focus as an elected official has always been the city of Midvale,” he shared. His priority? “I just really wanted to make sure that the progress that we were making, and the projects that we had in the works were not, even temporarily, put on the back burner while we deal with this city trauma.” It is clear he wants to move forward and ensure Midvale thrives.
And he is not just warming the seat. Gettel plans to run for a full four-year term as mayor this coming autumn. What keeps him going? “This job is amazing in so many ways,” he expressed. “It’s so much fun. It’s difficult at times… But it’s just amazing being able to serve the community in this capacity.”
Finding Home and a Voice in Utah
Originally hailing from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Gettel now calls Midvale his “adopted hometown.” He made the move to Utah nearly a decade ago, instantly captivated by the Wasatch Mountains. His journey into public service began with a very practical problem: his daily commute. Living in a newly developed area, he noticed a distinct lack of crosswalks for pedestrians heading to the Bingham Junction TRAX station. He often had to dash across busy roads to catch his train.
When he raised the issue with the Midvale City Council, the response was less than immediate. However, learning that two council seats were up for election, including his own representative’s, sparked an idea. “I thought, ‘You know what, I think I could probably at least be more responsive to the community,’” Gettel recalled. “I thought I could at least get some spotlight on the issue of walkability.” After a dedicated campaign, which he said involved knocking on every door in his district twice, he was elected to the City Council in November 2017.
From a concerned commuter to the city’s mayor, Dustin Gettel is certainly making his mark on Midvale, one principled stand and practical solution at a time. We will be watching to see what this dedicated local leader does next.
