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County

Aimee Winder Newton

County Council (Chair 2026) · District 3

OfficeCounty Council (Chair 2026)DistrictDistrict 3PartyRepublicanTerm endsJan 2027Next electionNot seeking re-electionRaised$89,458Serving since2014

At a glance

  • County Council District 3 (covers ~100% of Taylorsville) since 2014; Chair in 2026.
  • Not running in 2026; the D3 race is Mike Bird (R) vs. Luke Maynes (D).
  • Gave $6,000 from her campaign account to Bird's D3 campaign.
  • Also a Senior Advisor to the Governor, per her 2026 disclosure.
Open compare
Analytical assessment, not factMedium confidence
OverallLean conservative
FiscalLean conservative
SocialModerate to lean conservative
Very liberalModerateVery conservative

Lean conservative (center-right) — the most cross-pressured Republican on the council.

Evidence behind this assessment
  • Party alignment: 38/63 (60%) with GOP majority on contested Legistar roll calls 2021–May 2025 — lowest of any Republican in the sample (Legistar API).
  • Key splits: 21-1496 mask-order termination (Nay, crossed party); 22-1161 FY2023 budget (Aye, crossed 3 GOP no's); 22-0855 Little Cottonwood resolution (Nay, with GOP majority); 24-2087 DA $2,500 law-school contribution (Nay).
  • 2025 fiscal votes: Oct 28 childcare cut (seconded, Aye); Nov 4 senior-center closure (proposed, Aye) — KSL; Dec 9 tax increase (Aye) — KSL.
  • Money: $6,000 to R candidate Mike Bird; $1,000 to R Assessor Stavros (EasyVote).

Rating method

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Answers are estimates of likely positions based only on this official's public record (votes, bills, statements and posts) as stored on this site. They are not statements by the official and may be incomplete. Check the linked sources.

Ask your own question about Aimee Winder Newton

Full details below are grouped by area. Facts link to public sources; "[COMPUTED]" marks derived dates.

Votes & record

Roll-call data (Legistar, Jan 2021–May 2025). Legistar records individual votes mainly on non-unanimous items. There were 75 contested roll calls. She voted with the Republican-majority position on 38 of 63 (60%), the lowest party-alignment rate among Republican members in this sample. Source: Legistar Web API.

Date Item (Legistar file) Her vote Outcome Source
Jan 13, 2022 Resolution to terminate the Health Department's Jan 7, 2022 mask order (21-1496) Nay; she and Stringham joined the Democrats Failed 4–5 Legistar matter 21-1496
May 18, 2021 Resolution urging the Mayor to fully reopen county facilities (21-0609) Aye Passed 6–3 21-0609
Oct 4, 2022 Joint resolution on the Little Cottonwood Canyon EIS (22-0855) Nay Passed 5–4 22-0855
Dec 6, 2022 FY2023 final budget (22-1161) Aye Passed 6–3; three Republicans voted no 22-1161
Dec 10, 2024 FY2025 final budget (24-2357) Aye Passed 24-2357
Feb 18, 2025 Ordinance enacting the optional sales tax for highways/transit (Ch. 3.13; 25-2588) Aye Passed 7–2 25-2588
Oct 28, 2025 Cut county childcare program funding; Stringham moved, Winder Newton seconded Aye Passed 5–4, party line KSL
Nov 4, 2025 Close the 10th East Senior Center; she proposed it Aye Passed 5–4, party line KSL
Dec 9, 2025 2026 budget with about a 14.65% property-tax increase (19.63% proposed) Aye Passed 8–1 (Moreno no) KSL; County explainer
Aug 18, 2026 Expand the recreation bond to $128M for the Nov ballot Not individually reported (one member did not vote; Moreno was the only no) Passed 7–1 (Moreno no) KSL

Additional context:

  • A Feb 2026 legislative intent to preserve childcare access for low-income families passed unanimously.
  • She was chair during the Sep 2026 unanimous data-center moratorium for unincorporated areas.
  • The "Ax the Tax" referendum on the 2026 tax increase did not qualify: the County Clerk reported 6,311 verified signatures as of Feb 11, 2026. (Clerk notice)

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Key Council actions on Ask topics (Salt Lake County Council, Oct 2024 – May 2025; added Oct 12, 2026)

From the County's official Legislative Research Center (slco.legistar.com). Where the record shows no individual roll call, only the Council's action is listed; it is not an individual vote. The public Legistar record has no Council meetings after May 2025.

Date Item Result Vote Topics Source
2025-05-06 Budget Adjustment: Facilities Requests to Transfer $60,000 in Under-Expend Budget from Other Completed Capital Projects to the Jail Expansion Study Transformational Initiative ProjectWhat it does: Would transfer $60,000 from other completed projects to the Jail Expansion Study project. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2025-04-29 Final Adoption of an Ordinance of the Legislative Body of Salt Lake County, Utah, Repealing Chapter 9.26 of the Salt Lake County Code of Ordinances, 2001, Entitled “Fluoridation of Public Water SuppliWhat it does: Would repeal the part of the Salt Lake County Code that deals with the fluoridation of public water supplies. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded water meeting record, minutes
2025-04-15 Board of Health Appointment: (Interview) -Dr. Carol Osborn, Licensed Health CareWhat it does: Official item text: Board of Health Appointment: (Interview) -Dr. Carol Osborn, Licensed Health Care. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2025-04-15 Consideration of 2025 Capital Improvements Fund Allocation and Related Budget Adjustment of $8,343,934What it does: Official item text: Consideration of 2025 Capital Improvements Fund Allocation and Related Budget Adjustment of $8,343,934. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Yea (recorded roll call 6-3) taxes meeting record, minutes
2025-04-15 Consideration of a Resolution Approving an Interlocal Agreement Between Salt Lake County and the Unified Police Department Relating to Grant Funding Provided by the Department of Justice’s Office on VWhat it does: Would approve an interlocal agreement between Salt Lake County and the Unified Police Department for grant funding. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2025-04-15 Council Discussion and Possible Direction Concerning Funding Provided to the Unified Fire Authority (UFA) Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. § 17-34-1 and Salt Lake Countywide Policy No. 7037 for the Period BWhat it does: Would provide funding to the Unified Fire Authority for a specified period. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Fail Nay (recorded roll call 3-6) public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2025-04-15 Budget Adjustment: The Mayor’s Office Requests to Shift $50,000 from Personnel to Operations to Hire a Project Management Consultant to Support Planning and Coordination for Key Initiatives, IncludingWhat it does: Would shift $50,000 from Personnel to Operations for a Project Management Consultant. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2025-04-08 Consideration for Approval of an Annexation that Creates a Peninsula - Cottonwood Heights (“Tavaci” Annexation)What it does: Would approve the “Tavaci” annexation to Cottonwood Heights, which creates a peninsula. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded growth / housing meeting record, minutes
2025-04-08 Final Adoption of an Ordinance of General Revision, Amending Section 19.15.140, Entitled “Retention of Single-Family Residence Status and Verification of Water and Sewer” of the Salt Lake Code Of OrdiWhat it does: Official item text: Final Adoption of an Ordinance of General Revision, Amending Section 19.15.140, Entitled “Retention of Single-Family Residence Status and Verification of Water and Sewer” of the Salt Lake Code Of Ordi. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded water meeting record, minutes
2025-04-01 Consideration of Funding Request for Oxbow Jail Third PodWhat it does: Official item text: Consideration of Funding Request for Oxbow Jail Third Pod. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2025-04-01 Consideration of Rescission of the 2025 Sundance Contribution of $150,000What it does: Would rescind the 2025 Sundance Contribution of $150,000. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Yea (recorded roll call 7-1) taxes meeting record, minutes
2025-03-25 Consideration of a Resolution of the Salt Lake County Council Dissolving the Salt Lake County Justice Court Effective June 30, 2027, and Providing for Related mattersWhat it does: Would dissolve the Salt Lake County Justice Court, effective June 30, 2027. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2025-03-18 Consideration of an Approval of an Annexation that Creates an Island - Salt Lake City Northpoint AnnexationWhat it does: Official item text: Consideration of an Approval of an Annexation that Creates an Island - Salt Lake City Northpoint Annexation. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Excused (recorded roll call 6-1) growth / housing meeting record, minutes
2025-02-25 Budget Adjustment: The Office of Regional Development Requests to Recognize $711,000 in the Housing Trust Fund, Approved as Part of the 2025 Fall BudgetWhat it does: Official item text: Budget Adjustment: The Office of Regional Development Requests to Recognize $711,000 in the Housing Trust Fund, Approved as Part of the 2025 Fall Budget. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded growth / housing meeting record, minutes
2025-02-18 Final Adoption of an Ordinance of the Legislative Body of Salt Lake County, Utah, Enacting Chapter 3.13 of the Salt Lake County Code Of Ordinances, 2001, Entitled “Optional Sales And Use Tax to Fund HWhat it does: Official item text: Final Adoption of an Ordinance of the Legislative Body of Salt Lake County, Utah, Enacting Chapter 3.13 of the Salt Lake County Code Of Ordinances, 2001, Entitled “Optional Sales And Use Tax to Fund H. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Yea (recorded roll call 7-2) taxes, public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2025-02-18 - HB 461 Animal Crime Victim Amendments – Rep. Verona MaugaWhat it does: Official item text: - HB 461 Animal Crime Victim Amendments – Rep. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2025-02-04 Formal Adoption of an Ordinance of the Salt Lake County Council Dissolving the Arbor Park Neighborhood Development Project AreaWhat it does: Would dissolve the Arbor Park Neighborhood Development Project Area. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded growth / housing meeting record, minutes
2025-02-04 - HB 329 Homeless Services Amendments – Rep. Tyler ClancyWhat it does: Official item text: - HB 329 Homeless Services Amendments – Rep. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded growth / housing meeting record, minutes
2025-02-04 - SB 91 Restaurant Tax Revisions – Lincoln FillmoreWhat it does: Official item text: - SB 91 Restaurant Tax Revisions – Lincoln Fillmore. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded taxes meeting record, minutes
2025-01-28 Consideration of Board of Health Board Appointments: · Scott Brown, At Large Member · Steve Chambers, At Large MemberWhat it does: Official item text: Consideration of Board of Health Board Appointments: · Scott Brown, At Large Member · Steve Chambers, At Large Member. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Absent (recorded roll call 6-2) public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2024-12-17 Consideration of a Resolution to Cooperate with Federal Immigration Enforcement ActivitiesWhat it does: Official item text: Consideration of a Resolution to Cooperate with Federal Immigration Enforcement Activities. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded immigration meeting record, minutes
2024-12-10 Consideration of a Resolution Approving a Real Estate Purchase Agreement for the LibraryWhat it does: Would approve a real estate purchase agreement for the library. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded education meeting record, minutes
2024-12-10 Consideration of a Resolution of the Salt Lake County Council Adopting a Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 for Salt Lake County Offices, Departments, and Agencies, Including Proposed Tax Revenues, BudWhat it does: Would adopt a final budget for Salt Lake County Offices, Departments, and Agencies for Fiscal Year 2025. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Yea (recorded roll call 6-1) taxes meeting record, minutes
2024-11-19 Consideration of a Resolution Setting Forth Maximum Operational Capacity for the Salt Lake County JailWhat it does: Official item text: Consideration of a Resolution Setting Forth Maximum Operational Capacity for the Salt Lake County Jail. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2024-10-08 Consideration For Adoption of A Resolution Of The County Council of Salt Lake County, Utah (The “County”) Authorizing And Approving the Execution and Delivery of a Fourth Amendment to Master Lease AgrWhat it does: Would allow the County to make changes to a Master Lease Agreement. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded taxes meeting record, minutes
2024-10-08 Consideration of a Resolution of the Salt Lake County Council Formally Petitioning the Utah Legislature to Approve the Dissolution of the Salt Lake County Justice Court Consistent with Utah Code Ann.What it does: See the linked official text. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
2024-10-08 Budget Adjustment: Arts and Culture Requests to Transfer the Mid-Valley Exterior Signage project with $80,000 Budget in the Arts and Culture Fund to the Mid-Valley Construction Project in the Tourism,What it does: Would transfer $80,000 from the Arts and Culture Fund to the Mid-Valley Construction Project. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded taxes meeting record, minutes
2024-10-08 Budget Adjustment: Mayor’s Finance Requests $250,000 for Public Notice and Education Related to General Obligation Public Safety BondsWhat it does: Official item text: Budget Adjustment: Mayor’s Finance Requests $250,000 for Public Notice and Education Related to General Obligation Public Safety Bonds. A Yea vote supported doing that. council record Pass Council action; no individual roll call recorded taxes, public safety / policing meeting record, minutes
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Campaign finance

Source: EasyVote (filer "Winder Newton, Aimee"). Figures are OCR'd from the redacted PDFs.

Report (submitted) Contributions Expenditures Ending balance
YE 2024, amended (04/17/25) $2,809.50 $16,120.83 $92,366.53 (opening balance $105,677.86)
YE 2025 (01/17/26) $1,847.65 $4,756.41 $89,457.77
  • She has filed no 2026 interim reports, which is consistent with not running.
  • The committee carries a balance of about $89K.
  • From that account she gave $6,000 to Mike Bird's D3 campaign ($1,000 on 1/6/26 and $5,000 on 1/30/26, per Bird's Mar 2026 report) and $1,000 to Assessor Chris Stavros (5/1/24).
Disclosures

The 2026 Annual COI disclosure (signed 01/15/2026) lists:

  • employers: Salt Lake County and the State of Utah (Governor's Office / Office of Families), plus Figco, Inc., where she is President (property management)
  • income: rental income from two residential properties
  • stock holdings of $5,000 or more: Radian, Apple, Ford, Citigroup
  • board positions: none

PDF; 2025 PDF

Election history
Year Result Source
2022 Winder Newton (R) 28,109 (54.05%); Ashley R. Liewer 21,132 (40.64%); Kerry Soelberg 2,763 (5.31%) 2022 results
2018 Winder Newton (R) 28,562 (52.81%) vs Lisa Gehrke 25,521 2018 results
2014 First elected Wikipedia
Lobbying & ethics
  • No lobbyist registrations or ties found.
  • Robinson v. Winder Newton et al. (3rd District Court, Case No. 220900591): a former county GOP communications director sued her, Council Member Stringham, and a county employee for defamation over their public criticism. A council public-comment record (May 2024) states that the DA's Office was representing them. Judge Barry Lawrence dismissed the media defendants in June 2023. The case outcome was not verified. (Council minutes (Legistar); Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Council-wide audits (she is a member):
    • Financial audit, Apr 2024, which followed a fraud tip: 6 findings and 12 recommendations, all implemented by Aug 2025. (report; follow-up)
    • Travel-expense audit, May 2025: 5 findings and 8 recommendations. The Sep 2026 follow-up found 6 implemented, 1 in progress, and 1 that could not be tested. (report; follow-up)
    • These audits are office-wide; no individual member was named as at fault in the summaries reviewed.
Office & term
Item Detail Source
Office County Council, District 3. She is Council Chair for 2026. County Council page
Current term 2023–2026; it ends early January 2027 2026 Budget in Brief, p.3
Service start January 2014 (first elected 2014; re-elected 2018 and 2022) 2018 results; 2022 results
Next election Not seeking re-election. On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot, the District 3 race is Luke Maynes (D) vs Mike Bird (R); see the candidate notes below. Utah Junction; 2026 certification
Salary (2026) Council Chair: $57,293 (part-time council) 2026 Adopted Budget, p.49
Other public role Her 2026 county conflict-of-interest disclosure lists the State of Utah as a second employer: "Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of the Utah Office of Families." 2026 COI (PDF)
Stated affiliation
Item Detail Source
Party / ballot label Republican 2022 results
Self-description Her official county bio describes her as a "Budget hawk" who works on "protecting tax dollars." It says she founded and chairs the county Intergenerational Poverty Task Force and that she works on air quality, affordable housing, and traffic. She was the first woman elected council chair and a 2020 Republican candidate for governor. No self-applied "conservative/moderate" label appears on official pages. County bio
Caucus / party roles Member of the council's Republican majority. She was elected council chair in 2018, 2023, and 2026. Wikipedia; Council page
Contact (official)
Known gaps

Gaps

  • Roll-call detail after May 2025: council records moved from Legistar to CivicClerk. News coverage was used for 2025–26 votes. Request: County Council Office; minutes are at CivicClerk.
  • Final disposition of Robinson v. Winder Newton (Case 220900591) and the cost of county legal representation. GRAMA: District Attorney's Office (civil division) / Council (legal-services contracts).
  • Maynes COI disclosure: not posted. GRAMA/inquiry: County Clerk, Elections.
About this office: Salt Lake County Council member

One of nine part-time members of the county's legislative body: they adopt the $2.1 billion county budget, pass county ordinances, confirm appointments, and also sit as the Board of Equalization that hears property-value appeals.

Role
County legislator (six by district, three at-large)
Hours
Part-time
Pay
$52,083 (Chair $57,293)
Typical week
Tuesday 1:30 p.m. council meeting most weeks, Board of Equalization sessions, budget hearings in the fall, constituent and city meetings

Responsibilities and powers

  • Salt Lake County has a mayor-council form of government. The Council "is the legislative body responsible for enacting County ordinances and regulations, adopting the annual budget, and authorizing many intergovernmental agreements" (SLCo Council).
  • State law gives the county legislative body "all legislative powers" of the county (Utah Code 17-64-401).
  • Board of Equalization: "The county legislative body is the county board of equalization." It must hold public hearings each year to examine the tax roll and equalize property values, may appoint trained hearing officers, and makes the final decision on appeals (Utah Code 59-2-1001; 17-64-407).
  • Approves appointments to boards, commissions and departments (SLCo Council).
  • Nine members: three at-large (countywide, six-year terms) and six by district (four-year terms), partisan (SLCo Council; SLCo Budget in Brief, p.3). Taylorsville is in District 3.

A typical week

  • Weekly meeting: the county calendar lists a County Council Meeting on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. at the Government Center, 2001 S State St; 39 regular council meetings appear on the 2026 calendar (SLCo meeting calendar). Meetings stream on Facebook Live (SLCo Council).
  • Board of Equalization: 17 BOE meetings are scheduled in 2026 in Council Chambers (N1-110), usually on a Tuesday afternoon (for example Jan 13, Mar 10, Sept 15, Oct 6, Oct 13, Oct 20, Nov 3, Nov 17, Dec 8) (same calendar).
  • Other bodies: the 2026 calendar also lists the Municipal Building Authority, the Tourism, Recreation, Cultural and Convention (TRCC) board, the Debt Review Committee and the Executive Coordinating Committee (same).
  • Seasonal cycle: the mayor proposes a budget in the fall, the council revises it in November and adopts it in December (the 2026 budget was council-recommended Nov 25, 2025 and adopted Dec 9, 2025) (SLCo budget documents). Property-value appeals reach the board from late summer through winter.
  • Between meetings [INFERRED]: reading staff reports, meeting mayors and city councils in the district, constituent casework, and community events.

Time commitment

  • Part-time by the county's own description (Budget in Brief, p.3). Expect roughly 15–30 hours a week [INFERRED from a near-weekly half-day meeting, BOE sessions, outside boards and district work; heavier October–December].

Staff and budget

  • Council office: 20 FTEs, plus 5.5 FTEs in Council-Tax Administration, which runs the Board of Equalization (SLCo FTE table); council budget $5.4 million (2026 adopted, Budget in Brief p.14).
  • The council adopts a countywide budget of $2.13 billion in total uses (2026), covering 4,339 FTEs (Budget in Brief).

Pay

  • $52,083 a year; the Chair earns $57,293, plus the county benefits package (SLCo pay schedule, p.48; salaries set under SLCo Ord. §2.12.080).

Sources

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Sources