About Zane

Because of my rural roots and extensive background in public finance, business management, and community service, I believe I am uniquely qualified to serve. I grew up farming and ranching throughout Weber Canyon and the Kamas Valley. I managed my father’s grocery store, Ken’s Kash, for years. I served an LDS mission in Toulouse, France.

A tractor mowing a field of grass, with mountains in the background and a white house among trees.
A man wearing glasses, a white cowboy hat, a red shirt with patches and embroidery, standing outdoors on a sunny day with green grass, trees, and a parking lot with cars in the background.

Since earning an accounting degree from the University of Utah, I have gained nearly 40 years of leadership experience in public education administration, including the last 12 years as the business administrator for the Ogden School District. This background has given me broad expertise in managing government budgets, personnel, public facilities, and public finance. I take my responsibility as a steward of this shared trust seriously and strive to manage resources wisely.

I have served on the Oakley City Planning Commission for over 20 years. I have played a key role in updating the city’s General Plan and Development Code, focusing on promoting sustainable growth, preserving agricultural rights, and encouraging open spaces and trails while respecting individual property rights.

I have also recently completed a rewarding term as Mayor of Oakley City, serving our beloved local citizens. Along with all the traditional duties of a mayor, I am especially proud to have worked with the Summit Land Conservancy to help protect waterways and critical agricultural lands as permanent open space, while providing ways for multigenerational farming and ranching families to receive compensation for keeping their land in agriculture.

Seven men wearing white shirts with logos and cowboy hats, posing on a wooden structure against a brown wall.
A two-story house with white siding and a red shingled roof, surrounded by fall-colored trees. The house has a front porch with white railings, pumpkins on the steps, and a pumpkin-shaped decoration hanging near the front door.

It was my honor to serve on the board of the Mountainlands Community Housing Trust for nearly ten years. During that period, the organization played a vital role in developing affordable housing units in Oakley and surrounding communities. Attainable housing remains one of the most urgent challenges our state faces today.

Every year, during our annual 4th of July Celebration, we honor our local citizens, volunteers, service members, and veterans. I learned the value of service and the love of community and country from my family. My family has a rich tradition of community service.

Now, like so many of you, I am saddened by the growing political polarization and division in our country. Volunteer service dies on the vines of power, money, and anger. If elected, I promise to work hard to build bridges, not walls.

A group of people, mostly women, gathered indoors with two men wearing white cowboy hats in the front. The man on the left is smiling and holding a microphone and papers, while the man on the right is also smiling, with a large belt buckle visible. A woman on the right holds a bouquet of flowers, and the background shows onlookers, some smiling and some with neutral expressions, standing near a wooden wall and sound equipment.
Six men are standing in a stream with trees and autumn foliage in the background, holding glasses of water and smiling.

The city of Oakley faces many challenges. I stepped up to the plate with intrepidity and perseverance to tackle the challenges of zoning, housing, planning, economic development, roads, public safety, health, wastewater collection and treatment, parks and recreation, trails, annual rodeo and celebration improvements. I oversaw the creation of the city’s first capital facilities plan, to guide infrastructure decisions for many years into the future.

Nothing was as crucial as our aging and struggling water system. We were one of only a few cities that had the courage to impose a moratorium on all new building permits until a new source af water could be engineered, developed, improved, tested, and approved by the state. Our new Cattail well was developed and now provides enough high-quality water to last up to 50 years.

I have never been afraid of getting my hands dirty in public service.

I am proud to have assisted in building our Oakley Rodeo into one that is immensely popular and has become the premier "Cowboy Christmas" (July 4th) event, ranked among the top 25 in the nation and the top 3 for the holiday. It offers high-stakes, professional PRCA action with top-tier stock and a large prize purse ($270,000+), drawing world-class athletes to our scenic, intimate 6,000-seat arena. Celebrating over 90 years, it maintains a small-town, patriotic charm, featuring a parade and community events alongside the professional rodeo. No other event displays a community’s patriotism like this one.

At a nighttime rodeo event, fireworks light up the sky above a large crowd and horse riding participants. The arena is filled with spectators, and American flags are visible, including one on a horse in the foreground.
Four middle-aged men standing outdoors in a grassy area near a creek, with green shrubbery and mountains in the background, wearing casual outdoor clothing and baseball caps, smiling at the camera.

Me and friends with Senator John Curtis, standing along the Weber River Pathway. With the help of the Federal Government and the Summit Land Conservancy, we have protected hundreds of acres along the Weber River from encroachment and development.

As you can see, I hold deep respect for the public process and the trust we place in this sacred service. I look forward to meeting many new friends in the coming months to better understand citizens’ concerns and help find practical solutions to improve our community and this cherished planet we call home.

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