Orem is governed by a seven-member City Council: Mayor Karen McCandless and six council members, all elected citywide in nonpartisan races. A full-time city manager runs the city day to day. The council's last two meetings of 2026 are Tuesday, Nov. 10 and Tuesday, Dec. 8.
Details below are from Orem City's Mayor and City Council, City Meetings and former-mayor pages, read Nov. 7, 2026.
Who's on the council
| Mayor | Karen McCandless (term 2026-2030) |
| Mayor Pro Tem | Jeff Lambson |
| Council | Jenn Gale |
| Council | Chris Killpack |
| Council | Quinn Mecham |
| Council | LaNae Millett |
| Council | Crystal Muhlestein |
To set an appointment with the mayor, call 801-724-3803. Council members' phone numbers and email addresses are on the city's council page, along with each member's board and committee assignments, such as the Mountainland Association of Governments, the Utah Lake Authority and city advisory commissions.
McCandless took office in January 2026, succeeding Dave Young, who served from January 2022 through December 2025.
How Orem's government works
- Council-manager system. Orem has "a Manager/Council form of government which allows for a full-time City Manager and part-time Mayor."
- The mayor has one vote, equal to each council member's, and leads the council.
- At-large seats. All seven are elected citywide; Orem has no council districts.
- Staggered four-year terms, part-time.
- Nonpartisan elections.
That's a different setup from Provo, where five of the seven council members represent districts and two are elected citywide; see following the Provo City Council and our explainer on how Utah city governments are organized.
The 2026 meeting schedule
| Month | Meetings |
|---|---|
| January | 13, 27 |
| February | 10, 24 |
| March | 10 |
| April | 14, 28 |
| May | 5, 12, 26 |
| June | 9, 23 |
| July | 14, 28 |
| August | 11, 25, 27 (Truth in Taxation) |
| September | 8, 22 |
| October | 13 |
| November | 10 |
| December | 8 |
Following along
- Watch: City Council, Planning Commission and other meetings are streamed on YouTube. The city notes that YouTube comments aren't official public comments.
- Agendas and minutes: the city's meetings page has archived agendas, minutes and council presentations, plus a transparency portal and the council's voting record.
- Alerts: sign up for meeting notices through the state's public notice website.
Recent council business has included the Orem Justice Court judge nominees. For everything else about the city, see living in Orem.
Related guides
- Living in Orem
- Orem garbage and recycling
- Pet licenses for Orem and north Utah County
- Orem Family Fitness Center
- Utah County cities by population
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the mayor of Orem?
Who is on the Orem City Council?
Does Orem have council districts?
When does the Orem City Council meet?
Can I watch Orem City Council meetings online?
Does the mayor of Orem vote?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Mayor & City Council, City of Orem. Checked November 7, 2026.
- City of Orem: City Meetings, City of Orem. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Mayor Dave Young, City of Orem. Checked November 7, 2026.
