Midvale City Council elects Dustin Gettle as new mayor following unique coin toss process

The Midvale City Council held a special meeting on December 10, 2024, primarily to resolve a tie in the mayoral election through an unconventional method—a series of coin tosses. The meeting was marked by a unique round-robin tournament format to determine the winner among three candidates: Dustin Gettle, David, and Luke.

According to state law, when no candidate receives a majority of votes, a tie must be resolved by a coin toss. The council decided to implement a round-robin approach, where each candidate would flip a coin against the others in succession. The first candidate to submit their application would be designated as heads, while the others would follow in order. The city recorder used a Walking Liberty silver dollar for the tosses, ensuring transparency by allowing candidates to inspect the coin beforehand.

After several rounds of coin flips, Dustin Gettle emerged as the winner, securing three votes against Paul Glover's two in the final ballot. This outcome led to Gettle being appointed as the mayor-elect of Midvale City, with his term set to commence on December 10, 2024, and conclude on January 5, 2026.

The council concluded the meeting by passing a resolution to officially appoint Gettle, followed by a swearing-in ceremony. The council members expressed gratitude to Paul Glover for his interim service during a challenging period for the city. The meeting highlighted the council's commitment to following legal protocols while also showcasing a light-hearted approach to resolving electoral disputes.