I’ve got two years left on the Mapleton City Council, and here’s what I plan to do with them:
1. Get as much done as possible to prepare Mapleton for the future.
2. Get as much done as possible to preserve the small-town charm we all love.
3. Get as much done as possible to stretch every single tax dollar.
4. Get as much done as possible to leave behind a hometown my son will be proud of.
5. (And yes… pay off my cemetery plots.)
I’ve got my arms around #5, but for #1-4 to happen? I need this one thing:
Dallas Hakes for Mayor.
No political coyness here – I’m voting for Mayor Hakes because I’ve worked alongside him, challenged him, audited him, and seen firsthand what he’s made of. Spoiler alert: it’s grit, brains, heart, and concrete results.
Back in 2019, when I was a fresh candidate, I walked into my first meeting with Mayor Hakes and our City Manager, thinking something shady was going on. I opened with:
“You’re aware of the allegations against you… how do you respond?”
We flipped every rock. Opened every book. Searched for bodies. What I found instead? Integrity. Innovation. Momentum.
Six years later, I’m still convinced: Mapleton’s progress didn’t happen by accident – it happened because Dallas Hakes makes things happen.
To hit our goals, I rely on his:
– Intelligence & innovation
– Developer experience & business acumen
– Infrastructure savvy & strategic partnerships
– Kindness & generosity
– And most of all, his decisiveness and ability to lead under pressure.
The outcomes prove it. (Even other cities have taken note – I’ve personally spoken with the surrounding city mayors, who both want Mayor Hakes to be re-elected in support of major projects on shared infrastructure, water, power, and transportation.)
But leadership isn’t just policy and performance. It’s personal.
So here’s the character side of the story. Did you know:
– Rino trucks were stationed at fires ready to support the Mapleton Fire Department and douse the flames – at no expense to citizens.
– Rino cleared firebreak roads to increase our safety during fire seasons – at no expense to citizens.
– Hakes’ businesses have sponsored well over $ 150,000 toward our events – including Christmas lights, Pioneer Days, pumpkins, and more that we enjoy – at no expense to the citizens.
– The Hakes family has repeatedly paid off past-due utility bills for citizens in need, covered a neighbor’s surgery, and even paid for cemetery plots for grieving parents.
– Mayor Hakes has been a volunteer coach for basketball and football; in fact, he sponsors Maple Mountain High School as if it were his own alma mater.
You don’t do those things unless you care deeply about people. Dallas does.
I want to spend my last two years on Council making a lasting difference. To do that, I need a Mayor who brings the vision, the horsepower, and the heart.
That’s Dallas Hakes.
Vote for competence.
Vote for character.
Vote Dallas Hakes for Mayor.
BONUS FACT CHECK:
If you hear anyone saying “The mayor’s making millions off Mapleton,” pause right there. That statement shows – at best – a total misunderstanding of how business works, and at worst, it’s just rumor-mongering.
Let’s look at the facts:
Over my six years on the council, the mayor’s companies were the lowest bids on two city projects that were both publicly approved by the Council (remember: the mayor doesn’t vote unless there’s a tie). Those projects totaled about $2.14M – one for Highway 89 (~$1.55M) and one for 300 W improvements (~$590k).
Now, even if we ignore that these bids saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands (ProTip: don’t ignore that), let’s do some quick math:
Net Profit = Revenue – (Cost of Goods + Operating Expenses)
The heavy-construction industry averages under 5% net profit. Let’s be wildly generous and assume 10%. That means on $2.14 million in total projects, after materials, payroll, and equipment costs, the total profit – in a dream scenario – would be about $214,000, before it’s split among company owners.
Now factor in the mayor’s donations, sponsorships, in-kind support, and the fact that he’s never taken a city salary… and you’ll realize Mapleton’s coming out ahead.
So no, he’s not making millions. He’s saving them.
And yes – I love math.
- Jessica Egbert