Mark Johnson grew up in North Utah County, graduated from Pleasant Grove, and bought his first home in American Fork before choosing Lehi for its community feel and proximity to family and friends. His engineering and design background — including work for municipal consulting firms — gave him a technical understanding of how cities function. He ran for City Council twice in the early 2000s and lost both times, but was appointed to the Planning Commission, became chair, and eventually was appointed to the Council. He served over 12 years before stepping away to focus on his business, then was persuaded to run for mayor. He finished second in the primary and won the general election by seven points — an 18-point swing attributed to full commitment after soul-searching. As mayor he has focused on transportation infrastructure, city-owned fiber, Family Park, the youth vaping ordinance, housing affordability, and Lehi's economic development.
Life Lessons
- • Reluctant leadership is often the most authentic kind
- • A loss doesn't end the conversation — sometimes it begins it
- • Say what you believe and be willing to say what you don't know
- • We all have the same goal
- • Local action can move larger systems when the cause is right
- • Just arguing over it isn't going to solve the problem
Timeline
Ran for Lehi City Council twice — lost both elections
Appointed to Lehi Planning Commission, became chair
Appointed to Lehi City Council
Served 12+ years on City Council across three-plus terms
Left City Council to focus on personal business
Ran for mayor — finished 2nd in primary, won general by 7 points
Led youth vaping ordinance that sparked statewide and national legislation
Lehi achieves AAA credit rating under his tenure
Memorable Quotes
"Say what you believe and be willing to say what you don't know."
Mark Johnson
Building Lehi — Mayor Mark Johnson on Growth, Civic Service, and the People Who Make a City Work
"I've had people sit in my office in tears because their kids can't afford anything here."
Mark Johnson
Building Lehi — Mayor Mark Johnson on Growth, Civic Service, and the People Who Make a City Work
"We all have the same goal."
Mark Johnson
Building Lehi — Mayor Mark Johnson on Growth, Civic Service, and the People Who Make a City Work
"Lehi City is the economic engine of the state of Utah."
Mark Johnson
Building Lehi — Mayor Mark Johnson on Growth, Civic Service, and the People Who Make a City Work
"Just arguing over it isn't going to solve the problem."
Mark Johnson
Building Lehi — Mayor Mark Johnson on Growth, Civic Service, and the People Who Make a City Work
"Don't think you're not the growth."
Mark Johnson
Building Lehi — Mayor Mark Johnson on Growth, Civic Service, and the People Who Make a City Work
"Best thing you can do in this town is just be kind to one another."
Mark Johnson
Building Lehi — Mayor Mark Johnson on Growth, Civic Service, and the People Who Make a City Work
"I went from getting hardly any votes in the city of Lehi to getting more votes than anybody had ever received in Lehi."
Mark Johnson
Building Lehi — Mayor Mark Johnson on Growth, Civic Service, and the People Who Make a City Work
Stories
Mark Johnson
Parents in Tears — Children Who Can't Afford to Stay in Lehi
Mayor Johnson describes a recurring, heartbreaking experience: parents sitting in his office crying because their children cannot afford to buy homes in the city where they grew up.
Mark Johnson
The Vaping Ordinance That Started in Lehi and Moved the Nation
After attending a Utah County Health meeting about youth vaping addiction, Mayor Johnson passed a local ordinance — then personally worked Utah legislators to get 42 House co-sponsors, pass both chambers, and spark national legislative attention.
Mark Johnson
From Losing Two Elections to Winning More Votes Than Anyone in Lehi History
Mark Johnson ran for City Council twice and lost both times. Through persistence and a Planning Commission appointment, he built credibility, eventually joined the Council, served 12+ years, then won the mayor's race by an 18-point swing after finishing second in the primary.
Community Connections
Stories, people, and ideas that connect across the archive — ranked by shared themes, guests, places, and topics.
Related Episodes
(4)Inside Lehi's Evolution: Mayor Mark Johnson's Insights
Mayor Mark Johnson
Preserving Lehi’s Traditions: Stories from Lifelong Resident Jean Hatch
Jean Hatch
From Rodeo Concessions to Youth Sports: How Service Shapes a City
Dave and Rhonda Nerdin
How One Family’s Farming Legacy Continues to Shape Lehi
Nathan Bushman
Related People
(4)Doug Webb
Former Principal, Lehi High School · Agriculture & Science Teacher · Lifelong Lehi Resident
Andy Hadfield
Head Football Coach, Lehi High School · Business Owner · Lifelong Lehi Resident
Paige Albrecht
Lehi City Council Member, Attorney, Community Advocate
Lara Bangerter
Manager, Lehi Historical Society & Archives
Related Stories
(4)From Losing Two Elections to Winning More Votes Than Anyone in Lehi History
Mark Johnson
Parents in Tears — Children Who Can't Afford to Stay in Lehi
Mark Johnson
Four Years of Construction at Lehi High
Doug Webb
The Vaping Ordinance That Started in Lehi and Moved the Nation
Mark Johnson
Related Quotes
(4)"I went from getting hardly any votes in the city of Lehi to getting more votes than anybody had ever received in Lehi."
— Mark Johnson
"We all have the same goal."
— Mark Johnson
"I've had people sit in my office in tears because their kids can't afford anything here."
— Mark Johnson
"Don't think you're not the growth."
— Mark Johnson
Related Themes
(4)Volunteerism
Lehi's century-long tradition of residents building their own city through service — from book brigades and sponsored park trees to committee work and parade committees.
Family Legacy
The stories of families who planted roots in Lehi across generations — the ones who built the traditions, the parks, the businesses, and the sense of belonging that others now enjoy.
Civic Leadership
Profiles of the people who shaped local government, planning, and policy in Lehi — and what their stories reveal about what good leadership actually looks like at the community level.
Community Resilience
How Lehi residents have navigated challenge, change, growth, and hardship — and emerged with optimism, connection, and a deeper appreciation for what they've built together.