A condo in Heber City was Robert Duncan McNeill’s second home beginning in the late 1990s, and he became a full-time resident in 2020. Now in 2026, the television director, executive producer and former actor is vying for a seat on the Wasatch County Council.  McNeill is running as a Democrat for at-large Seat A. He joined the race for the four-year term on Sept. 1, the day after party candidate Patrick Saucier accepted a job in his home state of New Hampshire and withdrew his candidacy. Under Utah law, a political party can certify the name of a different candidate after the filing period closes if the candidate who already filed withdraws from the race.  Wasatch County Democratic Party Vice Chair Claire Hassett described McNeill as “a really fabulous candidate.” McNeill is a lifelong Democrat and progressive who understands Wasatch County and its needs, she added. Growth and development in Wasatch County are top concerns of McNeill, who also wants accountability and transparency. Developers should be fiscally responsible for the effect of their projects on utilities, traffic and water resources, he said. “I think that the No. 1 issue that everyone’s worried about is developers pushing through growth without local input,” McNeill said. “I think that everyone’s voice should be heard on this growth that’s exploding in Wasatch County. I think that the impact that this rapid development is having should be considered a little more deeply.” McNeill, who moved around a lot growing up due to his father’s job transfers by General Electric, considers Atlanta his hometown. After high school, he attended The Juilliard School in New York City, where he was in the theater program. He left after two years to take a role in the soap opera “All My Children” from 1985 to 1988. His other acting roles included Lt. Tom Paris in “Star Trek: Voyager,” a television show that aired from 1995 to 2001. After that, McNeill transitioned to work primarily behind the camera as a director and executive producer of hundreds of television episodes. He voiced characters on the animated “Star Trek: Lower Decks” several years ago and he has also done a little writing. McNeill has served on the Screen Actors Guild board of directors. He has never held public office but believes his skills as a producer and director — including working with available resources and anticipating surprises — are transferable to the county councilor position.  He got into the race after Saucier stepped out because people should have choices, McNeill said. Democrats in Wasatch County are becoming more competitive and successful, he said. “I don’t think you should have to be an insider to feel like your voice is being heard, and I think having choices up and down the ballot is very important,” he said. “I think both sides of the political ideological spectrum should be represented. I think having some checks and balances on either party to make sure that they’re being responsible to everyone and not just one particular ideological group is good for everyone.” Also important is preserving the small-town feel of the Heber Valley and Wasatch County, McNeill said. “Maintaining a rural way of life is what drew people here and drew me here, that quality of life you get in a rural community,” he said. “It’s why I didn’t move to Orem or Salt Lake City, but I moved to Heber. I don’t want Heber to become a sprawling suburb. That’s not the character traditionally of this place and I think it’s important to maintain it.” McNeill’s opponents on the Nov. 3 general election ballot for Seat A are Republican Rachel Kahler and write-in candidates Jami Hewlett and Shawn Taylor. Council terms are for four years. The post Development, accountability among top issues for Wasatch County Council candidate Robert McNeill appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less