Meet Centerville’s CPA Mayor

CPAS IN OFFICE

MEET CENTERVILLE’S CPA MAYOR

Clark Wilkinson was sworn in as mayor of Centerville in 2018 and will serve through 2026. Wilkinson has served as the UACPA Key Person and has been on the board of advisors for the School of Accountancy at Utah State University. Clark says that the combination of working with clients and volunteering in various positions with the UACPA has been a tremendous benefit and background to what he is doing as mayor. “The bulk of what a mayor does is communicating with people and organizations,” he says. He adds that the CPA profession has been a benefit for being able to do that.

What led you to run for office? Growing up, I was taught to serve family, God, and country. My father served as a state representative and as a district court judge. At the age of 18, he took me to my first mass meeting (they are now called caucuses). From the time that I became a CPA to the present, I have voluntarily lobbied with the AICPA and UACPA for issues affecting the CPA profession and the public. I previously ran for the state senate in 2009 and was unsuccessful. I was approached by a friend in May 2017 to run for city council. Through various circumstances, the next thing I knew, I was running for mayor.

What has been the most rewarding part of your position?

By far, the residents of Centerville. As I went door to door six days a week for five months on my first campaign, I got a feel for the issues that affected the residents› lives the most. People and relationships are the most rewarding and enriching part of anything that we do in life.

What are some ways that CPAs can be involved in the political process if they have no desire to run for public

office? Please, please, please volunteer to help. In our city, we have multiple boards and committees, and I am proud to say that I have been able to appoint many CPAs to help in those positions. CPAs can also express their opinions, in a civil way, to their elected officials, because, as CPAs, we are respected. In addition, we as CPAs can help with campaigns in many ways. n