Parke leads Wayment in Davis County controller race

Scott Parke, the Republican incumbent, leads Democrat Stephanie Wayment in the Davis County Controller race with 38,110 votes, or 53.1%, to Wayment's 33,598 votes, or 46.9%, according to unofficial results from Davis County Clerk, Elections. Parke holds a margin of 4,512 votes, or 6.2 percentage points, out of 71,708 votes counted. The count is not complete.

What was at stake

The Davis County Controller oversees county finances, including budgeting and accounting. Both candidates are accountants who campaigned on fiscal accountability.

The key issues:

• Tax oversight: Parke, a certified public accountant, said on his campaign site that property taxes should be "understandable, predictable, and subject to meaningful public oversight." Wayment said on her campaign site she would "balance budgets, say no to spending when there is no money, and make sure that tax dollars are accounted for."
• Independence: Wayment argued the controller should not belong to the same party as the county commissioners, saying the position "should be earned through knowledge and experience, not political ideology." Parke said he had "implemented reforms to reduce long-term costs, control spending growth, and make the County's financial information easier for residents to understand," according to his Davis County GOP candidate page.
• Experience: Parke cited more than 20 years of government finance work, including 10 years with the Utah State Auditor's Office and 11 years as Weber County comptroller. Wayment cited more than 20 years of accounting experience, including eight years in government auditing.

The controller's decisions on spending and budget oversight affect property tax rates across Davis County.

A little history

Parke was appointed controller in 2025 after Curtis Koch resigned in July of that year, as first reported by the Davis Journal. Koch had served nearly three full terms, according to Davis County Commission meeting minutes from July 1, 2025. Republican delegates selected Parke at a special convention, and the commission approved the appointment. Parke said at the time he intended to run for a full term in 2026.

Wayment, a Viewmont High School graduate who returned to Davis County after living in Idaho, entered the race as a political newcomer. She described herself as "not a politician" but "an accountant."

What's next

The results remain unofficial until the county canvass is complete. County officials must finish the canvass no later than Nov. 17, according to Democracy Sentry. Under Utah law, a candidate may request a state-funded recount if the margin is 0.25% or less of total votes cast, according to Verified Voting.

Election results: Davis County Controller (Utah General Election, 2026-11-03)

Source: Davis County Clerk, Elections. Results current as of Nov. 3, 2026, 8:59 p.m. MST. Reporting: 0 of 441. Unofficial results; the count is not complete.