Meredith Harker’s service on the Taylorsville City Council has provided the opportunity to introduce her third-grade students to city officials like Mayor Kristie Overson and Police Chief Brady Cottam. (Photo courtesy Meredith Harker)

For the second consecutive election, Mayor Kristie Overson was unopposed in November. She’s now, officially, the longest-tenured mayor 30-year-old Taylorsville City has ever had.

Besides holding her own job, Overson is also excited to see the continuity continue on the council. 

“We all work very well together and have good relationships with one another,” Overson said. “Because we’ve been together for four years, we know we can disagree on things and still work together effectively. Having Bob and Meredith returning is great. They are very involved city council members.”

Harker and Knudsen are also in a little different place in life, simply because of their age. As the two youngest members of the Taylorsville City Council, they aren’t the typical demographic.

 Specifically, Knudsen and Harker aren’t “empty nesters.” Granted, Harker is down to just one of her four sons still at home. The other three have all “flown the coop” while she has served on the city council. As for Knudsen, nearly a decade younger than Harker, he’s still got all five children at home, ages 13 to not quite 1 (baby Ben turns a year old next month).

City Council members Meredith Harker and Bob Knudsen – along with Mayor Kristie Overson (L-R) – will all continue to serve Taylorsville residents for four more years, following decisive election wins. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

“Obviously, still having kids at home means extra work,” empty-nester Overson added. “They’re both still busy providing for their families. There are more meals to cook… more laundry to do. They still have lots of their kids’ activities to attend. Meredith and Bob have their attention pulled in all different directions. But they are both also so good about never missing city events and committee meetings. They are very effective council members.”

Knudsen and Harker say their ability to juggle home life, full time jobs and city council duties are largely due to a couple of key factors: Susan and Mike… their spouses. Let’s take a minute and peak in on each family dynamic that allows these two to keep up with all their obligations.

Councilman Bob Knudsen

A 2003 Taylorsville High School graduate, Knudsen had no political aspirations until one of his former Boy Scout leaders encouraged him to remember the Scout slogan: “Do a good turn.” That leader was Dan Armstrong, who had held the Taylorsville City Council District 5 seat for eight years and was searching for a qualified replacement after deciding not to seek a third term.

Sadly, Armstrong passed away unexpectedly last spring. Knudsen is honored his former mentor thought so highly of him.

With wife Susan’s constant support, Taylorsville City Councilman Bob Knudsen was elected to a second, four-year term in November. (Photo courtesy Bob Knudsen)

“Dan approached me (in 2021) and said ‘You’re a level-headed guy; the city council could use you,’” Knudsen said. “He wanted to leave his council seat in good hands. I thought about it and decided I could bring a different dynamic to the council because I had younger kids. That’s what made me enter the race.”

Knudsen’s wife, Susan, was squarely behind him from the beginning.

“I really thought Bob was the best person for the position,” Susan Knudsen said. “It has been a bit of a burden on the family, sure. But it’s also been really good for us. I go with Bob to many of the city activities. We’ve attended two different Tombstone Tales (in 2022 and 2025). I’ve learned a lot more about the history of Taylorsville than I probably would have. And we take our kids to the events that are appropriate for them.”

Of his four sons and one daughter, Will, 8, is in the middle of the sibling pack. 

“My Dad has taken me to some fun activities,” Will said. “We saw ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ (one of the films shown outdoors in Centennial Plaza during the Starry Nights series). (Despite his many city council obligations) he always has time for me. He’s a good dad.”

“Through my work on the city council, my kids have been able to see there is a lot to do on the local level to help our community,” Knudsen concluded. “Some of the things we do may not seem big at first – but they do impact our day-to-day lives quite a bit. I think I have shown them so much can be accomplished by anyone. You are never too young or old to get involved.”

To which Susan Knudsen adds: “I feel it’s been good for our kids to see an example of loving others and service in the community.”

Councilwoman Meredith Harker

Like Knudsen, Harker is also a Taylorsville High School graduate, receiving her diploma eight years ahead of him (1995). Another similarity between the two: they were each encouraged by an elected official to run for a city council seat that was being vacated.

Four years before Armstrong encouraged Knudsen to seek the seat he was leaving, the county councilwoman representing Taylorsville, Aimee Winder Newton, encouraged Harker to run in the Taylorsville District 4 race, after eight-year incumbent Dama Barbour announced she would not seek a third term.

Meredith Harker has made her time serving on the Taylorsville City Council a family affair, ever since this campaign photo was taken nearly nine years ago. She begins her third, four-year term on the council this month. (Photo courtesy Meredith Harker)

At the time, Meredith and Mike Harker’s four sons were ages 8 to 16, and all up to their eyeballs in sports, Scouts and the countless other activities that keep parents watching and chauffeuring. 

“When I first told Mike Aimee had sent me a message asking if I had ever considered running for city council, I was laughing,” Harker explained. “If he had laughed too, I’m sure that would have been the end of it. But instead, he said ‘Why not you? You can do this.’ He was very supportive from day one.”

Again, that’s despite four sons at home and a full-time school teaching job.

“Meredith is very capable and very patient,” Mike Harker said. “I knew she likes politics. She had volunteered on Jon Huntsman’s campaign for governor. Honestly, we never really talked about the time commitment that would be involved. Our church background is all about serving and volunteering, and this just seemed to fit. I knew she would be good at it.” 

Since winning that November 2017 election, Meredith has watched her sons-at-home count drop from four to one. Her two oldest sons are graduating from college this spring, while the third is serving a church mission in New Zealand.

But youngest son Miles is still carrying on that tradition of helping to fill his parents’ schedule. A Taylorsville High School junior, he competes on the THS golf and tennis teams – and is also into his third year on the Taylorsville Youth Council.

Unlike Mayor Kristie Overson, Taylorsville City Council members Meredith Harker and Bob Knudsen each faced challengers last fall, and each earned decisive election wins. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

 “(At only age 8), I had no clue what Mom was doing when she first decided to run for city council; but it’s been great having her on there,” Miles Harker said. “I’ve been active my whole life with sports and choir. And she gets to my events. She’s so good with dates and times. She’s a great mom.”

Miles is actually the second Harker boy to serve on the Taylorsville Youth Council, following in older brother Mason’s footsteps.

Harker has enjoyed involving her husband and sons in many city events over the years. And her third-grade students have also benefited from the connection that has allowed them to enjoy classroom visits from Overson, Police Chief Brady Cottam and other elected officials.

“Serving on the city council has definitely made me a better teacher,” Harker added. “In social studies, I teach my students about local government and how to be better citizens. The day after the election (last November), the kids were so excited asking me if I had won. We had a little celebration in the classroom. And their parents are also very supportive. I love being a full-time teacher – and feel I have the best of both worlds, also serving on the city council.” 

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It’s too early now to know whether the other three incumbent Taylorsville City Council members – Anna Barbieri, Ernest Burgess or Curt Cochran – will seek reelection in November 2027. But, for now, stability will reign supreme on the elected body for at least two more years.