Salt Lake City Council member Eva Lopez Chavez removed over residency

Salt Lake City Council member Eva Lopez Chavez was removed from her District 4 seat on May 12, 2026, after state law and a city ordinance disqualified her for not living within the district she represented.

Officials said an investigation into her residency concluded she no longer lived in District 4, triggering the requirement that council members reside in the areas they represent.

The decision immediately created a vacancy on the council, leaving District 4 without a representative until the seat is filled.

The council is expected to begin the process to appoint a replacement or call a special election, following the procedures that apply to vacancies.

Residency requirement triggered disqualification

State law and city ordinance require council members to maintain residency in their districts while serving in office. Officials said Lopez Chavez did not meet that standard, which resulted in her removal.

The investigation focused on whether she lived within District 4. Its conclusion that she did not was the basis for the disqualification.

Separate misconduct allegations under review

The removal came as the Salt Lake City Council was separately investigating allegations of sexual misconduct involving Lopez Chavez. The article said four individuals reported unwanted advances.

Officials emphasized that the action removing her from office was tied to the residency violation, not the misconduct allegations.

Next, the council’s handling of the vacancy—and any updates on the separate investigation—will determine how quickly District 4 returns to full representation.