At the end of 2024, state legislators and representatives of Sandy City Robert Spendlove (R) and Susan Pulsipher (R) announced their exit from legislative affairs. Following their “years of service and dedication to Sandy City,” the city council and city administration presented the pair with awards on Dec. 10.

Councilmember Cyndi Sharkey presented the unique awards to each individual, who had family and friends present at the council meeting.

“As retiring representatives of our city, we want to show our gratitude and appreciation for their dedicated service on our behalf in their elected positions,” Sharkey said.

Rep. Pulsipher served for more than half a decade starting in January 2017 and as part of District 45 represented 42,000 Sandy residents and residents in South Jordan.

“Representative Pulsipher has consistently dedicated her efforts, both in the Legislature and through her professional and community service, to ensure the success of our communities and state,” read the proclamation from the city.

During her tenure, she “played integral roles as Commissioner of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, President of the Jordan School District Board of Education, President of a local school Parent Teacher Organization, and Board Member of the Utah School Boards Association, Resilient Utah Advisory Board, and Golden Gate Movement Board.” 

Her comments to the people of Sandy focused on her appreciation for their engagement in legislative affairs.

“It’s always been so important to me to get to know the people I represent,” Pulsipher said. “I felt like I had an engaged community and thought ‘This is going to be fun,’ and it has been. It’s been such a joy to get to know all of you and represent you.”

Beginning in January 2014 Rep. Spendlove, a longtime Sandy resident, served the city for more than a decade and as part of District 42 represented 43,000 people of Sandy's population along with residents of Cottonwood Heights.

“Representative Spendlove has always worked, within the Legislature and in his professional and service work, to ensure our communities and state are best positioned to grow and succeed,” read the proclamation from the city.

He won several noteworthy awards in those 10 years including the Sandy City 2015 Outstanding Legislative Official Award, the 2022 Utah Business Coalition Legislative Champion Award, and the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Salt Lake Chamber Business Champion Award.

Spendlove spoke of the time he spent in the council room at town hall and the importance of having good people running for office.

“Having good, honest people that want to run for office is so important to our democracy and it’s important for representatives like me to have to defend positions and thoughts,” Spendlove said. “The only thing I ever asked for is someone who would be a good opponent, be really honest and work hard.”