Donia Jessop

Donia Jessop (born 1970) is an American politician who serves as the mayor of Hildale, Utah. Upon taking office, Jessop became the city’s first female mayor. For decades before Jessop's administration, Hildale was controlled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church). Jessop is Hildale's first mayor not endorsed by the FLDS Church.

Early life and career Jessop was born in 1970 in the Short Creek Community, which is the area made up of the municipalities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona. She grew up in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church). At age 17, Jessop married her high school sweetheart. Though the marriage was not condoned by the FLDS Church, she continued to stay in the community and raise a family of ten children.

In 2002, Warren Jeffs became the leader of the FLDS Church and began to implement changes to life in the Short Creek Community, including excommunicating many church members. In 2012, Jessop, her husband, and all their children were excommunicated, except for one daughter. Rather than allow her family to be separated, Jessop and her family left the community and moved to Santa Clara, Utah, near the city of St. George.

Activism and political career In July 2016, Jessop and her family moved back to Hildale. As an excommunicated member, she was treated with hostility by FLDS Church members. At that time, Barlow and all of the city council were members of the FLDS Church. Jessop campaigned on a platform of increased tourism, beautification of Hildale, and having events organized by the city. On November 7, 2017, Jessop won with 129 votes to Barlow's 81.

On January 4, 2018, Jessop began her term as the first female mayor of Hildale, and the first mayor not endorsed by the FLDS Church.

As mayor, Jessop has prioritized modernization, infrastructure, recreational facilities, and economic development.

In 2020, USA Today named Jessop one of the ten most influential women in the history of Utah as part of its "Woman of the Century" series. She won re-election on November 2, 2021. In her second term, Jessop said she plans to focus on the city's water supply, paving and repairing roads, and providing resources to families.