These answers were provided by Mayor Young’s wife, Cathy. On a side note, chatting with Cathy to get these answers was a pleasure. She is a very kind person, clearly wants to do good, and said “if anyone needs help with anything down at the offices, just call me.” Cathy – thank you so much for taking the time to help us get to know Mayor Young. We look forward to continuing to serve with him!
How did you and Mayor Young meet?
They met in an atypical way. Cathy had just broken up with a boyfriend when a roommate invited Cathy to a magic show at a local chapel. Cathy was blown away at the talent of that magician, David Young. That roommate liked Dave, so she invited Dave over after the magic show. Cathy was still recovering from her boyfriend. Dave was making moves on Cathy that evening, not the roommate. What is really cool is that Cathy is still friends with the roommate! The rest is a 32 (and counting) year history.
What did you and Mayor Young do on your first date?
Cathy can’t remember the first date. In her words, it “must have not been that exciting.” She does remember that at one time Dave had a goal to have complete 50 different dates with a total of $50 dollars.
We hear Mayor Young is a big hunter. What are some of his favorite hunts?
Dave’s career as a financial advisor is very stressful. Getting out in nature gives him relief and helps him find peace. Some of his favorite hunts have been Africa (got a leopard), Alaska (got a bear), Mexico, and Canada. Cathy doesn’t go on the hunts with him. She says that “she does her hunting at the mall.”
Mayor Young has 10 grandkids. Everyone says being a grandparent is the best! What do the grandkids call him and what part would you say he enjoys the most?
The grandkids call him “Grandpa Dave”, but the youngest still call him “Grandpa Davey.” He loves spending time with them. They love their Grandpa Davey and love to learn from him. When he was considering a run for Mayor, he told his oldest grandchild that she would be the first to know. When Mayor Young made the decision, he called that granddaughter before he even told Cathy!
What are some of his favorite movies?
He loves action movies – and basically only action. However, when Cathy asks for a romance movie, he is always quick to oblige.
Who are some of his favorite artists/bands?
He just loves good music. There are a lot of artists/bands he likes, but recently he has been listening to Taylor Swift.
When Mayor Young was rocking the magician gig, what trick was the one that would blow the most minds?
He would show a dollar bill, write down the serial number, burn it, have the dollar bill appear in a piece of fruit. When he would cut the fruit, that same dollar bill would appear.
What type of vacation does he enjoy the most?
He loves to travel. He loves going to different countries and learning about their history. Mayor Young is the type that goes to the museums and reads the different signs. When Cathy’s parents were serving a mission in New York, they would go and visit. Dave would go alone on the subway for the day while Cathy and her mom would shop. Dave loved it!
What are a couple of his favorite restaurants?
They love Rodizio Grill & Costa Vida. They are sticking to fast-casual these days given how busy life is. Cathy did mention that they have been trying to visit as many Orem restaurants as possible!
Does Mayor Young like to cook? Does he have any recipes that he has mastered?
Cathy said that Dave is admittedly a terrible cook. He is good on the grill, however. He will cook what he catches (moose, deer, fish, etc.)
If you weren’t living in Utah, where would you and Mayor Young like to live?
Where there is a lot of wide-open spaces. They would be somewhere more remote and where chances for hunting are in abundance. One place that came to mind was Montana.
Mayor Young is always dressed very sharp! Was he a fashion designer in a previous life or does he require some gentle guidance to look so dapper?
When Mayor Young was running for office, they visited Nordstrom’s at Fashion Place. They met a gentleman named Armando. Armando helped outfit the Mayor with some new suits, shirts, ties, and even shoes. Dave appreciates getting help from others to make sure he is always reppin’ the C of O.
How accurately/inaccurately does this meme describe your Christmas mornings when the kids were young?
While this may describe most of us, this does not describe Mayor Young. Dave loves being a part of the Christmas gift shopping and finding things that he knows others will love. They always shopped for the kids together. Dave loves to give gifts and does research to make sure it meets the needs of the individual.
What were/are some of your favorite family traditions?
They have always had a boat. They have loved going out on the boat each Saturday when the kids were growing up. They own a share of a houseboat in Lake Powell which they love using with the family. They took a break for a while, but as the family started to grow with grandchildren he and Cathy decided to get back in it. They also play a lot of games as a family. Mayor Young can strategize on almost every game – and he loves doing it! They get together often for family dinners – Sundays and birthdays. For the family Christmas present, they take the family to Mexico each November (kids and grandkids.)
Did Mayor Young help coach the kids growing up?
Yes, he taught his kids to ski, and now he is teaching his grandkids. He was a ski instructor in college. He also coached his daughter and their friends in basketball. He would pick the girls that weren’t getting as much playing time on the high school team and created a team in the Junior Jazz program. Our own Noelle Pikus Pace was on that team!
Any final words about your husband/Mayor Young?
Dave is an amazing person. He has a lot to offer the City. It surprised the family when he decided to run for office. He had never really been involved in politics before, Cathy was always the one involved. However, if you were to ask him what he wants to accomplish, he would simply say “I want to do good.”