Salt Lake City School Board member agrees to resign following election bribery charges

The Salt Lake City School Board member who prosecutors say tried to bribe his political opponent last year has agreed to resign as part of a plea agreement.

Mohamed Baayd, 49, won his election as the incumbent candidate for the district’s Precinct 5 in November 2024 — but that following December, he was charged with bribery in elections, a third-degree felony, stemming from accusations that he tried to get his opponent, Russell Askren, to drop out of the race in exchange for favors.

On July 22, Baayd agreed to a deal that included submitting his letter of resignation to the Salt Lake City School Board, effective no later than Aug. 5, according to a plea in abeyance agreement filed in 3rd District Court.

A plea in abeyance typically means an accused person will plead not guilty or no contest, and will be given conditions to adhere to in exchange for charges being dropped. Baayd’s agreement requires him to pay $1,000 within three months and remain “law-abiding” for six months — after that, the state will move to dismiss the charge.



https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/07/28/salt-lake-city-school-board-member-agrees-to-resign-following-election-bribery-charges/