DesNews: Candidates file, make campaigns official
Deseret News
Candidates file, make campaigns official
By Rebecca Palmer
Deseret News
Published: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 11:34 p.m. MDT
Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan's bid for a fifth term in office was among the campaigns made official Wednesday as the two-week filing period for municipal elections got under way.
Dolan started his career as a medical salesman but has spent the past 16 years as Sandy's top elected official. So far, he is the only candidate to file in the Sandy race.
Dolan won by just 6 percent of the vote four years ago despite outspending his opposition by thousands of dollars. Since then, a gravel pit on the city's east side has been made into a Wal-Mart, and a field near City Hall has been transformed into a world-class soccer stadium. Both projects elicited controversy over the proper use of taxpayer funds.
Dolan also pushed hard for the region's first Broadway-style theater, which was to be built near the new stadium. However, that privately-funded project has stalled due to funding woes.
Dolan cites low property taxes and a strong crime-fighting record as reasons to keep him in office. He's also proud of open-space conservation efforts.
Elsewhere in Salt Lake County, Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb, Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini and Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall are seeking re-election.
Webb points to unfinished projects such as a planned city park, the Cottonwood Mall and the Holladay Village Center as examples of ongoing success.
"Over the past few years, we have accomplished a great deal," he said. "We can be proud of how far we've come as a city. But we also realize that much is yet to be accomplished."
Webb, a software developer and engineer, helped found Franklin Covey. He took office in 2003, when the city disposed of its strong-mayor form of government.
The Holladay City Council seats of Grant Orton and Patricia Pignanelli will also be up for election this fall. Both plan to run again.
Seghini, Midvale's mayor since 1994, has a long history of advocacy for the poor and minorities. She has recently overseen a complete redraft of city ordinance involving taco-vending carts.
Seghini has also spent significant time and effort on redevelopment of property once poisoned by a smelter operation. The land has been cleaned up and is in the process of becoming a mixed-use transit, housing and retail development known as Bingham Junction.
Wall served four years on the Taylorsville City Council before being elected in November 2005 to lead the west-side municipality. If re-elected, he pledges to keep an eye out for small businesses and to seek regional, state and federal money to expand mass transit in Taylorsville.
Wall would also continue with code-enforcement efforts and seek to redevelop blighted areas around town, he said.
In Salt Lake City, two-term Councilwoman Jill Remington Love, who represents District 5, was the only candidate to make an official declaration Wednesday. Several candidates, however, have expressed their intent to run for one of four open seats.
Incumbent Councilmen Carlton Christensen, Eric Jergensen and Soren Simonsen have each announced re-election bids.
Christensen has a competitor in author and therapist Leslie Reynolds-Benns, who made an unsuccessful bid to unseat Christensen in 2005. Jergensen, meanwhile, is facing stiff competition from Avenues activist Lisa Alcott, who had a substantial fundraising lead when initial finance reports were due in June.
The filing period for municipal elections runs through July 15.
Davis County
Two candidates have emerged to vie for North Salt Lake's mayoral seat. First-term City Councilwoman Lisa Watts Baskin is running against former Councilman Lynn Ballard, who ran for mayor two years ago but lost to current Mayor Shanna Schaefermeyer.
Schaefermeyer, a former council member, was appointed as mayor when former Mayor Kay Briggs resigned to devote more time to his job. Schaefermeyer declined to run again this year.
In Centerville, Mayor Ron Russell is running for another term as mayor. As of Wednesday, Russell didn't have an opponent.
Two Centerville residents have filed as candidates for City Council: Justin Allen, who is an incumbent, and John Galley. The seat held by Sherri Lyn Lindstrom is also up for election this year.
Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson will have at least one opponent going into this year's election season. Both Johnson, in his second term as mayor, and Nicholas D. Price filed as candidates for mayor Wednesday.
Fred Moss has filed as a candidate for a third term on the Bountiful City Council. One other council seat, held by councilman Tom Tolman, is also up for election this year.
Utah County
Andrew P. Thompson filed Wednesday as a candidate for Provo mayor, joining Don Allphin, Steve Clark and John Curtis in the race to replace Mayor Lewis K. Billings.
Provo City Councilwoman Cindy Richards filed for re-election. She'll face a challenge from Robert S. Oscanyan. Coy Porter has filed for the council seat currently held by Dave Acheson.
Cedar Hills Mayor Mike McGee arrived early to file for re-election Wednesday. In line behind McGee stood Councilman Eric Richardson, who filed to challenge McGee for the mayor's seat.
In Orem, where the office of mayor and three City Council seats are up for grabs, had no candidates file as of Wednesday afternoon. Third-term Mayor Jerry Washburn has not yet announced whether he plans to run for a fourth term.
In Pleasant Grove, Mayor Michael Daniels won't be seeking another term, city recorder Kathy Kresser said. And so far, no one has announced their candidacy to fill the office.
Spanish Fork City Councilman G. Wayne Anderson filed to run for mayor, and Councilman Steven M. Leifson and former councilman Seth V. Sorenson filed as City Council candidates.
In Eagle Mountain, Mayor Heather Jackson filed for re-election, as did Councilman Nathan Ochsenhirt.
Elsewhere in Utah County, Lindon Mayor Jim Dain is seeking re-election, as are Councilmen Eric Anthony and Toby Bath; Brandon Tillman has filed for one of two open council seats in Saratoga Springs; Alpine's incumbent Mayor Otis "Hunt" Willoughby is running for re-election against Councilwoman Kimberly Bryant; Kenneth Lutes has filed as a mayoral candidate in Elk Ridge; Mapleton City Councilman Brian Wall has filed for re-election; and Springville City Councilman Mark Packard is seeking another term.
Weber County
Susie Van Hooser has filed as a candidate for the Ogden City Council. Van Hooser was on the council two years ago, when she ran an unsuccessful bid for mayor against Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey. Originally appointed to the council in 2006 and serving through 2007, Van Hooser is running for the seat currently held by councilman Blain Johnson.
Van Hooser said she hopes to make Ogden's government more transparent, market the city as an outdoor recreation and tourist destination, make the city safer and preserve historic buildings and open space.
Councilman Jesse Garcia, who has served four terms representing the city's Municipal Ward 1, has said he plans to run again. David Phipps and Justin Morris have filed for the council seat currently held by Dorrene Jeske.
Tooele County
Tooele Mayor Pat Dunlavy filed for re-election Wednesday morning. Shawn Milne has filed to run for City Council.
Grantsville Mayor Byron Anderson's term expires after this year, as do the terms of Councilmen Paul Rupp and Brent Marshall.
Jill Thomas, owner of a Grantsville copying business, has filed to run for mayor, and Shawn Bennett filed as a candidate for City Council.
Contributing: Joseph M. Dougherty, Aaron Falk, Jacob Hancock, James Davis and Rodger Hardy
E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com
© 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company | All rights reserved
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705314412/Candidates-file-make-c...
Candidates file, make campaigns official
By Rebecca Palmer
Deseret News
Published: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 11:34 p.m. MDT
Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan's bid for a fifth term in office was among the campaigns made official Wednesday as the two-week filing period for municipal elections got under way.
Dolan started his career as a medical salesman but has spent the past 16 years as Sandy's top elected official. So far, he is the only candidate to file in the Sandy race.
Dolan won by just 6 percent of the vote four years ago despite outspending his opposition by thousands of dollars. Since then, a gravel pit on the city's east side has been made into a Wal-Mart, and a field near City Hall has been transformed into a world-class soccer stadium. Both projects elicited controversy over the proper use of taxpayer funds.
Dolan also pushed hard for the region's first Broadway-style theater, which was to be built near the new stadium. However, that privately-funded project has stalled due to funding woes.
Dolan cites low property taxes and a strong crime-fighting record as reasons to keep him in office. He's also proud of open-space conservation efforts.
Elsewhere in Salt Lake County, Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb, Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini and Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall are seeking re-election.
Webb points to unfinished projects such as a planned city park, the Cottonwood Mall and the Holladay Village Center as examples of ongoing success.
"Over the past few years, we have accomplished a great deal," he said. "We can be proud of how far we've come as a city. But we also realize that much is yet to be accomplished."
Webb, a software developer and engineer, helped found Franklin Covey. He took office in 2003, when the city disposed of its strong-mayor form of government.
The Holladay City Council seats of Grant Orton and Patricia Pignanelli will also be up for election this fall. Both plan to run again.
Seghini, Midvale's mayor since 1994, has a long history of advocacy for the poor and minorities. She has recently overseen a complete redraft of city ordinance involving taco-vending carts.
Seghini has also spent significant time and effort on redevelopment of property once poisoned by a smelter operation. The land has been cleaned up and is in the process of becoming a mixed-use transit, housing and retail development known as Bingham Junction.
Wall served four years on the Taylorsville City Council before being elected in November 2005 to lead the west-side municipality. If re-elected, he pledges to keep an eye out for small businesses and to seek regional, state and federal money to expand mass transit in Taylorsville.
Wall would also continue with code-enforcement efforts and seek to redevelop blighted areas around town, he said.
In Salt Lake City, two-term Councilwoman Jill Remington Love, who represents District 5, was the only candidate to make an official declaration Wednesday. Several candidates, however, have expressed their intent to run for one of four open seats.
Incumbent Councilmen Carlton Christensen, Eric Jergensen and Soren Simonsen have each announced re-election bids.
Christensen has a competitor in author and therapist Leslie Reynolds-Benns, who made an unsuccessful bid to unseat Christensen in 2005. Jergensen, meanwhile, is facing stiff competition from Avenues activist Lisa Alcott, who had a substantial fundraising lead when initial finance reports were due in June.
The filing period for municipal elections runs through July 15.
Davis County
Two candidates have emerged to vie for North Salt Lake's mayoral seat. First-term City Councilwoman Lisa Watts Baskin is running against former Councilman Lynn Ballard, who ran for mayor two years ago but lost to current Mayor Shanna Schaefermeyer.
Schaefermeyer, a former council member, was appointed as mayor when former Mayor Kay Briggs resigned to devote more time to his job. Schaefermeyer declined to run again this year.
In Centerville, Mayor Ron Russell is running for another term as mayor. As of Wednesday, Russell didn't have an opponent.
Two Centerville residents have filed as candidates for City Council: Justin Allen, who is an incumbent, and John Galley. The seat held by Sherri Lyn Lindstrom is also up for election this year.
Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson will have at least one opponent going into this year's election season. Both Johnson, in his second term as mayor, and Nicholas D. Price filed as candidates for mayor Wednesday.
Fred Moss has filed as a candidate for a third term on the Bountiful City Council. One other council seat, held by councilman Tom Tolman, is also up for election this year.
Utah County
Andrew P. Thompson filed Wednesday as a candidate for Provo mayor, joining Don Allphin, Steve Clark and John Curtis in the race to replace Mayor Lewis K. Billings.
Provo City Councilwoman Cindy Richards filed for re-election. She'll face a challenge from Robert S. Oscanyan. Coy Porter has filed for the council seat currently held by Dave Acheson.
Cedar Hills Mayor Mike McGee arrived early to file for re-election Wednesday. In line behind McGee stood Councilman Eric Richardson, who filed to challenge McGee for the mayor's seat.
In Orem, where the office of mayor and three City Council seats are up for grabs, had no candidates file as of Wednesday afternoon. Third-term Mayor Jerry Washburn has not yet announced whether he plans to run for a fourth term.
In Pleasant Grove, Mayor Michael Daniels won't be seeking another term, city recorder Kathy Kresser said. And so far, no one has announced their candidacy to fill the office.
Spanish Fork City Councilman G. Wayne Anderson filed to run for mayor, and Councilman Steven M. Leifson and former councilman Seth V. Sorenson filed as City Council candidates.
In Eagle Mountain, Mayor Heather Jackson filed for re-election, as did Councilman Nathan Ochsenhirt.
Elsewhere in Utah County, Lindon Mayor Jim Dain is seeking re-election, as are Councilmen Eric Anthony and Toby Bath; Brandon Tillman has filed for one of two open council seats in Saratoga Springs; Alpine's incumbent Mayor Otis "Hunt" Willoughby is running for re-election against Councilwoman Kimberly Bryant; Kenneth Lutes has filed as a mayoral candidate in Elk Ridge; Mapleton City Councilman Brian Wall has filed for re-election; and Springville City Councilman Mark Packard is seeking another term.
Weber County
Susie Van Hooser has filed as a candidate for the Ogden City Council. Van Hooser was on the council two years ago, when she ran an unsuccessful bid for mayor against Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey. Originally appointed to the council in 2006 and serving through 2007, Van Hooser is running for the seat currently held by councilman Blain Johnson.
Van Hooser said she hopes to make Ogden's government more transparent, market the city as an outdoor recreation and tourist destination, make the city safer and preserve historic buildings and open space.
Councilman Jesse Garcia, who has served four terms representing the city's Municipal Ward 1, has said he plans to run again. David Phipps and Justin Morris have filed for the council seat currently held by Dorrene Jeske.
Tooele County
Tooele Mayor Pat Dunlavy filed for re-election Wednesday morning. Shawn Milne has filed to run for City Council.
Grantsville Mayor Byron Anderson's term expires after this year, as do the terms of Councilmen Paul Rupp and Brent Marshall.
Jill Thomas, owner of a Grantsville copying business, has filed to run for mayor, and Shawn Bennett filed as a candidate for City Council.
Contributing: Joseph M. Dougherty, Aaron Falk, Jacob Hancock, James Davis and Rodger Hardy
E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com
© 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company | All rights reserved
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705314412/Candidates-file-make-c...
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