The municipal primary elections in Utah County are an indecisive person's nightmare.
After a number of people filed Wednesday afternoon and evening, sneaking in just before the 5 p.m. deadline, more than 200 people had filed in the 25 municipalities in the county. Saratoga Springs had the most candidates -- 10 for mayor, 14 for two council positions -- while Fairfield had three candidates run and three positions open. Goshen, in southwest Utah County, also had late filers on Wednesday that meant the town could fill its three open council seats.
More than half of the 53 races in the county and nearby Eureka will go to a primary election, which means there are more than two candidates per open seat. Ten of the races are uncontested. All of the municipalities have enough people to fill their seats.
That gives candidates about two months to convince residents of their locality that they are the man or woman for the job, which could prove to be a difficult task given the number of competitors.
Provo resident Harry Broxton said he'll be looking at the candidates who focus on infrastructure, roads and parks within the city. He's not familiar with any of the candidates who are running, he said, and while he expects to get familiar, his focus lately has been national issues.
One thing he said he will watch for is a resurrection of iProvo or a similar idea from his elected officials.
"I don't think we should be trying that kind of stuff anymore," Broxton said.
Anne Johnson also was thinking of roads and improvements to the city as key issues for elected officials and candidates to focus on.
"I'd like to see better growth in downtown Provo, more healthy growth down there," the Provo resident said.
The primary election will be on Sept. 15, and anyone who wants to vote needs to be registered by Aug. 31. The top two vote-getters per open seat will then move on to the Nov. 3 general election, although having a third name pop up there is possible, in the form of a write-in candidate.
Provo City Recorder LaNice Groesback said no write-in candidates will be allowed in the primary election, but the city's 2008 election handbook allows for write-in candidates who file a declaration no later than 30 days before the regular election. This happens in Provo occasionally, she said, but it's unusual. Two years ago a candidate got third in the primary election in a close race, so he opted to run as a write-in candidate.
"We have people write people's names in, but unless they are filed with us officially as a write-in, those names don't count," she said.
To register to vote, go to the Utah County Elections Office at 100 E. Center St. Room 3100, in Provo.
• Heidi Toth can be reached at (801) 344-2556 or htoth@heraldextra.com.
Last-minute filers
Candidates not included in Thursday's paper
Provo
Citywide Council seat
Pleasant Grove
Mayor
Two council seats
Cedar Fort
Mayor
Two council seats
*Incumbent
Uncontested races
Elk Ridge mayor
Eureka mayor
Eureka 2-year council seats
Fairfield mayor and council
Goshen council
Lindon mayor
Payson mayor
Springville mayor
Vineyard mayor
Races going to the primary election
Alpine council
American Fork mayor and council
Cedar Hills mayor and council
Elk Ridge council
Genola mayor and council
Goshen mayor
Highland council
Lehi mayor and council
Lindon council
Orem mayor and council
Pleasant Grove council
Provo mayor, 3 council districts
Salem council
Santaquin mayor and council
Saratoga Springs mayor and council
Spanish Fork council
Springville council
Woodland Hills mayor
Posted in Elections, American-fork, Goshen, Mapleton, Provo, Cedar-fort on Friday, July 17, 2009 12:15 am Updated: 3:00 pm. | Tags: American Fork, Goshen, Mapleton, Provo, Cedar Fort
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