Although he is very aware of both parties' focus on his race, Evans is not as interested in the partisan tug-of-war, just as he does not want to see race or religion included in the debates about the contest. Instead, he wants to focus on what he says are the pertinent issues — protecting neighborhoods and boosting the economy of the typically poorer west side — and allow voters to choose the best senator for their district, not the best party.

"My opponent wants to win this seat to benefit a political party," he said. "I want to win it for the people of Senate District 1."

A self-made businessman who owns, among other things, Checkline franchises and real estate, the 41-year-old Evans grew up in South Carolina but relocated to Utah after he "fell in love with this part of the country" while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Now, he considers himself an integral part of a community that is quickly reshaping itself, and he wants to ensure that it is done right.

To accomplish that, he has worked to get new homeowners for rental properties with absentee landlords and vacant houses through state and federal housing assistance programs. He also wants to encourage retail development around those neighborhoods, especially with locally owned businesses.

"As our neighborhoods change, we have to be more welcoming to our new neighbors," Evans said. "We want to make sure our neighborhoods continue to be great."

Unlike Evans, Fife does not shy away from the partisan debate, nor does he avoid emphasizing why the district needs a Democrat representing it.

"The biggest issue I've heard is that they (voters) want to see a Democrat in this seat," Fife said. "They feel, like I do, that the Democrats better address the needs of this district."

For the former state representative, education is the key issue for the state and especially for his district, where children often do not receive the necessary help at home because both parents need to work. To compensate for that, he said they need more after-school programs, reduction of class sizes and a better focus on at-risk students.

"Kids down here have some struggles just to get to school, while kids in other areas are taught that they're expected to go," he said. "Kids over here need an equal chance, and they need the personal attention. Their parents work extremely hard to make ends meet, but they can't do everything."

As for the challenge of taking on the hard-working Evans, Fife doubts that he will lose because of a lack of effort.

"I'm walking four days a week, two hours a night," Fife said. "That's about all a guy can handle. I'm not sure James Evans will catch me."

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com, dbulkeley@desnews.com