SOUTH JORDAN — Residents will vote next month in two primary races to narrow the field of candidates seeking to replace two City Council candidates.

Neither Mary Wenner from District 3 nor Ann Gayheart from District 5 is running for re-election, both citing family obligations.

The open races have attracted a lot of candidates, especially in District 3, where eight candidates are in the running. In District 5, there are three candidates.

Candidates were asked to respond to a questionnaire sent by the Deseret Morning News. Among the responses received, almost all candidates named growth and management of infrastructure to handle that growth as a top issue facing the city.

District 3, the city's largest district, covers most of the area west of 2700 West — a fast-growing area that includes Kennecott Land's new Daybreak planned community.

Candidate Linda Auger, a child-care licensing specialist with the state, called the city's growth "tremendous" and said her biggest concern is "how do we maintain the infrastructure of the city during our growth period with the least amount of stress on the residents?"

Auger's previous political experience includes working on various state House and U.S. congressional campaigns.

Escrow officer Brian Butters, 60, said the city's two biggest issues are "controlled development — I emphasize controlled — and establishing a tax base to support the city and its needs."

Butters formerly served on the board of directors of the now-defunct Glenmore Special Service District.

Candidate Drew Chamberlain, 43, owner of a photocopier sales and service company, believes roads are the city's biggest infrastructure concern.

"South Jordan is a great place to live — with really crappy roads," he wrote. "Oh, we have plenty of money, we just spend it on a myriad of things that are wasteful." He mentioned the city's swimming pool and golf course among that wastefulness.

Chamberlain has served as chairman of the Coalition for Accountable Government and as a member of the board of directors for UtGrassroots.org's legislative report card. He has also been on the Salt Lake County Republican Party's Executive Committee and Central Committee.

Another candidate, Ronald Holt, 69, a licensed armed security officer working for the Utah National Guard, also mentioned the swimming pool and golf course as money-wasters.

The former chairman of the board for the Glenmore Special Service District said fiscal prudence is important, especially as the city experiences rapid growth. "I ran the (Glenmore) district on a prudent basis," he said. "I am a believer in the smaller the government, the better service you'll get."