Day of decision: 68 local positions up for grabs in Utah County elections

Voters could have a major impact on local government by casting their ballots today.

Nearly 60 percent of Utah County's city council positions are up for grabs, a total of 68 local positions. The future council members will be voting on zoning laws, city ordinances and, possibly, proposed tax hikes.

Turnout for city council elections is generally low compared to presidential and gubernatorial elections, but voters should care about local government, said Utah County Commissioner Gary Herbert.

"It's extremely important to vote for local government because they are the one that's closest to the people," said Herbert, who also serves as president of the Utah Association of Counties. "They know your issues, and they are the ones who can react quickly."

Although each city has its own specific concerns, candidates across the county are worried about the ever-increasing traffic problems.

With I-15 approaching total gridlock, local leaders have scrambled to find alternative modes of transportation. Residents in north Utah County want to build an east-west artery.

Candidates in Orem and Pleasant Grove say State Street must be improved before any work can begin on I-15.

According to projections by the Utah Department of Transportation, Utah County's population is expected to swell by 87 percent by 2030 — going from 360,000 to 677,000. Growth is a problem all across the board. South Utah County candidates are concerned about the county's growth and how it will effect local services. Provo candidates want to find ways to responsibly manage the city's growth, and north Utah County hopefuls must decipher how to handle more and more development.

At one point it seemed several cities in the county would be without full candidate rosters in the election. Some candidates failed to file state-ordered financial statements seven days before the general election. But, with the help of a judge, all Utah County cities have a full slate of candidates.

If one Provo candidate had had her way, Provo wouldn't be holding an election at all.

The election will go on, though. Last week, a 4th District judge denied Shari Holweg's request to halt the election based on her claim that the city has failed to comply with state election law. Holweg is running against incumbent Barbara Sandstrom for the District 4 seat.

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