Cedar Hills votes for diversity

CEDAR HILLS — Cheers erupted Tuesday night in Cedar Hills when the results of a special election were announced.

The reason for the celebration?

Cedar Hills is not going back to the days of prohibition.

Voters decided Tuesday that businesses in the Utah County city's borders won't be prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages or operating on Sundays.

The results: 1,393 residents voted against the measure that would have banned alcohol sales in the city and 886 were for it, a 61 percent to 39 percent margin.

As for the proposal to force Sunday closures of businesses, some 63 percent — 1,427 votes — didn't want it. In favor were 849 voters, or 37 percent.

Also, some 82 percent of voters supported a $7 million bond issuance to refinance the city's struggling golf course. In all, 1,832 voted to refinance. And 408 voted against it.

Of the 3,494 residents registered to vote, 2,279 cast ballots.

After hearing the results, Eric Richardson, leader of Concerned Citizens of Cedar Hills, the group that campaigned against the initiatives, kissed his wife, then made a few calls to spread the news.

Richardson said he is glad the measure was defeated and that residents became involved in the process.

"I'm really excited that the citizens came out in such large numbers. It's really a good day for our city, with so many people getting involved," he said. "This sends a message that Cedar Hills values diversity and choice."

Councilman Jim Perry said defeating the initiative was not about morality — but choice.

"I spent hours debating these initiatives as ordinances, and we voted them down because in the end, we felt like they are legislating and enforcing LDS religious practices on everyone in the community, and we just don't feel like that's something we should do," he said. "I don't feel like it is the

government's role to enforce those kinds of standards. I think those are personal choices."

Coalition to Preserve Cedar Hills chairman Gary Duncan, who led the campaign to pass the initiatives, was disappointed but also pleased that residents were able to decide the issue at the ballot box.

"We're disappointed, of course, but this was a very important issue for the city, and from the beginning we felt that it was crucial that all the citizens of the community have the opportunity to have their voices heard, and that has been accomplished," he said. "The will of the people has been voted, so we all respect and accept that and look forward to moving onward."

The political climate leading up to the vote was tense, causing a perceptible rift in the usually quiet Utah County city.

"I think it's kind of split the neighborhood," said Lynn Snow, who lives in Cedar Hills.