Nearly every mayor in Utah is up for re-election this year, and with filing deadlines only hours away, several races for municipal office have already begun to take shape.

Excluding cities that use a nominating system, the deadline to declare candidacy for mayor or city council is 5 p.m. today. Those seeking office must be registered to vote, have no felony charges and be residents of their city for the past 12 months.

Candidates must also be "mentally competent."

Barring any last-hour filings, some of Utah's most heated races this year look to be centered in Salt Lake County. Two-term Murray mayor Dan Snarr is facing a challenge from two well-known politicos: Salt Lake County Councilman David Wilde and former state Rep. Chad Bennion, also a Salt Lake County employee.

Issues in the Murray race include growth, development and the management of a recent economic boom. On the county's west side, West Jordan Mayor Bryan Holladay looks to have challenges centered around his involvement in several controversial issues, including debate over the city's form of government and unpopular plans for a Utah Power substation.

Holladay currently has four challengers — all of whom have ties to former Mayor Donna Evans. Evans suffered a dramatic loss to Holladay in 2001.

In Salt Lake City, four City Council seats are up for election. In District 1, which covers Salt Lake City's west side, incumbent Carlton Christensen is currently facing three challengers: Leslie Reynolds-Benns, Arnold Jones and Terry Jessop.

Capitol Hill/Avenues Councilman Eric Jergensen was expected to have a fight against attorney Jane Marquardt, but she withdrew, leaving Derek Dyer to challenge Jergensen. Jill Remington Love, who represents Liberty Heights, is unopposed. In Sugar House, incumbent Dale Lambert is retiring. Potential replacements include Deedra Hansen Lambert, Gary Riehle and Amy Jordan.

In Davis County, hot races include Layton and North Salt Lake. Layton may prove the most exciting, with three City Council members vying for retiring Mayor Jerry Stevenson's seat. In North Salt Lake, activist Juan Arce-Laretta is seeking to unseat incumbent Kay Briggs.

For more information about municipal elections and how to file, contact your respective city offices. On Tuesday, the Deseret Morning News will publish a list of candidates who filed in Utah's larger cities.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com