7 Tooele mayoral candidates focus on city growth, water

TOOELE — Mayor Charlie Roberts recently announced that, as of Monday he is stepping down as mayor, a little more than three months before the end of his second term. But there are plenty of people in line seeking to fill the position he leaves open.

In the Oct. 4 primary election, seven candidates will ask residents to vote for them to replace Roberts. That field will be narrowed to two who will face off in the Nov. 8 general election.

Tooele also has two at-large city council seats up for election, and six candidates — including the two incumbents — hope to be among the final four on November's ballot.

The Deseret Morning News sent each candidate a questionnaire about the issues facing their city. Following are summaries of their responses:

Mayor

• Steve Bevan, 56, a retired Federal Aviation Administration employee currently in his second term on the city council, wrote that water, commercial growth, public safety and a need for more resident involvement are the city's top issues. The city should explore options "to establish flowing water from our currently owned water rights." He wrote that the city should continue working with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah to pursue commercial growth. He said he will push to give the police and fire departments "the resources and training necessary" and will seek ways to get people to observe speed limits.

• Jay Edwin Collier, 53, wrote that he has four areas he wants to emphasize if he becomes mayor. He wants to "work on Sheep Lane to I-80." He says the city should make sure it has enough water before allowing more houses to be built. He believes the city should build a biodiesel fuel plant, and "make it 78 cents a gallon to be used by city vehicles." Finally, he wrote that he would work toward city residents using alternative forms of energy, such as solar and wind power, "and have Utah Power buy back what the city doesn't use. Then the city is part of the solution to our power problem, not part of the problem."

• City recorder Patrick Dunlavy, 58, has been in public service for 38 years. He wrote, "Tooele City, like many cities in Utah, (is) facing significant growing pains. It is imperative that the mayor fully understand the issues relating to growth." Among those issues, he wrote, are a clean, safe water supply, safe streets and efficient, cost-effective public services. He wrote that experience is necessary for dealing with those issues.