Roy candidates focus on 'build-out' capacity

ROY — Growth and development are pressing issues for this year's election with many candidates citing the city's "build-out" capacity as a concern for future government.

Residents will vote in the primary election Tuesday to determine who they think should move on to the Nov. 8 general election.

The races match a Roy City Council incumbent and a former Roy City Council member against a former Weber County commissioner for the mayor's seat. Two-term incumbent Roger Burnett is not seeking re-election.

Three candidates will rival two City Council incumbents for their four-year posts. Larry Peterson is running unopposed for a two-year council seat and therefore will not be on the primary ballot.

City Council incumbents Marge Becraft and Daniel L. Tanner will try to hold onto their seats against Brad Hilton, Michael L. Stokes and Kevin Carlisle.

Next week one of the Roy mayoral candidates will be eliminated and the field of five council member candidates will be narrowed to four.

Candidates responded to questionnaires from the Deseret Morning News; summaries of the their responses follow.

Mayor:

• Retired Ogden Police Chief and former Weber County Commissioner Joe Ritchie, 68, said Roy citizens deserve to be safe in their homes and businesses. He said development, both residential and commercial, and open space should be compatible with the desires of the community. "City services must meet the needs and expectations of our citizens," he added. Ritchie also wants Roy to get the most out of its tax dollars, "while holding the line on tax increases and spending."

• Brent Saxton, 56, former Roy City Council member and sales manager for Carpenter Paper Co. said the tax increase, recently approved by the Roy City Council, is the foremost issue on voters' minds this fall. "Between the 19 percent city increase, the 17 percent county increase and the reassessment of property values, some are being hit doubly hard," Saxton said. He added that transportation and traffic congestion are other critical issues facing Roy. "The only way to alleviate the problem is to lobby UDOT and the federal government for an extra interstate access at the north end of town," Saxton said.