2 incumbents among 7 vying for 2 seats on W. Jordan Council

WEST JORDAN — The city has two at-large City Council seats up for grabs in this year's election, and they are being pursued by seven candidates, including two incumbents.

The field will be narrowed to four candidates in the Oct. 4 primary. Those candidates will then face off in the general election Nov. 8.

The candidates were asked to respond to a questionnaire from the Deseret Morning News. A summary of their responses follows:

• Incumbent Kathy Hilton, in her second term as a councilwoman, has served on several city committees and is a former planning commissioner for West Jordan. She is the head secretary at Union Middle School. She wrote, "As West Jordan approaches the 100,000 people mark, our largest issues are growth and transportation." East-west transportation routes are increasingly important and should be a priority, she wrote. She wants to manage growth by working with land owners "to still allow them to develop their land but manage density to minimize impact to our traffic and city services." She wrote that the city is on the right track by pursuing a light-rail line and building pedestrian-friendly communities.

• Incumbent Stuart Richardson, 55, is a property manager and is in his fourth year on the council. He has served on several city committees. He agreed growth is the city's biggest issue. "We need experienced members on the council who have the leadership skills and connections to act in the best interest of the citizens." He wrote that the last four years have been "the most exciting and successful period of time in the city's history." Beyond growth, he wrote, the city needs to provide care to its senior residents and focus on transportation.

• Melissa Johnson, 35, a small-business owner and first-time politician, also wrote about growth as a top issue. "We are poised to become the third-largest city in the state," she wrote. "It will take careful planning to avoid growing pains as the city's infrastructure expands to keep up with the population." Needs should be prioritized so utilities, transportation and schools are adequate and keep up with growth in the right areas of the city, she wrote. She also wrote that her goal would be "to keep expenses low and not waste taxpayer dollars."