"I think the landscaping issue, where they just spent $344,000 for landscaping (at City Hall), was a big issue in my mind," Newton said. "I have an awful lot of people helping. It's that volunteer spirit in West Jordan that we're working so hard to increase."

Newton was one of several candidates who, during the primary campaign, pushed for more citizen involvement in government and in city projects, touting a recent resident-driven effort to build the state's largest playground at the city's main park — completely by volunteer work and donations.

"That's what we want to see more of in this city," Newton said Wednesday. "More citizen involvement, more openness in government. . . . I feel that City Hall has been, there's been more of a closed atmosphere there. We want to make people feel welcome. We want to make businesses feel welcome, so we all work together."

Holladay said he is likely to support Pitts' candidacy. He said Pitts told him he wanted to "continue to do the good things I had done. I said, 'Well, I could do that.' "

Pitts credits his contact with voters for Tuesday's results.

"I think the reason that I'm in it is because I worked really, really hard in the primary," he said. "I walked the city and was in virtually every neighborhood in the city in a six-week period of time. I don't think anything can beat that."

He said his candidacy came down to issues that he learned were important to voters.

"As I talked to people, I found the issues that were on their minds, and they're the ones I featured in the mailers," he said. Those included growth and development issues, the need for repair on some roads, a desire for better mass transit, concerns about water and an inadequate number of youth sports facilities and opportunities for other youth activities.

As for Holladay, he expects either candidate will be able to take over city business and keep things running — though under Newton, some city staff may consider leaving, he suggested.

"I don't think it was anything sinister. I don't think the city's going to fall apart. Depending on who's elected, I think there are some key people who are going to leave," he said. "I do think (Newton) is a good man. He just happens to have a mind set that there's more evil going on in our city than there actually is."

And Pitts agreed either man will do well as mayor.

"The city will be in good hands however it turns out," he said.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com; ldethman@desnews.com