From Deseret News archives:

Mapleton results too close to call

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005 12:03 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
MAPLETON — Stan Sorenson was not happy Tuesday night. And if he ends up losing in his bid for Mapleton mayor as a result of a polling mix-up: "I'll be livid," Sorenson said.

No election results from Mapleton were available when the Deseret Morning News went to press Tuesday night, meaning mayoral candidate Sorenson likely went to bed mad.

The controversy, Sorenson says, started with incumbent mayor Dean Allan, whose cousin is Collin Allan, a member of Nebo School District Board of Education, to which Hobble Creek Elementary, one of two polling areas in Mapleton, belongs.

Last week, students at Hobble Creek Elementary took home a newsletter for November, which included an item reminding parents of students to get out and vote. It also incorrectly stated that "Hobble Creek Elementary School is not a polling place for these city elections."

Sorenson contends that he has strong support from residents living in the north end of Mapleton who would likely cast their ballots at Hobble Creek.

City Recorder Camille Brown said she wasn't made aware of the newsletter until just after the polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, adding that she didn't know why the school would issue such a statement. "The school was advised (that it was a polling location)," Brown said.

Story continues below
Hobble Creek Principal Garth Bird disagrees. "The city never told us," Bird said Tuesday night.

Part of the reason for the mix-up could be that Mapleton didn't have a primary election, the principal said. However, the city had been a polling site the past two years.

"On this election, we just assumed that the city wasn't going to use our building," Bird said.

The principal said he learned in October that the school would again be used as a polling site but by that time the newsletter had already gone to press.

"I asked the students to cross (the sentence about the school not being a polling area) out, but I guess some didn't do that," he said.

In retrospect, Bird said he wished he had called the city and asked whether the school would be a polling site before including the statement in the newsletter.

And on that point, Sorenson agrees.

"I don't understand for the life of me why he didn't make a phone call." he said.

But as for conspiring against Sorenson, Bird said that's just not true.

"Of course not," he said. "It was an error because we didn't understand."

Gene Mangum learned he will be Springville's next mayor about 10:30 p.m. when he was at the city offices. He beat his opponent, city planning commission chair Christine Tolman by 331 votes.

"I was ready for it either way," he said. "I had a very admirable opponent."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

Two more running for 2nd District

I am hoping the rumor that Morgan Philpot is testing the waters on this race...

Notre Dame fires Weis

Take the position Gary! You will get paid millions more than at TCU. You...

Hall reprimanded by MWC

for taking a cheap shot punch to the head of a BYU player after the play was...

Any body who buys land to build a home on that doesn't make sure they can...

Poor guy thought his family was mistreated after last year's game, just think...

Two more running for 2nd District

Casey Anderson (republican) filed to run against Matheson. He would be my...

Utes won't respond to Hall

Be silent and say nothing. Since it isn't one of your guys this time for once.

Hall reprimanded by MWC

I've always wondered Glen, how exactly do you "beat yourself"? Could you...

Boys basketball rankings

1A Watch out for Altamont they have a lot of returning talent they are a very...

Mansion tours begin Tuesday

I hope he has a happy holiday because as a state work no pay increase this...

Advertisements