Young Y. Demo seeks Provo seat

PROVO — Brigham Young University students have run for City Council before. One even won a seat in Orem a decade ago.

None have been like Christopher Stowe, a soft-spoken 21-year-old Democrat with a hard-hitting political blog.

The Texas native and senior in American studies has had a busy spring and summer, joining the campus protest against Vice President Cheney's visit to BYU, running unsuccessfully for treasurer of the Utah County Democratic Party and getting married on June 2.

Like Stowe, hundreds of candidates filed for city races around Utah before Monday's deadline. Utah County highlights included news that Eagle Mountain will have its ninth mayor in the city's 11-year history.

It's possible no candidate faces more difficult electoral math than Stowe because BYU students don't vote. How bad is it? Four years ago, one dorm resident voted in the election for the Provo City Council seat that represents the BYU campus.

One, out of more than 5,000 students living on campus.

Stowe will need a lot more student support to become the first full-time, traditional BYU student to win a Provo City Council race.

Then a BYU junior, Joseph Andersen won an Orem City Council seat in 1997 and served one term. Cindy Clark returned to BYU after raising her children and won a Provo seat in 2005.

Provo's electoral map isn't kind to a student candidate. The City Council considered but rejected in 2001 the creation of a student council district south of campus.

Instead, Provo's five council districts split up the off-campus student housing areas surrounding the university.

"People 18 to 24 are 40 percent of Provo's population, but they don't have any seats on the City Council," Stowe said. "It's kind of an injustice."

Stowe chose to maximize his chances by running for a citywide seat, which means any registered voter in Provo can cast a ballot in his race.

But he will face three tough opponents in the Sept. 11 primary — incumbent Steve Turley, former councilmember Dave Knecht and Coy Porter, the popular fire chief who retired last month.

"I think my chances are good," Stowe said. "We've got a field plan. We've got targeting ready. I definitely think I can make it past the primary. The primary is the first hurdle."

Stowe knew the race for the other citywide seat two years ago was expensive on a record-setting scale.

"I would put a price tag on the primary between $6,000 and $8,000," Stowe said. "I've made calls just this week, and I've got over $1,000 in the bank. We're looking to raise at least $6,000 for the primary."