13 candidates competing for 3 spots on Draper City Council

Thirteen individuals are competing for just three spots on the Draper City Council, in a heated race that spotlights TRAX, tax increases and a potential new school district.

The City Council has plenty of bragging rights to add to its resume — retail giant IKEA opening shop in town this year, the passing of a strict ethics ordinance, a November vote on a locally controlled school district and approval of the open space Corner Canyon.

But just this past year, Draper has fought a group of residents in court over a light-rail line planned for a low-density neighborhood, raised taxes to maintain service levels and forced another group of SunCrest residents to take their school district concerns to the Legislature.

Candidates are focusing on how to lose the city's hard-to-develop stigma, tackle geological hazards, manage growth and form a solid budget.

The choice of candidates Draper residents will vote for Tuesday are all males who range in age from their late-30s to mid-70s.

• Bart Barker is a 52-year-old technology and business management consultant. The former Salt Lake County commissioner has served on various transportation committees and co-founded the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah).

Barker wants to help manage Draper's growth by creating a five-year budget and avoiding a tax increase.

"Draper is at a critical crossroads. Growth has come to many of our surrounding communities at a cost we needn't pay here," he said. "We're no longer a small town, and we've outgrown the luxury of small-town thinking. It's time for our city government to step up to the next level."

• Bill Colbert, 52, has served on the City Council since 2000 and is the only incumbent running. He works as a program coordinator for the Utah Sports Authority, in the Governor's Office of Economic Development and as a board member on the Utah State Board of Education.

Colbert says the most critical issue for Draper is continuing with responsible growth. He plans to promote and recruit regional commercial retail to expand sales tax.

"While Draper has rapidly grown, we have successfully protected our rural feel in historic Draper and facilitated the preservation of several historic homes in our town center," Colbert said. "We need to protect what makes our community special and a great place to live, work and play."