Provo Council members at odds

PROVO — Provo City Council members are taking sides for and against each other this election season.

Keeping track of who's on whose side is a political Abbott-and-Costello skit.

It's no secret council chairman George Stewart has taken an interest in unseating fellow council members Midge Johnson and Steve Turley. Stewart gave $200 to Johnson's opponent, Melanie McCoard. He has a sign in his yard supporting Turley's challenger, Coy Porter.

"I'm not going to lose sleep over it," Johnson said, "but it doesn't seem like it's really good policy."

Stewart admitted Johnson is right. Johnson could repeat her 2004 win over McCoard and be back on the council with him, as could Turley.

"From a political standpoint, it's probably not a smart thing to do," Stewart said, "but I'd rather have (McCoard) on the council. If I feel that way, I ought to put my money and my words where my thoughts are."

Stewart wants to keep on the council the incumbents in Provo's other two races, Cynthia Dayton and Barbara Sandstrom. He has put up signs and raised money for Sandstrom.

"I'm supporting Cynthia, too," he said. "She has been very balanced. She has not voted all the time against development, and she has been very neighborhood-oriented when appropriate. I think she's done an excellent job."

Council member Cindy Clark gave $500 to Dayton, who faces a 3-to-1 fund-raising deficit in her bid to hold her seat against challenger Mark Sumsion.

Johnson, Turley and Sumsion said the cash, endorsements and signs are evidence a majority of the seven-member council is trying to retain or even expand its majority.

"George ran as a consensus builder?" Turley said. "He said he was going to be a consensus builder, and now he is actively campaigning against two of the City

Council members. George wants to get rid of me and Midge because we haven't aligned with him."

"I'm sure George would like to have me off (the council), because George doesn't scare me," Johnson said. "He came in and made himself chair and got a four-vote group and likes to be in charge of everything. He's been a fine chairman, but I think when he can't control you and know how you'll vote, he doesn't like that. Nobody can control me. That's who I am, and I'm proud of that."

Turley said a council with the candidates supported by Stewart would be single-minded.