Vouchers appear headed for defeat; Becker wins; public-safety bond fails

Election results  » State of Utah Elections Office (Lieutenant Governor's Office)  » Salt Lake County Clerk

Polls have closed, and election officials are posting results for some of this year's most-watched issues and races.

Vouchers

182,550 FOR; 298,887 AGAINST — 95.17 percent of precincts reporting

Referendum 1 has been the most controversial issue of the 2007 election. Groups on both sides of the "school choice" issue spent millions to sway minds about the proposal to give eligible families $500 to $3,000 for private-school tuition.

Salt Lake City mayor

25,880 Ralph Becker; 14,693 Dave Buhler — 100 percent of precincts reporting

Buhler conceded the mayor's race to Becker, who will succeed Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson.

In declaring victory, Becker talked about the bond he has formed with Buhler while running for office and their commitment to serve Salt Lake City.

"For me, this campaign has always been about Salt Lake City's future," Becker said.

"I want us in Salt Lake City to succeed together. ... We can only achieve our potential, I think, by fully engaging our community, by taking advantage of what everyone has to offer. I am committed as the next mayor of Salt Lake City to bringing people together."

Public-safety bond

19,784 FOR; 20,075 AGAINST — 100 percent of precincts reporting

Salt Lake City's Proposition 1 failed in an extremely close vote.

It would have covered the cost of five new public safety structures at three locations — including a new public safety building with an emergency operations center. The $192 million bond would have raised property taxes by about $175 per year on a $300,000 home.

School district split

School District Question 1: 21,563 YES; 19,052 NO — 100 percent of precincts reporting

West Jordan School District Question 1: 4,498 YES; 10,533 NO — 100 percent of precincts reporting