New Utah mayors trim fat in more ways than one

SALT LAKE CITY — Four Utah mayors agree: Running a campaign in your hometown is a great way to lose weight.

It starts with pounding the pavement and knocking on doors all summer, they said. But the fat-trimming doesn't end with the conclusion of November voting or with the swearing-in ceremonies come January.

Governing during these hard economic times also means budgetary belt-tightening, new mayors from West Jordan, West Valley, Provo and Saratoga Springs told a group of university political science students Tuesday morning.

"We're not very good at cutting, and that's not only government — that's private sector as well," said Provo Mayor John Curtis. "The reality is that it's not a bad thing for government to have to cut."

Provo will have to reduce its budget by $5 million in the coming year, Curtis said. That's a big chunk for a budget that only tops $40 million.

West Valley and West Jordan also are in dire budgetary straits. West Jordan recently laid off several employees, said Mayor Melissa Johnson, and West Valley has ordered weeklong furloughs for all employees.

In Saratoga Springs, the entire budget for civic events has been dropped in lieu of a volunteer committee that is actually providing money to city coffers, said new Mayor Mia Love.

The mayors were speaking in a forum for the Hinckley Institute of Politics titled "Transitioning From Campaigning to Governing." The event was organized by West Valley Mayor Mike Winder, who has taken every possible opportunity since his inauguration to boost his city's stature in the region.

Beyond addressing weight loss and the necessity of smart phones for organizational purposes, the mayors gave tips on how students could follow in their footsteps.

"Get involved," said Love, Utah's first black female mayor. "There's always room for more help."

Johnson, a busy mother and professional mediator, jumped on the bandwagon.

"It's a learning experience even to do something like exit polling," she said. "If you are willing to work for free, there are literally dozens of people who will take your time and your efforts and teach you invaluable things in return."

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com