Alta man challenges residency of mayor, councilman

ALTA — An Alta man is challenging the voter residency of two residents — including the mayor.

Guy Jordan is accusing Alta Mayor Tom Pollard and Councilman Steven Gilman of living in Sandy and Cottonwood Heights, respectively, while voting from temporary addresses in Alta.

Many residents of the town of 370 people own a home in Alta and another outside the small ski town. Those who vote in Alta's municipal elections claim Alta as their primary residence.

"As you may be aware, there are many Alta voters who use their addresses at the ski area or lodges and live in the valley," Jordan wrote in a letter to Kate Black, Alta's town clerk. "Thomas Pollard and Steven Gilman are just two examples, but they represent high-profile examples."

Jordan, who made an unsuccessful run for Town Council in 2003, has sent his complaints to the state attorney general and Salt Lake County clerk.

Alta has dealt with similar allegations six times in the past two decades. Each time, both the state and county have determined the residents in question were legally able to vote in the town.

"This isn't the first time, nor will it be the last," Black said. "The fact of the matter is that many individuals in this county own two homes or two places where they may lay their head. It depends where their primary residence is, where they've declared it, where their license is, where their bills are sent, and the code spells that out."

Utah Election Code is clear-cut, Black added, saying she certifies voters by verifying their driver's license with a local address.

Pollard was out of town and unavailable for comment. He is the general manager of the Rustler Lodge and has lived in Alta since 1981. Gilman has lived there since 1978.

e-mail: astowell@desnews.com