Corroon, Horiuchi enjoy leads in S.L. County races

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon enjoys a commanding lead over his Republican challenger, Michael Renckert, and incumbent Councilman-at-large Randy Horiuchi seems poised to pull out another squeaker over his current opponent, Republican Stephen DeBry.

The results were according to the Friday results of a new Deseret News/KSL-TV poll conducted by Dan Jones & Associates Oct. 24-30. There were 498 registered voters surveyed in the county, and the margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percent.

The Horiuchi-DeBry race may be the closest among the four County Council contests, and the balance of power on the board, currently a 5-4 Republican advantage, is up for grabs. The three other seats in contention all have Republicans in defensive positions.

Corroon leads Renckert by a margin of 68-22 percent and has gained 11 points since the last Jones poll conducted in September. Corroon seemed pleased to hear the latest numbers on Friday.

"I'm honored that the voters have put their trust in me to carry forth some of the great programs we started the first term," Corroon said.

Poll numbers show Horiuchi ahead of DeBry by a 50-41 percent, though he has gained four points since the September voter survey.

Horiuchi, a Democrat and veteran of county government who first served as a commissioner in 1990, has made single-digit campaign victories a habit. He said that his one "landslide" victory, in 2002, was by five percentage points.

"I've been through this before, and I know better than to get to riled up over the numbers," Horiuchi said.

DeBry feels this very issue — Horiuchi's long-running seat in county government — is exactly why it's time for someone new.

"For a man to be serving there on what will be a fifth term is just wrong," DeBry said. "It's time for new ideas and a reinvigoration."

DeBry said he is ready to tackle the upcoming challenges facing the county, and is committed to fiscal responsibility, managing growth and making public safety a top priority. Horiuchi contends that tough times require an experienced, steady hand, and he's the candidate that best exemplifies that.

Other County Council races on the ballot Tuesday could also be as close as Horiuchi-DeBry. Those include: