Clark, Curtis advance in Provo

PROVO — In a close race, Provo businessman John Curtis and Utah Rep. Steve Clark advanced Tuesday to the Provo city municipal election for mayor.

The two will face off Nov. 3 to replace Provo Mayor Lewis Billings, who did not seek re-election.

Curtis received 41 percent of the vote to Clark's 37 percent in an election that saw a 10 percent voter turnout.

"I'm very happy and very pleased," said an exuberant Curtis, who ran a race based on his years of business experience. "We came from ground zero. Nobody knew who we were, nobody knew what our message was."

Clark, who is finishing his fifth term as a Utah legislator and who served two terms on the Provo City Council, said he anticipates a tough six weeks.

"I'm thrilled that I'm in the final, and I think statistically it's a dead heat," Clark said. "It's going to be an interesting race and good dialogue."

Curtis outspent Clark 2-to-1 in the campaign, one of the most expensive Provo mayoral election primaries ever.

Both candidates said they expected a positive campaign for the general election.

Three-term councilmember Cindy Richards, the only incumbent running in the primary election, received 42 percent of the vote in Provo Council District 5. She and Sterling Beck, who received 30 percent, will appear on the municipal ballot.

Richards faced a negative campaign from a PAC named StopCindy.com.

"We are thrilled with the results and we're confident about our general election prospects," she said. "It just gives us a chance to set the record straight."

Beck said the election results gave him hope for the municipal election.

"Sixty percent of the voters did not vote for the incumbent. That says something," he said.

In other city council races, Laura Cabanilla and Coy Porter, in a very close race, will advance to the municipal race for the citywide council seat up for election. Cabanilla had 41 percent of the vote to Porter's 39 percent.

Rick Healey, with 52 percent of the vote, and David Acheson, with 37 percent, will appear on the final ballot for Council District 2.

e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com