Election 2009: Candidates seek to shepherd Elk Ridge's growth

ELK RIDGE — Two candidates for City Council say they are responding to a 2007 citywide survey that sought to discover what residents wanted out of their city.

Erin Clawson, 40, and her family moved to Elk Ridge in 2005, and she became interested in local government after attending council meetings and public hearings over the past year.

Based on the survey, Clawson said she is concerned about how the community develops and grows, improves water resources and fosters awareness of crime while maintaining the natural beauty of Elk Ridge.

"I will keep the role of city government in perspective," she said. "I believe the role of government is not to micromanage the daily affairs of the (residents)."

Paul F. Squires, 61, also said, if elected, he would base his decisions on the 2007 community survey. Squires intends to use his background with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Air Force to help Elk Ridge, he said. Squires retired after more than 30 years with the Bureau of Reclamation and with a civil-engineering reserves squadron at Hill Air Force Base.

A member of the Planning Commission, Squires said he wants to make sure Elk Ridge gets its full share of Central Utah Project water and a non-matching federal grant to help the city start the infrastructure to bring it to the community. Elk Ridge has never petitioned for the water, he said.

Weston Youd, 35, questions several actions of the current City Council, including the purchase of land for the city center and the public disagreements from the council dais. The biggest issues facing the city today are the financial challenges, Youd said.

Jason Bullard, 35, has been involved in politics long before he moved to Utah. While living in Portland, Ind., Bullard worked as a police officer for five years and made an unsuccessful run for mayor.

"I was also invited to be a lead organizer for the campaign to elect (Indiana) Gov. Mitch Daniels to a new term," he said, though he declined because of his impending move to Utah.

Bullard made it to the 10th grade in high school before dropping out at age 17 to help raise his son. He was appointed to the Elk Ridge Planning Commission in April. In that position, Bullard said he has learned of several new large developments for the hillside town and is part of the decision-making process for them. He sees another 2,500 people moving to the town and wants to see more parks developed to serve the community.

The lone mayoral candidate, Kenneth O. Lutes, 69, says he'd like to eliminate debt as soon as possible and maintain low taxes and water rates in a quiet, non-commercial atmosphere.

Lutes graduated from West Point and served U.S. Air Force for more than eight years. He then worked for Ross Perot's Electronic Data Systems in California, served as the executive vice president for a financial planning company in California and Colorado, and finally went into business for himself. Lutes also worked for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and retired early in 1995.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com