Orem city leaders seek re-election

OREM — With four incumbents seeking re-election, Orem voters may experience a sense of dej?vu when they enter the voting booth this election season.

In addition to Mayor Jerry Washburn, who is running for a fourth term against political newcomer Philip Hornberger, incumbent City Council members Dean Dickerson, Karen McCandless and Shiree Thurston are seeking re-election. Running against them are Steven Diamond, Mary Street and Brent Sumner.

Washburn, a retired businessman who was first elected to a two-year term in 1999, is running on his record of past achievements, including the development of parks and recreation properties and efforts at neighborhood preservation.

Hornberger, a lifelong Orem resident who has owned and operated several businesses and works in real estate, said the city should focus on providing essential services and reduce its involvement in activities that compete with local businesses.

Diamond, a mortgage officer and financial adviser, is running on a platform of eliminating restrictive city ordinances, promoting small-business development in the city and enhancing Orem's identity as Family City USA.

Dickerson said preserving Orem's quality of life is of paramount importance. If elected, Dickerson said he will focus on being accessible and work to retain local businesses, promote public safety and preserve the city's neighborhoods.

McCandless said the focus of her re-election campaign is to strengthen Orem's neighborhoods, keep open the lines of communication between residents and the City Council, promote fiscal responsibility and minimize the impact of traffic on the city.

Street, a real estate agent specializing in land and investment sales and a member of Orem's Planning Commission, said she would use a position on the council to promote land-use policies that support economic development.

Sumner, who for 30 years was owner and publisher of the Orem-Geneva Times, said he would focus on family-friendly policies that preserve Orem's neighborhoods, carefully manage city resources, develop the cultural arts and promote strong economic growth.

Thurston said, if re-elected, her focus during the economic recovery will be on maintaining necessary levels of city services while keeping taxes in check.

e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com