GOSHEN — Election issues are as diverse as the candidates in this small south Utah County town.

Three Town Council spots (a two-year seat and two four-year seats) are up for grabs among the four candidates.

Russell Woodland and Keith Richards are running for the two-year seat, which is the real race in this election. Steve Staheli and Jeff Thompson are running unopposed for the two four-year seats available. Both will get in unless a write-in candidate surfaces.

Even though Goshen is a small town, Thompson, 34, said he would like to see more professionalism in the Town Council meetings.

"I don't believe all the rules are being followed," Thompson said.

If elected to the council for a four-year term, Thompson said he would like to see the community recreation programs started up again and the number of law enforcement officers in town increased.

A key issue, he said, "is to get the (town's) finances headed in the right direction."

Former City Councilman Staheli, 35, also served on the Planning Commission. The business management graduate from the University of Phoenix said one of the biggest issues facing Goshen is providing adequate recreation for the town's children.

Richards, 55, who is running for a two-year seat, said he would like to see road improvements without raising taxes. The town also should have a full-time police department and more than two town workers, he said.

Woodland, 43, a Payson police officer, is running for the Town Council for the first time. If elected, he will join his wife, Councilwoman Cary Woodland, on the dais.

Russell Woodland says he is concerned about potential growth affecting Goshen because of a proposed paper plant just west of the town. Utah County is master planning the area with future roads for industrial, commercial and residential growth.

"A lot of people don't want to see it change, but change is coming," he said. "We need to be prepared for it."

Fred Jensen, 57, an incumbent councilman, is now seeking the mayor's seat.

Jensen said the council has been successful in straightening out past problems and is on the way to getting the community out of debt.

The city built a new water project but is getting caught up and staying ahead of the debt, he said.

"Part of it was the council's fault," Jensen said.

The growth planned for the valley west of Goshen near Elberta will affect the small town, he said, although "it would be wonderful to have the jobs, if they're decent."

Mayoral candidate Craig Brackenbury, 59, is also concerned about the coming growth.

"It's going to be the size of Orem," Brackenbury said, noting the need for planning. "We need to look at the big picture. It's not going to stay the way it is."

Brackenbury retired from the ironworkers union and now works in labor relations for Mountain States Steel in Lindon.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com