Election 2009: Growth a major issue in Salem

SALEM — Growth is on the minds of candidates running for political office in this expanding community.

Mayor Lane Henderson is stepping down, but Councilman Stanley Green, 61, a radiologist, is running for his seat.

"I'd like to continue (Henderson's) policies that have helped the city," Green said.

Among those policies, he said, is avoiding layoffs of city employees for financial reasons, which means keeping a tight budget.

Salem has no major crime, and Green wants to keep it that way, particularly paying attention to illegal drug use. He also favors revamping the city's master plan to "reflect the growth we want," he said.

Mayoral candidate Jon Cope, 55, a member of the Planning Commission, served on the City Council about 20 years ago and has had many civic responsibilities for the past 35 years.

"I want to be sure that any future growth happens in an organized and orderly fashion," Cope said. "I realize the importance of not only maintaining but strengthening our commercial tax base by taking care of our existing businesses and promoting new commercial growth."

Incumbent City Councilman Brent V. Hanks, 58, is running for a second term. Hanks worked on getting a grocery store, which opened recently, to Salem, and wants to see the roads improved.

Economic development is still an important issue as the council works to build the city's tax base, he said.

City Council candidate Sidney M. Jorgensen, 42, a member of the Planning Commission for the past five years, said he's running for office because "I just like serving my community."

Jorgensen said he sees residential growth and promoting business growth as the two biggest issues Salem faces. Jorgensen also wants to improve the city's parks and recreation programs.

Sterling M. Rees, 53, a former two-term city councilman from Roosevelt, moved to Salem five years ago and wants to be involved in the community.

"I don't have an agenda," Rees said.

However, he sees growth as the biggest challenge facing the south Utah County city. A new high school will bring some of that growth, Rees said, and he sees the potential for more businesses moving in, which will bring new challenges to the city, he said.

Brent Black, 51, a commercial construction worker, said the city must control spending to avoid a rising tax burden. But Salem's main issues involve keeping its rural beauty while making it viable for business growth along the state highway, Black said.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com