West Jordan candidates want to boost local business

WEST JORDAN — Challengers in upcoming municipal elections for this quickly growing southwest suburb want to fix city budget problems by getting residents to shop inside city limits.

City Council candidate Karen Shaeffer said, if elected, she would get businesses to provide extras like free desserts as a prize for shopping in the city. More residents shopping in the city would boost tax coffers without increasing levies.

Mayoral candidate Irene T. Casper, 49, runs a photography franchise based in Draper. She's up against City Councilwoman Melissa Johnson, a 39-year-old professional mediator.

Johnson's campaign has focused on fiscal restraint. She has always voted against tax increases during her four-year tenure and said she would continue to oppose new levies if elected. Johnson would do so by prioritizing city needs, she said.

For example, Johnson is against any funding of the Sugar Factory Arts Complex until the economic situation improves, but she did support purchase of a new fire engine.

In contrast, Casper wants to fund the complex with support from the county and from local businesses.

If elected, Casper said she would improve the city's economic development department, but she doesn't believe it would ever be necessary to cut services to avoid raising taxes.

West Jordan City Councilwoman Kathy Hilton is defending her seat against higher education IT support supervisor Clive Killpack, government transportation employee Chad Nichols and college admissions supervisor Shaeffer. Two at-large council seats are available.

Hilton, who has served on the council for 12 years, said she wants to keep lobbying the state Legislature to institute school impact fees. She is a major proponent of the Mountain View Corridor and said she believes her experience and scrutiny can help balance the city's budget.

If elected, 58-year-old Killpack said he would support a city vote on whether the West Jordan should change its form of government. He supports mixed-use development and is against raising property taxes.

Nichols, 38, and Shaeffer, 49, both hope to get residents to shop in the city as a way to avoid raising taxes.

Nichols wants the city to do a better job of planning for commercial growth, especially in its south and west areas.

Shaeffer wants to incorporate smart growth principles into city planning and make "green" changes such as installing efficient light bulbs.

Candidate biographies and campaign finance disclosures are available online at wjordan.com.

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com