3 Salt Lake City councilmen up for re-election

SALT LAKE CITY — East-siders, west-siders and those in between will go to the polls Tuesday to select their representation on the City Council for the next four years.

Longtime District 2 councilman Van Turner is seeking a fourth term representing the west-side neighborhoods of Glendale, Jackson and Poplar Grove.

Turner, a lifelong resident and longtime business owner on the west side, is being challenged by Kyle LaMalfa, who's made a name for himself as a community leader and event organizer since moving to the west side in 2003.

On the east side, JT Martin is running for a second term in District 6 — which includes the area from the University of Utah to 2100 South and from 1500 East to the east bench.

Martin, a former District 6 small-business owner, is being challenged by Charlie Luke, a public relations and government affairs consultant.

And in District 4, which includes the Central City, East Downtown, People's Freeway, East Central City and Rio Grande neighborhoods, Luke Garrott is up for re-election in what essentially is an uncontested race.

Jack Gray will be listed on the ballot along with Garrott, though Gray has been absent from the race. He previously ran for the seat in 2003 and 2007 but failed to advance past the primary election on both occasions. Garrott and Gray were the only two candidates to file in District 4 this year, so no primary was necessary.

District 2

Turner certainly knows the west side and District 2 in particular. He grew up in Glendale and has spent 40 years as a business owner there.

"I've been here my whole life," Turner said. "I'm dedicated to this part of town. I'm not going anywhere. I just want to make this area better. That's been my lifelong goal."

Turner cites ongoing projects such as the transformation of North Temple into a grand boulevard as his main reason for wanting to serve another four years on the City Council.

But LaMalfa says he believes it's time for a change in District 2. He says the west side needs a stronger voice on the City Council.

"I've got a ton of energy, and I'm ready to be responsive to the needs of the west side," he said.