This is the year of the
municipal elections.
Here in Utah, the citizens of
each city and town will go to
the polls Nov. 6 to elect the
officials who will direct local
affairs in the various
commimities.
Just because the municipal
elections are not accompanied
by the fanfare of a national
vote should not be interpreted
as meaning they’re not
important.
Indeed they are vitally im-
portant. Mayors,
commissioners, councilmen,
town board members – city
officials by whatever title –
are charged with making
decisions which vitally affect
your daily life.
For example: They set the
local tax levy, have the
responsibility for police and
fire protection, decide on
street and water projects, act
on local laws and ordinances,
and have the authority to
make many other decisions
affecting the community and
its people.
lt’s important, therefore,
that good men and women be
elected. With the filing
deadline only weeks away, it’s
urgent now that qualified
persons be urged to run for of-
fice.
In Provo, the offices of
mayor and one city com-
missioner will be filled this
year for four – year terms.
These posts are now held by
Mayor Verl G. Dixon and
Commissioner Ray Murdock,
both of whom have indicated
they will not seek re-election.
Thus far, two candidates for
mayor are in tl1e race – John
Manning and A1 Molling. One
candidate has announced for
commissioner, E. Odell
Miner.
In Provo, the filing deadline
is Oct. 1 – just three weeks
away. That doesn’t leave a lot
of time. If there are more than
two candidates in any one
office, Provo will hold a
primary election Oct. 23.
For third class cities –
which will elect a mayor and
two councilmen this year –
the filing period is between
Oct. 9 and Oct. 19. The smaller
communities in the “town”
category will elect a president
of the town board and two
trustees.
In the third class cities and
towns, nominations usually
are made on a party basis at
party conventions. Individual
citizens not chosen on a party
ballot may seek election by
filing a nominating petition
with the required number of
signatures.
The time is getting late.
Now is the hour for thought
and action in order to make
the municipal elections
successful and insure election
of qualified persons to all
offices.