Candidates face growth issues By JESUS LOPEZ JR._ Standard-Examiner staff MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE - Growth is the topic on every candidate's mind in the race for City Council in Marriott-Slaterville. As the Oct. 7 primary election approaches, candidates each have ideas on how the recently incorporated city should grow. There are three City Council seats up for election - seat A, seat C and at-large. Both the at-large and seat C have more than two candidates running. At large L. Kent Slater, 62, is running for public office for the first time. He is retired, but spent most of his work life managing hotels. He served as director of Golden Spike Livestock Show and Coliseum. Slater wants to see some new faces on the council. "I just think there's never been much involvement," he said. "There has never been anyone to run." Although Marriott-Slaterville keeps a small, rural atmosphere, Slater said, city officials must remember growth is inevitable. He wants to make sure the city has five-, 10- and 20-year growth plans. Kent Meyerhoffer, 53, served on the Bona Vista Water District board of directors for 11 years and served in the Weber Fire District for eight years. "I like to be involved with the community and the city whenever I can," Meyerhoffer said. He said he wants Marriott-Slaterville to remain a farming community and wants to keep taxes low. Ned Allred, 53, has not run for public office before, but has served on the city's Board of Adjustments. "I think it's important that people have a choice on who holds public office," Allred said. The Cream o' Weber employee wants to maintain a rural atmosphere in Mar- MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE COUNCIL PRIMARY riott-Slaterville. Scott VanLeeuwen, 60, owns The Gift House in Ogden. He is pushing "common-sense" government and has served as a member of the Marriott-Slaterville Planning Commission since the city incorporated. "Part of my deal is maintaining a rural atmosphere," VanLeeuwen said. "We are Utah's open-space city." Seat C Robert DeVries, 65, is also new to the political scene. He is retired from Hill Air Force Base. "I was just a little bit concerned with the way things were going with property rights in the community," DeVries said. "I complain a lot, so I thought if you're going to complain, you might as well do something about it. So I ran for office." Rob Smout, 39, is an incumbent who served on the Slaterville Township Council before Slaterville merged with Marriott in 2000. "I enjoy the opportunity to serve the community," Smout said. "We have made a lot of progress, I think, in the time we've been a city." Smout, who works for AT&T Corp. said he wants to maintain Marriott-Slaterville's atmosphere. Jay Miller, 57, serves as the Homeland Security and Emergency Response coordinator for Marriott-Slaterville. Like most candidates, Miller wants to control growth. "I want to keep it as rural as possible," Miller said. "Growth is inevitable, but I want to control it as much as possible." If elected, Miller said, he wants to work with residents. Reporter Jesus Lopez Jr. can be reached at 625-4239 or jlopez@standard.net. Elections and Road Construction October 2, 2003 Construction at 1900 W. 12th St. OGDEN - Motorists should expect heavy congestion through the intersection of 1900 West and 12th Street today through Sunday and are advised by the Utah Department of Transportation to avoid the area. During those days, 1900 West (state Route 126) will be closed for bridge-deck work from 1350 South in Marriott-Slaterville to 1555 South in West Haven. Concrete will be poured the first day and will require the next several days to cure. Motorists may use Interstate 15 as an alternate route. Business access to the 1350 South industrial park will be maintained via 12th Street and 1900 West. Access to streets south of 1555 South will be from 21st Street.