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Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams and the four County Council members up for re-election this fall wasted little time Friday in filing to retain their seats.
In fact, Republican council incumbents Richard Snelgrove, the at-large member, Michael Jensen of District 2 and Max Burdick of District 6 all arrived at the county clerk's office shortly after the filing period opened at 8 a.m.
"Without planning it, they all showed up at the same time," said County Clerk Sherri Swensen, noting that her office had a typically busy turnout on the first day of filing. "Then it slows down and we get a lot on the last day," which is Thursday at 5 p.m.
McAdams is facing a challenger. Dave Robinson, a businessman who ran unsuccessfully for Salt Lake City mayor last fall, is seeking the Republican nomination.
"I believe our county government must be improved," said Robinson, contending it "needs added transparency, increased efficiency and leaders who are willing to limit its size and cost."
There is also interest in Snelgrove's six-year seat.
Catherine Kanter, an attorney who recently was appointed to the new Mountainous Planning Commission, announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination, as did Kim Bowman, a University of Utah Health Sciences manager who also has served on the county Demoratic Party's executive committee.
"As a wife, mother, nonprofit advocate and attorney, I believe we need leaders who are strategic, visionary and collaborative," Kanter said, vowing to fight for air quality, transportation, canyon issues and criminal justice reform.
Bowman said he was "running to provide comprehensive services to all the residents of the county while advancing policies that help the most vulnerable members of our community. … I will value creativity and innovation in developing and adjusting programs."
Democrat Sam Granato, the incumbent council member in District 4, also formalized his intent to seek a second term, filing not long after his GOP counterparts.
"I look forward to four more years of productive service," he said, citing work on Medicaid expansion, early-childhood education, clean-air initiatives and safety projects across his east-side district.
Meanwhile, legislative approval this week of a legal change that will allow the lightly populated Emigration Canyon, White City and Copperton metro townships to elect their councils at large rather than by district apparently propelled more candidates to file for those offices.
White City now has six candidates for its five seats, while Emigration has seven. Only Copperton is lagging, with just three township council candidates as of Friday.