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Most of the crowd of candidates running for South Jordan City Council got their call to action more than a year before the campaign filing deadline. And it was all because of a golf course.
At the time, none of them could have guessed golf would be an impetus to run for political office. But when the current council suggested developing Mulligans Golf and Games to make room for more profit-worthy ventures in 2014, they stepped up to stop it. Now seven of the 13 filed candidates say it's the reason they're vying for the three open council seats.
It's the biggest field of council hopefuls in any Salt Lake County municipality this year.
"That whole issue [of Mulligans] was a catalyst for getting people more concerned with what's going on in the city," said Paul Bateman, a candidate in District 2.
Though the city paid off its $4.6 million bond on Mulligans in April, some say the 67-acre golf course on 10600 South by the Jordan River is still in limbo, as the next council could vote to develop the property. Having a say in this decision is driving many in the election.
While Brad Marlor, also running in District 2, is concerned about the future of Mulligans, he worries more that the council has struck a sour chord in its interactions with constituents, noting contention over the issue left him and other residents feeling disenfranchised.
Current council members don't listen to the people they represent, he said, and stifle those who disagree with them.
"There's a sense in South Jordan that the people just aren't happy with what they've got on the council right now," Marlor said. "They don't like what's there, and I don't blame them. … Mulligans was kind of the last straw for most of us."
Marlor previously served on the council for eight years, and was a member when the city purchased Mulligans in 2004. He said South Jordan bought the course with the intention of providing recreation for the public that would pay for itself through the cost of operations. But he believes current city leadership mismanaged the project.
He wants to rejoin the council to preserve the golf course and to give residents more say in city matters.
Anna Florin, a member of the Save Mulligans group formed to protest development of the golf facility, lives next to the course and is running on a similar platform. She wants people to have a voice in how South Jordan is developed: "Cities should work more with people instead of just saying this is the way it's going to be."
Others campaigning as a result of Mulligans are: Thomas Geilmann, Nathan Gedge, Patrick Harris and Andrew Petersen. The majority of those in favor of protecting the golf course are running in District 1, where Mulligans is located and where Councilman Mark Seethaler is stepping down. Joe Ross, a candidate for District 4, could not be reached for comment.
Even candidates not directly motivated to run because of the golf course tensions are still driven by the issue of open space in South Jordan.
As more businesses build in the area and more people move to the city, Tamara Zander, a candidate from District 4, said there will be a need for firm plans for growth management to preserve natural areas. For her, this includes controlling high-density housing.
"We can't let development take over," Zander said, "and look back with regret that we didn't safeguard green space."
South Jordan in the most recent census estimates overtook Taylorsville to become the state's 10th largest city, with nearly 63,000 residents.
Chuck Newton, the only incumbent running for re-election, says growth management is a far bigger issue for South Jordan than a golf course. He hopes to focus his campaign on the transportation issues resulting from rapid growth. Newton would like to fund road improvements for Bangerter Highway and Mountain View Corridor because of heavy congestion, which he calls "the most important and critical issue."
He believes the other candidates are making "political hay" out of Mulligans and spending too much time on it — an issue he said has already been resolved by paying off the bond.
The course has a secure future as far as Newton is concerned. He said it would be "damn silly" for the incoming council to sell the property because it now has a positive cash flow that will help pay for minor improvements to the facility, including fixing fences, cleaning up the batting cages and adding more holes to the course.
He hopes his challengers — there are three of them in District 2 — address other relevant issues facing South Jordan.
Because there are more than two candidates running in each of the three council seats on the ballot, South Jordan will hold primary elections Aug. 11. The top two voter-getters will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Twitter: @CourtneyLTanner —
Candidates for South Jordan City Council
Council District 1: Anna Florin, Nathan Gedge, Thomas Geilmann, Eric Hansen, Patrick Harris.
Council District 2: Chuck Newton, Paul Bateman, Brad Marlor, Andrew Petersen.
Council District 4: John Geilmann, Keila Mower, Joe Ross, Tamara Zander.