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In the race for Salt Lake City Council District 2 — which encompasses Glendale, Poplar Grove and Fair Park — it's the old guard versus the young blood.
Van Turner, who has spent a lifetime living, working and volunteering in the area, seeks the seat that he held for 12 years before losing it to Kyle LaMalfa four years ago.
Turner owns and operates the Hook & Ladder cafe and Firehouse Floral.
LaMalfa is not running for re-election.
Facing off against Turner is Andrew Johnston, a social worker with Intermountain Healthcare and a six-year resident of the west side. He serves as chairman of the Poplar Grove Community Council.
Turner said he would emphasize maintenance and improvements to Salt Lake City streets, sidewalks and parks.
At the top of Johnston's list is a streamlining of city licensing and other processes to make way for new growth, which he said is ready to "blossom."
One of the big issues in District 2 is the proposed closure of the Glendale Golf Course.
Turner is adamantly opposed to shutting the 160-acre course. Its proposed closure earlier this year prompted him to run for his old council seat.
"I want to keep golf on the west side," he said. "The neighbors love it, but City Hall doesn't listen."
He did not favor a proposed $150 million bond, a big chunk of which would have gone to transforming the course into a regional park. The money also would have gone to adding numerous bike and hiking trails around the city and to help spruce up the Jordan River riparian zone.
But at the last minute, the council refused to put the bond on the ballot and promised to address the issues again in 2016.
For now, Glendale remains a golf course.
Meanwhile, the City Council closed the Jordan River Par 3 course and is slated to give Wingpointe back to the Salt Lake City Airport Authority that is looking to shut it down.
Johnston said the decision to close some golf courses was a fiscally sound one. But he said he would prefer closing Rose Park Golf Course in Council District 1, rather than Glendale. The golf system must be self-sustaining, he said.
Salt Lake City's golf program loses $1 million annually and has racked up about $25 million in deferred maintenance.
Johnston is not opposed to a bond for recreation and open space, but he said this year is not the right time to put it before voters.
In another big election issue, both men believe Salt Lake City needs more police officers on the street.
Turner said he did not approve of the way former Police Chief Chris Burbank was forced to resign. "I think it was handled wrong by [Mayor Ralph] Becker," he said.
Johnston said the council's recent move to fund eight bicycle patrol officers is a step forward, but that funding eight social workers to help police in the Rio Grande district near Pioneer Park is not a good idea. "It adds one more group competing for the same resources," he said. "It's one more layer."
Turner would like to see increased bus service in Salt Lake City, but he does not favor the proposed tax hike of one-quarter cent that would go toward transit and transportation. The Utah Transit Authority would get 40 percent of the tax, and Turner said he did not like that. "There is a lot of mistrust with UTA," he said.
Turner also would like to see more investment in bike lanes and more parking along streets for business patrons. Johnston also says Salt Lake City needs better bus service. Unlike Turner, he does favor the transit and transportation tax and hopes UTA will use those funds as promised to beef up bus routes and frequencies.
Neither candidate supports a city-owned bus system, and both favor more bike lanes.
Turner wants Salt Lake City to foster more local businesses.
"As a small businessman, I think the city could do a lot more," Turner said.
Johnston said the city is poised for new growth. But he would like City Hall to make it easier by reducing fees.
"Growth will come, if we can get [government] out of the way," he said.
The general election is Nov. 3. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2
District 2
Van Turner
Birthplace • Salt Lake City
Age • 67
Occupation • Business owner
Political experience • Served three terms on Salt Lake City Council
Andrew Johnston
Birthplace • Salt Lake City
Age • 40
Occupation • Social worker for Intermountain Healthcare
Political experience • Chairman of the Poplar Grove Community Council