Kooky? Or cutting edge?
Today, The Salt Lake Tribune sets aside battle-worn issues such as jail overcrowding and property taxes to explore lower profile - and less conventional - ideas touted by major Salt Lake County candidates.
Perhaps this year's most prolific political innovator is Democrat Paul Pugmire, whose campaign to unseat Republican Councilman Michael Jensen in west-side District 2 has led him - and reporters - to a barbed-wire-fenced retention basin in Magna and, later, to a bustling bus stop on 3500 South.
He wants to define Magna's Main Street as a film destination, have each of the county's storm-water retention ponds serve double duty as neighborhood parks and bring free-fare bus zones into the suburbs, starting with Magna's business districts.
Standing outside a bus stop on 3500 South this week, Pugmire traced his proposed free-fare route on a map and responded, "There's no reason to leave that good idea just in Salt Lake City."
But new wrinkles are cropping up in every campaign. Jensen, for instance, has suggested sprinkling unincorporated suburbs such as Magna and Kearns with special-improvement districts that would give residents enough combined financial clout to install streetlights, pour sidewalks, erect sound walls and beautify neighborhoods.
Here is a sampling of the campaign chatter countywide:
On the county's eastern bench, Democrat Jani Iwamoto is hoping to outpace Republican Councilman Mark Crockett in District 4. She has suggested carving an ethnic corridor through downtown Salt Lake City, which could include bits of Greek, Italian and Japanese culture. The Democrat also may push for discounted transit fares on "red" air-quality days (depending on the financial feasibility with high fuel prices).
Crockett wants to see stronger unincorporated townships with more control over planning and spending. He's willing to give the township councils authority over municipal services - such as fixing streets, replacing traffic lights, plowing snow and finishing sidewalks - to bring governance closer to home.
In the south valley's District 6, Republican Max Burdick, is stumping for more senior services. The senior population is about to balloon, he said, meaning that the county has to sink more resources into the centers and programs that serve them.
Pledging a more aggressive open-space platform, Democratic rival Roger Harding wants to complete the Bonneville Shoreline and Jordan River Parkway trails in Utah's most-populous county within four years.
Democratic Councilman Randy Horiuchi has a showstopping idea in his countywide campaign against Republican Steven DeBry.
No matter how the duel between Sandy and Salt Lake City to build Utah's first mega-theater plays out, Horiuchi wants the county to manage the playhouse.
DeBry, a sheriff's captain, wants to see police Jet Skis or boats patrolling the Jordan River to clamp down on crime along the parkway.
For the county's top job - mayor - Democratic incumbent Peter Corroon has suggested hiring a full-time manager for each of the six unincorporated townships. What better way, he said, of giving unincorporated communities such as White City, Kearns and Copperton greater control.
GOP challenger Michael Renckert would form a coalition to lobby the governor and Legislature to hasten the construction of a toll-free west-side Mountain View Corridor.
Good ideas? That's for you to decide.
jstettler@sltrib.com
