Now, Sid Creager is the only candidate for the at-large seat now held by Bart Smith.

Smith is at the center of complaints county residents filed last spring with the Attorney General's Office, whose spokesman, Paul Murphy, has confirmed an investigation is under way.

On Monday, Smith said that he decided earlier in the summer not to seek an at-large seat on the council - but waited until this fall to formally withdraw.

He said he delayed removing his name because a Mountain Green resident had accused him during a council meeting of violations of ethics codes and a state bribery law - and he did not want to give his critics reason to gloat.

"It's time to go back to work," said Smith, a developer, who said he's tired of being "smeared" by county residents he believes are anti-growth. "By staying in office, I'm just hurting myself."

"It's time to not fight it. I'll just go back and be a developer."

Smith was elected in 2000 to complete a term and was returned to office in 2002. In 2004, he beat back another effort to remove him from office. He has held a seat representing Mountain Green, but for November's election was running for an at-large seat.

This summer, resident Brad Hall had asked the council to suspend and investigate Smith. The council referred the complaint to the county attorney, Jann Farris, who said that because the Attorney General's Office is investigating the same complaints, he is not conducting his own probe.

Hall's home is in the Highlands West subdivision, where a landslide has already ruined one luxury home and is threatening Hall's and another home.

Smith's brother was the subdivision's initial developer, and Bart Smith has been a consultant to the current developer, Brett Simonsen, who is his partner in other projects.

kmoulton@sltrib.com

What's next?

The County Council today will hear public comment about a proposed ordinance designed to require landowners to secure more geo-technical research before building in sensitive areas. The ordinance would allow construction to resume in sensitive areas, which have been under a moratorium since spring. That moratorium expires next month. The council meeting begins at 4 p.m.; the public hearing begins at 5 p.m. The meeting is in Morgan at 48 W. Young.