Democrat Rudi Kohler is challenging incumbent Jay Price because of land issues.

Kohler moved to the Heber Valley from New York almost five years ago. The skier, cyclist, hiker and backpacker dove into politics to, in his view, preserve the reason he made the county his home.

"We just see rampant development occurring out here," he said. "There doesn't seem to be any control. Existing zoning is being downgraded."

Price, the council chairman and a former dairy farmer, said he also wants to protect the county's rural atmosphere.

"I just want to continue what we've done the last four years - preservation of open space, quality of life, protect private property rights."

The two candidates have different tactics. Kohler sees Price as "pro-development," and the incumbent says Kohler ignores private-property rights.

Price said he would continue to work with developers to gain open space. That route has resulted in 10,000 acres of open space the past four years, he said. He noted the county is working on a traffic master plan. And he supports a proposed bypass road in Heber to remove large trucks from Main Street.

Kohler - no relation to County Councilman Michael Kohler - is dismayed with moves to downgrade preservation zoning, which allows one dwelling per 160 acres, to mountain zoning, which would allow one house on 5 acres in some cases. And he has suggested changing another zoning to allow one dwelling per 5-acre lot instead of the current one house per one-acre.

"Other than the large property owners, most who live in the RA-1 zone, agree with me. It would slow down the growth rate," Kohler said.

Price opposes the idea. "That means if you only had 1 acre, you couldn't build. He wants everybody to build on 5 acres."

Kohler also wants to develop a trail along the Provo River to connect Deer Creek Reservoir with Park City trails. He wants to add bike lanes on roadways and explore building a recreation center, which would be paid for through a voter-approved bond.

Price said he would do a better job working with the county's municipalities.

Councilmen Val Draper and Neil Anderton also are on the ballot and are running unopposed.

hmay@sltrib.com

Jay Price

* AGE: 50

* PARTY: Repulbican

* FAMILY: Married, five children, six grandchildren.

* EDUCATION: Associate's degree in agriculture from Utah State University.

* CAREER: Used to own a dairy farm; now sells lumber.

* POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected to County Council in 2002, council chairman for two years; former member of the county's Board of Adjustment.

* INTERESTING FACT: Likes to raise cattle.

Rudi Kohler

* AGE: 64.

* PARTY: Democrat.

* FAMILY: Married, three grown children.

* EDUCATION: Master's degree in chemical engineering from Clarkson University in New York.

* CAREER: Retired; former chemical engineer for 35 years at Praxair.

* POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Chair of Wasatch County Democrat Party, on committee to revitalize Heber City Main Street.

* INTERESTING FACT: Is writing a book called Rx Prescription for America.

Question and answer

If elected, do you anticipate needing to raise property taxes in Wasatch County?

* PRICE: "No. The county's budget is in really good shape."

* KOHLER: "No. In fact, quite the opposite. New residential development is not tax self-sustaining. By slowing down the rate of new development, you don't need new infrastructures. By implementing a more responsible growth you really reduce the taxes."

Will you vote for the $59.5 million bond to build a new high school?

* PRICE: "I will. We need math labs and science labs. It'll better prepare our kids for college."

* KOHLER: "I am reluctantly supporting it right now. Eventually, regardless of what we do, we are going to need a new school. The reason we need a new school is we've been unable to control our growth rate, and that's why I'm reluctant to support it."