Now, he's hoping for four more years.

"I had no intention of running again and really thought we were probably done," Godfrey said Wednesday after announcing his candidacy for a third term. "It seemed like two terms was plenty of time."

Support from backers in recent months, however, changed his mind. The only other announced candidate so far is Neil Hansen, a Democratic state representative.

"It's not like we've done all we can do," said Godfrey, who will turn 37 on Saturday.

Godfrey declined to provide the results of a survey he commissioned earlier this month to gauge his chances.

"They were good enough that I'm running."

The mayor, elected in 2000 at age 29, pledged from the beginning to turn around his moribund city, and many see the redevelopment of downtown and the blossoming interest of outdoor-recreation companies as proof that he is fulfilling that promise.

Critics, however, say Godfrey is risking much by putting the city into debt for redevelopment projects - while its aging water and sewer systems are in need of repair.

Godfrey said his campaign will focus on four main issues:

* Finish redeveloping downtown.

* Keep reducing crime.

* Continue revitalizing neighborhoods, particularly those in the east-central part of the city.

* Lower property taxes even more.

Noticeably absent from his top issues are controversial proposals to sell much of the city's open space on the east bench to a private developer and to build a gondola from downtown to Weber State University.

The developer, Chris Peterson, would use revenue from the development of homes around a redesigned Mount Ogden Golf Course to build a mountain gondola and a resort in Malans Basin above the city. Peterson has not yet made a formal proposal, but Godfrey has advocated the gondola and land sale.

On Wednesday, the mayor said seeing the gondola project through is not a reason he wants another four years.

"If a project makes sense, it will happen no matter who is in office," he said. "That's one project out of several that we think have tremendous potential for the community. We'll keep looking at it and see if it makes sense."

Godfrey said he intends to emphasize achievements of his eight years in office.

"We've seen crime drop to the lowest levels since the early 1970s," he said. "With continued investment in our police department, we can see crime drop to an even lower level."

City property taxes have been lowered three times for a total of 5 percent since he took office, Godfrey said.

With downtown being revitalized and new outdoor-recreation companies coming to town, he said there should be even more opportunity to lower taxes in the future.

Hansen, who has been in the Legislature for nine years, said he wants to hold Godfrey accountable during the campaign for neglecting basic city services - roads, sidewalks, curbs, sewer and water systems - while fashioning the city as a developer.

Ogden put more than $40 million into redeveloping the failed Ogden City Mall and turning it into The Junction. The city owns the new Salomon Center, a recreation and entertainment venue there, and will share in lease revenue as The Boyer Co. attracts retailers to The Junction.

kmoulton@sltrib.com