Margaret Peterson's decision to retire after 17 years on the council spurred seven residents to run for her at-large seat. And incumbents Carolynn Burt and Russ Brooks each face two challengers in Districts 1 and 3, respectively.

Most of the candidates talk about polishing the image of Utah's second most-populous city to attract more middle-income families and businesses. They also want to beat back crime, but there are some distinct differences among the field.

At-large

Mario Cisneros

Cisneros, 43, owns a small printing business and served as a city planning commissioner for five years.

"I don't want to see all of the multiunit housing projects coming to West Valley. I want to see larger, nicer subdivisions," he said. "I want big business to come in. I want to see the good side of West Valley be shown to everybody throughout the state."

* Priorities: Expand the police department, make over the city's image, attract new businesses, decrease debt.

* Fun fact: He coaches baseball at Hunter High.

Jack B. Matheson

Matheson is a civil designer and land planner with Murray-based Dominion Engineering. He has served on the city's Planning Commission for eight years.

"I'm probably the most-qualified person for the [council] position," the 57-year-old said. "The city has a lot of transportation issues ahead of them in the next four years. I am a transportation expert."

* Priorities: Plan for transportation upgrades, increase police officers, possibly raise impact fees paid by developers.

* Fun fact: He has "personally designed" more than $12 million worth of public improvements in West Valley City.

Corey Lynn Rushton

Rushton, 32, is the sixth generation to live next to and work on the family farm near 4100 South and 5200 West. He also is the marketing manager for a medical-services company.

"When Margaret [Peterson] retired, she said it best that we need new people and new ideas and new blood" on the council, he said. "We're the second most-populous city in the state, and we need to get on track . . . to be second to none."

* Priorities: Bump up code enforcement to keep neighborhoods "attractive," stomp out crime, make the city "graffiti-free," improve east-west transportation.

* Fun fact: He recently spent a year working for the U.S. Senate in a nonpartisan job and also worked for a short time for Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Steven F. Shamy Sr.

Shamy, 53, is a charter-bus driver for Utah Trailways.

"I'm not a politician. I'm a working man," he said. "The community needs a voice."

As a councilman, he vowed to devote one day a week - besides the one required for council meetings - to speak with constituents in person or on the phone.

* Priorities: Improve the city's image, expand the police department, crack down on gangs, generate more community pride.

* Fun fact: He "did all the right things and everybody went home safe" after the Wendover Fun Bus he was driving in 1997 was hijacked at gunpoint for 45 minutes.

Charles Sipes

Sipes, a 33-year-old real-estate agent and broker, has spent his entire life in West Valley City.

"It's time to see some changes," he said, criticizing last year's 65 percent property-tax hike.

If elected, he wants to attract economic development, including small businesses, to boost the city's tax revenue so homeowners won't have to be tapped again for a budget shortfall.

* Priorities: Improve east-west transportation, listen to different points of view, boost code enforcement, hire more police officers.

* Fun fact: He played in Las Vegas' World Series of Poker in June.

Scott Spendlove

Spendlove, a foreman at Alliant Techsystems Inc., has spent most of his 48 years in West Valley City. He has been a member of the city's Board of Adjustment for five years.

"A lot of times, what might be classified as voter or citizen apathy is actually that the citizens don't have access to information," he said.

* Priorities: Hold town meetings in neighborhoods, develop a physical or virtual information kiosk, increase candidate forums and information provided during elections.

* Fun fact: He collects "just about anything that's old," including old cars, newspapers, bottles and electronics.

Destin M. West

At 22, West is the youngest council candidate. He works for office-equipment dealer Les Olson Co. in South Salt Lake.

"It's just kind of a shot in the dark," he said about entering the race. "I could add a different perspective with my age, being close to high school kids and what not. I have a better lifeline with them."

* Priorities: Add more recreational places for youths and learn more about city government.

* Fun fact: "I'm 22, and I'm running for City Council. That's kind of weird."

District 1

Carolynn Burt

With Peterson's departure, Burt is the lone woman on the council - if she can win a third term.

"I don't like career politicians, but I believe 12 years is really optimum," said the 70-year-old retired businesswoman. "I have a very deep and thorough knowledge of the issues of our city."

* Priorities: Maintain neighborhood "standards of beauty," work on long-term planning, get a bell tower built in the city center, upgrade the city's image.

* Fun fact: She founded Utah Swimming in 1980 and served as an official at the Olympic trials in 1999.

Christopher J. Gilliam

Gilliam, a salesman for Intermountain Bobcat, decided to run for council after a 65 percent tax hike last year upped his tax bill by $100.

"I can absorb that. For the elderly couple across the street on Social Security, that hurts them," he said. "Instead of raising taxes, [the council] should have looked at improving the desirability of West Valley."

* Priorities: Publicize a "zero-tolerance policy" for gangs, spruce up the city's image, encourage neighborhood cleanups, give domestic-partner benefits to city employees, cut council members' pay and hire another police officer.

* Fun fact: Gilliam, who turns 40 this month, got a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from his wife earlier this summer as an early birthday gift.

Adam Calvin Leffler

Leffler, 36, owns a financial-consulting business.

"I don't feel like the type of changes that need to be taking place in this city are [occurring]," he said. "I'm concerned for my children's future. I'm concerned for the community in general."

* Priorities: Cut wasteful spending, eliminate debt, avoid another property-tax hike, hire more police officers, invest in neighborhoods, develop financial partners in the business community and attract more small businesses.

* Fun fact: He recently wrote and published a children's book. Proceeds will go to Read Real Easy, a literacy program in the city.

District 3

Russ Brooks

A retired Questar Gas supervisor, Brooks is seeking a fourth term.

"It's my community, and I want to see if I can continue to help it to make changes," he said. I'm willing to make hard decisions now rather than putting things off."

* Priorities: Develop a vibrant city center and bring in jobs and new tax revenue.

* Fun fact: He loves to golf, fish and spend time with his children and grandchildren.

Clint Child

Child, 41, is the chief nursing officer at Pioneer Valley Hospital.

"We can improve the image of our city to what it should be," he said. "We've got a reputation - and a deserved reputation - of being where illegal immigrants stop when they're coming to Utah."

Child said that has made the city less attractive to "taxpaying families" and "the businesses that support them."

* Priorities: Make sure undocumented immigrants are turned over to federal authorities, bolster Neighborhood Watch, boost code enforcement and eliminate unenforceable ordinances.

* Fun fact: He loves to take his wife, Karolyn, and five kids boating at Bear Lake.

Frank V. Pedroza

Pedroza, 57, is a self-employed mortgage lender.

"I'd like the city to be more representative of the 120,000 residents that live here," he said. "We have a 25 percent population of Hispanic people . . . and yet only 5 percent of [city] employees are Hispanic."

* Priorities: Boost the city's pull on Capitol Hill, push for a lawsuit if the east-siders put a Granite School District split on the ballot that doesn't allow west-siders to vote, implement curbside recycling, develop Frisbee golf courses, increase citizen oversight of the police department and lobby for an LDS temple in West Valley City.

* Fun fact: He enjoys golfing, but wishes he could go more often.

rwinters@sltrib.com

Candidate forum

When: Wednesday, 7 to 8 p.m.

* Where: West Valley City Hall, 3600 S. Constitution Blvd. (2700 West).