On Nov. 6, City Councilman Bud Catlin and challenger John E. Gidney square off for the right to represent Taylorsville's northernmost area, District 1.

Both say economic development and traffic are important issues, but they vary in some of their goals.

City Council members Jerry Rechtenbach and Morris Pratt also are up for re-election but are running unopposed.

Here is a look at how Catlin and Gidney say they would lead Taylorsville.

Bud Catlin

Catlin, 72, has served on the council since 1998, making him its longest-serving member.

"I have a vision for the community," says Catlin, a retired Utah Highway Patrol captain. "We really need to decide what we want the community to look like in 50 years. There's a lot of work to be done."

For Catlin, that includes more economic development. He especially would like to see the property surrounding City Hall turned into a retail-oriented "city center," as planned.

A self-described "fiscal conservative," Catlin would like the city to have more affordable-housing options geared toward senior citizens. He also supports protections for mobile-home owners.

He is proud the council blocked a plan to add multi-family housing to Meadowbrook Golf Course. He counts that as a win for open space in virtually built-out Taylorsville.

He also wants to improve traffic flow in this "pass-through" community.

One of the most crucial issues, Catlin says, is whether the Granite School District will divide.

"There are too many unanswered questions" about a Granite split, Catlin says. "There are a lot of issues. It's important to stay on top of them for the next few years. I'd like to be here to do that."

John E. Gidney

Gidney, a 63-year-old accountant and arts enthusiast, serves on Taylorsville's arts council and budget committee. Although he fell short in two previous council bids, he hopes the "third time's the charm."

"I can add a new perspective," he says, noting that most council decisions have a budget impact. "I also want to be a councilman that listens to the people."

Gidney would like to draw more diverse businesses to Utah's 10th-most-populous city so residents can do all their spending in Taylorsville. The city, he says, particularly needs more restaurants and an office-supply store since Office Max moved out.

He also wants to help Taylorsville "become more recognized in the [Salt Lake] Valley as the great city that it is." And he would work to unclog traffic.

Long term, Gidney would like the city to develop a community arts center that could be home to the Taylorsville Orchestra and arts council events, including plays.

"It's not in the budget now," he says, but he vows to "explore all avenues to see how that could be done."

rwinters@sltrib.com