Judge Samuel McVey told Strouse to return March 6 for a preliminary hearing on a second-degree felony charge alleging the former council member illegally accepted a $10,000 loan.

The now-former councilwoman is accused of taking a $10,000 loan from Eagle Mountain Developer John Walden but failing to report it, as required by state law.

Strouse and her attorney, Michael Holje, had no comment after Monday's appearance.

Strouse lost her bid for a third council term after the felony charge muddied her candidacy.

She was running on a slate - called "Keeping the Promise" - of three council candidates and one mayoral hopeful. Much of the team's pledge focused on standing up to developers to ensure the city gets more parks and open space.

The slate's mayoral candidate, Richard Culbertson, likewise ran into troubles leading up to the November election. His real-estate license was stripped, and he was ordered to pay a $40,000 fine for equity skimming, a form of loan fraud.

He maintained the action was politically motivated - in a city where political forces "rival [those] of Chicago and New York City" - to destroy his credibility amid his mayoral-election bid.

sgehrke@sltrib.com