But gravel? You can count on 107 acres of it.

That's because an active member of Save Our Communities - the grass-roots group that challenged City Hall over development of a gravel pit near 9400 South and 1000 East - is taking on three-term Mayor Tom Dolan.

Before Gary Forbush decided to run (S. Drake Meyer filed, too), it was unclear whether the squabble over the The Boyer Co.'s plans to put a Super Wal-Mart, Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse and other stores on the land would spill into the mayoral race.

"I'm just a citizen with a sense of frustration," Forbush said.

Monday marked the deadline for candidates to file for city offices across the state. Virtually every mayor's post - excluding Salt Lake City's and Ogden's - is up for re-election, and all of the 230-plus cities have at least one council seat open.

Not running: Bill Levitt. The Alta mayor (the only person ever to hold the post) isn't seeking a ninth term, leaving Tom Pollard, a Town Council member, unopposed.

"That is a monumental event," Town Clerk Kate Black said Monday.

In big-city races, Provo's mayoral showdown features a rematch of the 2001 nail-biter between incumbent Lewis Billings and retired firefighter David Bailey. Jim Vein and Andrew Thompson also are running.

In West Valley City, Mayor Dennis Nordfelt, who ran unopposed two years ago, faces a challenger this time from within his own LDS congregation. Adam Leffler hopes to bring a "fresh vision" to Utah's second-largest city.

West Jordan Mayor Bryan Holladay must tackle four opponents, and a single South Jordan City Council seat has eight hopefuls. Two-term Murray Mayor Dan Snarr faces three challengers: Salt Lake County Councilman David Wilde, former legislator Chad Bennion and political newcomer Mike Romero. And four of seven council seats are on the ballot in Salt Lake City.

Candidates will be trimmed in an Oct. 4 primary, more than a month before the Nov. 8 general election.

Besides the candidate contests, other ballot issues will be decided. Sandy's gravel-pit debate tops the list.

Residents gathered petition signatures and took their fight to the Utah Supreme Court, where they ultimately won the right to put the big-box issue on the ballot. It marks the first time in the state that plans for a Wal-Mart will go to the public for a vote.

But for Forbush, the election isn't all about Wal-Mart. He points to Dolan's tenure and is worried about fiscal management.

"[My campaign] is more than just a land-use issue," he said. "To me, it's how much influence do the citizens have in a representative government."

Dolan fears the gravel-pit debate has been confused.

"I don't think the full story was told," he said. "[Petition signers] were told, 'Do you want a park or a Wal-Mart?' "

The price of the land - at least $30 million - means a city park isn't a possibility.

Dolan warns the community stands to lose the sales taxes the two big-box retailers provide if the development doesn't go forward.

Another land feud is brewing in North Salt Lake in a battle over one of the last vacant remnants of ancient Lake BonneÂville's shoreline.

Mayoral hopeful Juan Arce-Laretta, who has been asking the City Council to preserve the full 80-acre stretch, is taking on colorful incumbent Kay Briggs, who plans to sell some of the property to developers to pay for a trail head.

In Kaysville, Councilwoman Neka Roundy, who still has two years left on her council seat, is taking on Mayor Brian Cook. The two differed on the recent merger of the city's library with the Davis County system.

---

Tribune reporter Lori Buttars contributed to this story.