* Mayoral race: (no incumbent) Sherman E. Huff, Joe Thomas, Rex Woodhouse

l City Council races: At-large (two seats, no incumbents): G. Wayne Andersen, George L. Chingas, Kevin Creer, Michael J. Heller, Royden Hill, Steve Leifson, Juli Webster McCabe, David C. Pollei, Treaci Tagg.

SPANISH FORK - Paul Christensen doesn't want to see Spanish Fork divided between the old and the young again this election year, but it may be too late.

Already the city councilman is seeing a push from residents to re-create the 2003 municipal election, which pitted the “Good Old Boys Club” versus the youth movement on the east side of town.

With young political newcomer Joe Thomas suiting up against former longtime council members Rex Woodhouse and Sherman Huff for the mayoral seat, a similar atmosphere is taking shape.

“I'm not interested in being in clubs, I'm interested in what's best for the city and the citizens,” Woodhouse said. “We need to look at the positive side, and not try to put labels on people; stay to the facts and what the truth is.”

Woodhouse spent 16 years on the City Council, from 1982 to 1998, while Sherman Huff served for eight. Huff was appointed by current Mayor Dale Barney last year to be a part of the Planning Commission.

Barney ran unopposed in 2001, but will not run this year. Thomas, however, has yet to dab his foot in Spanish Fork's political landscape.

Residents are seeing Thomas as the candidate representing the youth movement, with Huff and Woodhouse leading the way for the older part of town. Who makes it through the primaries will determine how much the election revolves around the young-versus-old theme.

“I hope it's that people will look at character and previous service, and one's involvement in the community,” said Huff, pointing to his time on the council and Planning Commission, plus his involvement with starting the South Utah Valley Water Association.

Thomas, a lifetime resident of Spanish Fork and father of three, said residents want a change.

For too long citizens haven't known what's really going on behind closed doors, haven't been a part of the decision making process, and it's time for the city's actions to be transparent, he said.

“It's not that I want to be the mayor, it's that I want to make a significant positive change,” Thomas said. ''I want to break the power of the mayor into as many pieces as I can and give it to volunteers - the individuals who want to get involved. I want to empower them.”

Each mayoral candidate has prodded around at certain issues they feel are pertinent, but a few topics are already rising to the surface.

Thomas said he wants to see something done about the expensive pressurized-irrigation system and the way electrical bills subsidize other city services, Huff is focused on economic development and the city's sewer system, while Woodhouse is keyed in on long-term city resources and getting the public informed early on in the process.

For all the issues raised and debated, City Councilman Chris Wadsworth said he believes the election will come down to who gains the public's trust.

"What people are wanting are openness and transparency," Wadsworth said. "Many of the citizens want to know what our leaders stand for."