l Age: 40

l Civic experience: Coaching in recreation program; church and volunteer work coaching dysfunctional and financially struggling families.

l Occupation: Consultant/entrepreneur.

l Education: Attended Utah State University.

l Interesting fact: Has visited 49 states. North Dakota is the last on the list. "I need to find a reason to go there," he said.

l Three of his top issues: Openness of government.

Lowering utility bill, especially pressurized irrigation.

Communication between city and residents.

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On the ballot for two City Council seats:

Steve Leifson, G. Wayne Andersen, Treaci Tagg, Royden Hill

Election 2005: Spanish Fork mayor

SPANISH FORK - Joe Thomas edged Sherman Huff by 11 votes in Spanish Fork's mayoral primary.

Neither candidate contends the Nov. 8 general election will be as close - and the one who ultimately wins may have the candidate who lost in the primary to thank.

A good chunk of the final votes could come from those who picked Rex Woodhouse, who finished within about 120 votes of making it past the primary.

"I've had some people say a lot of Rex's votes are going straight to Sherman," Thomas said. "But I think I'm going to pull it out."

It's no surprise residents say Huff will gobble up most of Woodhouse's votes. Huff and Woodhouse previously served on the Spanish Fork City Council together and have known each other for years.

Woodhouse said he doesn't know where his votes will go, but he said either candidate would do a fine job in office.

Huff expects many of Woodhouse's supporters to turn to him because he and Woodhouse hold similar views.

"I hope those folks feel comfortable sending their vote my way," Huff said. "Does that mean we sit back and relax and say it's over? No, it doesn't. We're not going to quit the fight."

The fight, as Huff puts it, already is producing a swirl of rumors and personal attacks. Huff and Thomas both say they are trying to steer clear of the negativism and focus on issues most relevant to voters.

Pressurized irrigation and city amenities subsidized by utility bills are popular themes, but none is more popular than the debate revolving around residents' relationship and communication with elected officials.

Thomas said a lack of transparency from the city's elected and appointed officials has kept residents out of the loop for too long.

Huff disagrees with what he calls the "buzzword" of his opponent.

"I don't think there is really a lack of transparency," he said. "If people want to know and be involved, everything is open. . . . Nothing is hidden."

Said Thomas: "People here are being kept in the dark and they're upset. There's a mentality in this city: It's us [residents] against them [the city]."

The two candidates not only see issues differently, they are as different as can be. Huff is a veteran of Spanish Fork government and popular among longtimers. Thomas is a young candidate with swagger and a desire for change.

"We'll see what happens," Thomas said. "Win or lose, I'm glad I did it."

thollingshead@sltrib.com