With two-term incumbent Ted Barratt opting not to seek a third, the contest is pitting attorney and City Councilman Shirl LeBaron against retired LDS Church administrator Heber Thompson.

Thompson, who bested LeÂBaron in the Oct. 4 primary, insists his business acumen and the fact he is retired make him the better candidate to cope with the city's growing pains.

"Whatever time it takes to do the job right, I can [spend] it," said Thompson, who has picked up endorsements from three former mayors.

LeBaron counters that those former politicians represent American Fork's past.

"I'm more concerned about the future. I'm not perceived as having a special interest with the downtown," he added, taking a jab at Thompson's position as president of Downtown American Fork Inc., a nonprofit aimed at promoting the downtown.

American Fork's $31-million-plus bond indebtedness is Thompson's top issue. If the city bonds anymore, its credit rating will be lower and its interest rate higher.

"The city has a financial-health problem," Thompson said. "Our credit card is maxed out."

Thompson pledges to put the city's financial house in order by tapping new businesses, not taxpayers, for revenue and also developing a "prioritized long-range plan for spending."

"We'd only undertake projects we can afford and comply with the long-range plan," he said.

Yes, LeBaron agreed, American Fork is unable to issue any more tax-revenue bonds until the bonds on the fitness center are paid off in 2008. But, he added, the city's bond rating is strong and its financial reserves healthy, if not robust. He said money is a little tight because city officials have chosen to make bond payments out of the general fund instead of raising taxes.

"Yes, we have some concerns," LeBaron said, adding those did not happen on his watch. "But are we close to bankruptcy or cutting city services? Absolutely not."

The two candidates also see things differently on broadband, the Internet system the city bonded to buy a few years ago and now subsidizes at more than $600,000 per year. LeBaron would not be as quick as ThompÂson to pull the plug on broadband. He argues the system can still be profitable with better marketing and a better plan, and it is needed to lure more businesses to American Fork.

LeBaron proposes implementing a tiered-fee approach, with commercial or heavy broadband subscribers paying more than casual or light users.

"The grandmother who just checks her e-mail every day should have a lower fee than the businessman who uploads and downloads a tremendous amount."

Thompson, however, insists the system is burdened by too many Internet Service Providers and not enough marketing, among other things. He said broadband must make money or be sold.

An American Fork resident for 25 years, Thompson lauds the city's small-town values and big-time virtues: civic pride, volunteerism and cultural opportunities. If elected, he aims to build on those strengths. LeBaron, who has lived in American Fork off and on since 1971 and continuously since 1992, said the city's strategic location in central Utah County makes it a major player in the area.

"People love living here because of our quality of life," said LeBaron, who pledges to maintain and improve that standard if elected.

meddington@sltrib.com

Election 2005

Shirl LeBaron

Age: 49.

Career: Attorney with practice in American Fork.

Political experience: Current City Council member. Former American Fork planning commissioner. Active in GOP political circles.

Fun fact: Knows American Sign Language for the hearing-impaired. A golfer with a hole-in-one and double eagle to his credit.

Heber Thompson

Age: Won't divulge.

Career: Retired LDS Church administrator. Work history includes stints as senior planner for IBM and programs, computer-systems designer for General Electric, and as a real-estate agent.

Political experience: Current Planning Commission member.

Fun fact: Enjoys woodworking and art. Makes furniture, frames and mattes. Does oil painting and watercolors.

Where they stand on issues

Does the city need to hike police officers' pay?

Thompson: Yes. It is hard for police to feel dedicated when paid like second-class citizens.

LeBaron: Yes. We're losing good officers we have invested in to other cities.

What would you do to increase the city's water supply?

LeBaron: Favors bonding to build a secondary water system in north American Fork and have developers of new construction pay to put the system in southern parts of the city.

Thompson: Replenish the aquifer with Aquifer Storage Recovery filtration system. Use that in combination with a pressurized irrigation system or a water-treatment plant.

What's your solution to reduce the city's indebtedness?

Thompson: Boost revenues through economic development [and] more government grants, and help businesses expand by offering low-cost loans and other incentives.

LeBaron: Start a justice court to beef up revenues, tighten the city's financial belt and secure better financial terms on city contracts.