As City Council members, Shari K. Lazenby and David R. Phillips both voted to limit big box retail after residents made known their desire to retain Heber City's small-town flavor.

Both voted to annex the controversial Karz/Richer parcel in neighboring Daniel.

And both want to re-tailor this Wasatch County community's commercial district with a new flavor that could include re-routing tractor-trailer rigs off Main Street.

Now dueling for the part-time mayor's post being vacated by Lynn Adams, Lazenby and Phillips have similar visions for their town - but differ sharply in style.

Phillips, the director of veteran affairs for the Veterans Service Center in Salt Lake City, stresses his experience. Beyond six years on the City Council, he served five years on the Heber City Planning Commission, four years on the board of Heber Valley Power and one year on the Board of Adjustment.

"I believe I have the experience and leadership skills to provide responsive government," he said.

Phillips' calm style comes into stark contrast against the energetic Lazenby, who owns and operates Wasatch Footwear on Heber City's Main Street. The two-year councilwoman often holds court in her shoe store that seems to functions as her campaign's nerve center.

"The most valuable thing citizens want is face-to-face communication," she says. "If you aren't here, you don't know what's going on. I'm visible and available."

Lazenby said she wants the city to focus on keeping existing Main Street businesses healthy, and then branch out to attract new ones.

"The city has pushed a lot of business away," she said. "It has to become more business-friendly."

Attracting new business will require the town to establish an identity.

"We have to define what we want and then go get it," she said. "We need to sell ourselves."

Like her opponent, Lazenby wants to explore the possibility of a business park that would attract high-tech companies.

Phillips said Heber City should also look toward its recreation amenities as it struggles to define itself. He wants to bolster the area's trail systems and consider building a skateboard park.

"Trails are something that if you build, they will come," he said referring to visitors who already visit Heber Valley for such things as golfing, boating and fishing. And Heber businesses need to capture more of the visitors' dollars while they're in town.

The part-time mayor should set the vision for Heber City's future, Phillips said. But he stressed that the city's staff should take care of day-to-day operations.

"We have an excellent, full-time city manager and staff who are trained to take care of residents' problems," he said. "As mayor, I will be a phone call away, and I'm available every evening."

csmart@sltrib.com

Heber mayoral race

l Shari K. Lazenby

l Age: 35

l Career: Owner and operator of Wasatch Footwear.

l Political experience: Current City Council member, member of Wasatch County Health Board, member Wasatch County Heritage Tourism Board.

l Fun fact: Loves power tools. On a recent Valentine's Day, her husband gave her a laser-guided miter saw. "In my next life, I want to be a finish carpenter."

l David R. Phillips

l Age: 55

l Career: Director of Veterans Affairs for the Veterans Service Center.

l Political experience: Current City Council member, five years on the Heber City Planning Commission, four years on the board of Heber Valley Power, one year on the Board of Adjustment.

l Fun fact: Collects old stuff: old dice, old cigarette lighters, beer cans and anything with old advertising slogans. He got rid of his flashlight collection. "My wife said, 'You've got 40 flashlights and none of them work and they're taking up all this space.' ''

l City Council race: (two at-large seats) Elizabeth Hokanson, Michael Thurber, John Hayes Burns (i), Jeffrey M. Bradshaw.

For all The Tribune's coverage of municipal elections, visit www.sltrib.com