At least one new person will appear on the council next year, and there could be as many as three new council members - depending on the results of the Nov. 8 election.

With Dave Knecht deciding not to run for re-election, the citywide District No. 1 seat will go to either businessman Mark Sumsion or to former mayor George Stewart.

Meanwhile, Paul Warner and Cindy Richards are defending their seats in District 2 and District 5 respectively. Warner is facing Cindy Clark, while Richards is up against Adam Clark.

Here's a closer look at all the candidates and where they stand on issues.

Mark T. Sumsion

Citywide District 1

l Age: 55.

l Political/civic involvement: Never ran for political office. Scoutmaster, church service.

l Occupation: President/CEO of Strategis Financial Group.

l Education: BS, business management, Brigham Young University.

l Fun fact: Loves riding dirt bikes and ATVs. Broke some ribs this summer while riding. Also rides Harley Davidson bikes with his wife.

Sumsion is a longtime resident of Provo, having attended Joaquin Elementary, Farrer Middle School, Provo High School and BYU.

"My love for Provo runs deep," he said. "I would like to go to work for [Provo]."

Sumsion said he is a proponent of property-owner rights and wants to improve access to public information within the city. He also is in favor of developing family recreational facilities and promoting business development.

"I'm going to be a good listener and go after those issues that are pertinent to the people," he said.

George O. Stewart

Citywide District 1

l Age: 65.

l Political/civic involvement: Provo mayor 1994 to 1998. Member of Utah County Central Committee for the Republican Party.

l Occupation: VP of sales of Galileo Initiative.

l Education: BA, political science, Arizona State University.

l Fun fact: Self-proclaimed workaholic. "I don't have any hobbies," he said. "I don't want to retire."

A former Provo mayor, Stewart is partially running on his record, much like an incumbent. He said his No. 1 priority is public safety - something he emphasized during his term as mayor.

"What is the federal government's main priority? Public safety," he said, pointing out that he added 20 police officers during his one-term administration and helped to establish a fire station on Interstate 15's west side. He promised to add more officers if elected.

Stewart describes himself as a fiscal conservative and says he will do whatever he can to eliminate debt in shaping the city budget.

Cindy J. Clark

Council District 2

l Age: 60.

l Political/civic involvement: Provo City Library Board chairman, PTA president, member of UVSC Digital Learning Center Board.

l Occupation: Student.

l Education: Studying American Studies at Brigham Young University.

l Fun fact: Drove across the country this year with husband, state Rep. Stephen Clark, R-Provo. "We got an education," Clark said. "It's something every American should do."

Clark is adamant about preserving the neighborhoods in her district, she said, particularly focusing on the importance of owner-occupancy laws.

She is concerned that if neighborhoods are not preserved, Provo will no longer be a "family-friendly place."

She applauded the progressive move to start iProvo, the city-owned fiber-optic network, and said she was one of the first people to sign up for the services.

"I felt like it was an investment for the city, and we needed to support it," Clark said. "I would like to see it successful."

Paul R. Warner

Council District 2

(incumbent)

l Age: 64.

l Political/civic involvement: Two terms on Provo City Council (1998-present).

l Occupation: Retired chaplain and religion professor for BYU.

l Education: Ph.D., educational administration, BYU.

l Fun fact: Played junior-college basketball at Carbon College, now College of Eastern Utah.

A two-term incumbent, Warner debated with the decision to run again this summer. He said a trip back east to visit Revolutionary War sites persuaded him to seek another term.

"I know the sacrifice those men [made] for our freedoms," he said. "I'm running to maintain those freedoms."

Warner said one of those freedoms he is committed to is personal-property rights. He is also in favor of keeping property taxes at their current level.

Among other things, Warner has played a role in the completion of the new library and the airport control tower. He has worked with BYU concerning booting, towing and other parking issues, he said.

Adam Clark

Council District 5

l Age: 31.

l Political/civic involvement: GOP county and state delegate; volunteer for Festival Latino Americana, Freedom Festival, Timpanogos Community Network.

l Occupation: Entrepreneur, owns business-research firm.

l Education: Environmental science and geography degrees, BYU.

l Fun fact: Went to Cuba last year, legally. Presented a paper at the World Conference of Comparative Education.

Clark said his emphasis is on making Provo a community by improving relationships.

"We're at a point in our city history where we will decide whether Provo is simply going to be a city with people or whether it is going to be a community," he said.

He said there are three fundamental relationships that will make or break the city: family relationships, personal relationships and business relationships.

He said wants to see Provo build an environment for families of all types and sizes, and one that will welcome in new businesses rather than impede their development.

"We can have a better community and we deserve a better community," he said.

Cindy Richards

Council District 5

(incumbent)

l Age: 51.

l Political/civic involvement: Two terms on City Council (1998-present); former member of Provo Planning Commission; former neighborhood chairman.

l Occupation: Certified high school teacher, former collegiate swim coach at Harvard.

l Education: BS, sociology, BYU; teaching certificate.

l Fun fact: Played on BYU's racquetball team at age of 44. Won gold in doubles at World National Collegiate Games. "It was like a second childhood."

Richards, who has lived with her family in the Pioneer Neighborhood for nearly 30 years, said her continued focus is on preserving Provo's neighborhoods.

"I want to make Provo a better place to raise families and do business," she said.

Richards said her commitment shows through her involvement in establishing Neighborhood Housing Services, the Community Oriented Policing Program, the Community Action Team Program and the Purchase Rehabilitation Program.

A two-term incumbent, Richards said she is a product of grass-roots government.

"It's all about love and empowering people," she said.

thollingshead@sltrib.com