The room is just too clogged with papers, binders and maps - an organized mess that Forbush sees as key to unseating Tom Dolan as Sandy's mayor.

With just two days before Tuesday's election, Forbush maintains he can knock Dolan out of office, a task no one has come close to doing since the mayor took his seat nearly 12 years ago.

"I'm feeling pretty good," Forbush says. "There are a lot of people out there that want change."

Forbush's paper chase is one reason for that faith. He says he has confronted voters with information that Dolan's previous challengers never touched.

For example, one binder holds a Forbush-penned analysis of every Sandy budget since Dolan's first year in office. Inside is a spreadsheet breaking down each budget into seven categories.

One spending line jumps out at the would-be mayor: debt.

Forbush argues that percentage of the budget has skyrocketed on Dolan's watch.

"Too much debt," Forbush says. "Nineteen percent of the budget goes to debt services."

Even so, the budget isn't the reason this political neophyte jumped into the race.

The proposed gravel-pit development - and Dolan's response to it - is what prompted Forbush's foray into politics.

More than a year ago, Forbush wrote a letter on behalf of himself and 69 neighbors detailing their worries about The Boyer Co. project - a plan to bring big-box retailers along with housing, eateries and smaller shops to the out-of-use pit.

Dolan's response?

"Not a call. Nothing," Forbush says.

"He needs to leave because he no longer wants to serve the citizens of Sandy," he adds. "He wants to serve a small faction [who have] the money, many of which don't live in Sandy."

Forbush argues Dolan no longer listens to residents - an allegation the mayor says he is being tagged with simply because he rejects his challenger's position.

"The gravel pit is symbolic of a couple different things," Forbush says. "It's obviously about a zoning change. It's also about how my City Council and mayor will listen to citizens."

The future of the gravel pit will be on the ballot, too.

A resident organization - Save Our Communities - forced a citywide vote on a zoning change paving the way for the big boxes.

Forbush, a member of the grass-roots group, opposes plans to bring Wal-Mart and Lowe's Home Improvement mega-stores to the pit because of their proximity to residential neighborhoods.

Forbush's backers say the challenger will have an ear toward residents.

"He is already listening," says Tami Combs, one supporter. "He's committed to a good cause."

Forbush averages some six to eight hours a day - except for Sunday - walking through neighborhoods.

He moved to Sandy about five years ago. Although he was born and reared in South Salt Lake, Forbush didn't live in Utah much after college graduation. He returned - after working in Atlanta as a manager for a $350 million project for Comcast - for family reasons.

If elected, his initial plans: Create a more diverse economic base and analyze every city department with an eye toward trimming unneeded expenses.

For now, though, Forbush will be sifting through papers and walking through neighborhoods. He's put his professional consulting work on hold and is campaigning full time.

"I'm running for mayor now," he says.

jsantini@sltrib.com

Gary T. Forbush

Age: 44.

Career: Independent high-technology consultant.

Eduction: Bachelor's in communications, University of Utah; master's in international management from Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management.

Political/civic experience: Member of Save Our Communities.

Fun fact: A self-described music fanatic with about 1,500 CDs. "I listen to everything but rap."

Where he stands on . . .

Gravel pit project: Opposes it. "I didn't feel like we were given a fair shake" by the administration.

Soccer stadium: Wants more details on funding.

City's debt: Argues Dolan's administration has relied too heavily on bonding and allowed the debt to grow too high.

City Council

At-large: Max Burdick, Steve Smith.

District 1: Scott Cowdell (i).

District 3: Bryant Anderson (i), Brigitte Dawson.

District 4: Chris McCandless (i).