The perfect spouse?

No, your mayor and City Council.

"People don't understand the importance of grass-roots politics," says Provo City Recorder LaNice Groesbeck. "These are the people that impact the way people live their lives . . . and I'm always amazed more people don't come out to vote unless it's a presidential election."

Voters across Utah will be choosing their next mayor and council members - with hotly contested races featured in Provo, Sandy, Murray, West Jordan and Layton.

Other mayors - including those in Bluffdale, South Salt Lake, Farmington and Kaysville - face stiff challenges after finishing second in last month's primary.

A rematch is on tap in Provo between retired firefighter Dave Bailey and two-term Mayor Lewis Billings. Bailey lost a nail-biter to Billings four years ago.

In Sandy, three-term Mayor Tom Dolan scored a coup last month with the announcement that Real Salt Lake plans to build a soccer stadium in his city.

But challenger Gary Forbush garnered a following of his own by opposing a Dolan-supported plan to bring a Wal-Mart and Lowe's Home Improvement to a former gravel pit along with housing, restaurants and smaller shops.

A referendum to block the big boxes is expected to draw a large number of voters. If anti-development factions show up in force, Forbush could give Dolan his closest contest in more than a decade.

Murray's mayoral show- down sports two well-known politicians: two-term incumbent Dan Snarr and Salt Lake County Councilman David Wilde.

Wilde hopes to unseat the affable Snarr by promising a stronger focus on taking care of older neighborhoods. Snarr has enthusiastically courted and landed new businesses in Murray.

In Layton, voters will select the Davis County city's first new mayor in 12 years as two popular City Council members, Stephen G. Handy and Steve Curtis, vie for the top job.

"We usually get a lot of people out, but this [mayor's race] has people interested," says Layton City Recorder Theida Wellman.

West Valley City, Utah's second most populous and one of its most diverse, has political newcomer Adam Leffler taking on Mayor Dennis Nordfelt.

Nordfelt, a former police chief, touts his decades of experience while Leffler sounds a drumbeat of change.

The at-large council race in West Valley City has drawn even more attention as incumbent Barbara Thomas battles for a fourth term against Mike Winder, who notched more than 70 percent of the vote in the Oct. 4 primary.

Salt Lake City - which, like Ogden, has no mayoral election this year - has four of its seven council districts on Tuesday's ballot.

Leslie Benns is all about revitalizing North Temple, which sits outside the district she wants to represent - District 1 in Rose Park. She is trying to unseat two-term incumbent Carlton Christensen, whose main priority is a master plan for the city's northwest quadrant.

The District 3 race to represent the Avenues and Capitol Hill areas has been the most partisan in the officially nonpartisan race. Challenger Janneke House is playing up her Democratic roots in the largely Democratic district to unseat Eric Jergensen, who "leans" Republican.

District 7 candidates - Gordon O. Poulson and Soren D. Simonsen - emphasize different priorities when it comes to the Sugar House area. Poulson focuses on decreasing crime while Sorensen trumpets public transportation, walkability and supporting local businesses.

Jill Remington Love is unopposed in District 5, which includes the Liberty Park area.

In Heber City, two council members, who voted to limit big box stores in their midst, will compete for the part-time mayor's position, pitting relative newcomer Shari Lazenby against longtime resident David Phillips.

Both say they will work to revitalize Heber City's Main Street commercial area while attracting more tourist dollars.

In Tooele, two longtime residents, Steve Bevan and Patrick Dunlavy, are running against each other for the full-time mayor's post.

Dunlavy has been the city recorder in Tooele for 23 years and is campaigning on his municipal experience.

Bevan is a retired Federal Aviation Administration engineer and current council member.

New touch-screen voting machines will be used in Brigham City and Farmington.

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Tribune reporters Lori Buttars, Heather May, Cathy McKitrick and Chris Smart contributed to this story.

The polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For polling locations, contact your city recorder.