Still, the two do not mince words about each other's tactics during their second mayoral clash (Billings bested Bailey by 365 votes four years ago).
"There's been a lot of misinformation, a lot of innuendos and a lot of personal attacks," Billings said Monday. "That's not up to the standard of Provo, and I think that's disappointing. . . . I've not attacked him personally, but there clearly have been some personal attacks" from the Bailey camp.
Yes, there have been personal attacks, Bailey agrees, but they have come from the Billings campaign.
"It's been a desperate campaign on the mayor's part," he said. "We've tried to run a campaign on the issues: fiscal responsibility, economic development and city services. . . . [Billings] has gone from telling half-truths to total fabrication."
Going into today's election, the Billings-Bailey title tilt has been increasingly bitter and strident. An unofficial report of Billings' unstellar-like grades at Brigham Young University surfaced, along with allegations the two-term incumbent fudged on his academic résumé.
Conversely, the current and two former Provo fire chiefs endorsed Billings despite Bailey's 30-year career with the Provo Fire Department.
Most recently, a campaign circular from a group supporting the mayor attempted to brand Bailey with what, in predominantly GOP Utah County, is the ultimate political epithet: Democrat or Democratic sympathizer. Bailey notes that he is a registered Republican.
"The race has descended into a disturbing contest of low-level personal attacks," said Provo resident and political observer Sheldon Nicolaysen. "It's one of the roughest I've seen in recent years."
One of the most expensive, too. To date, the combined war chest for Billings and Bailey totals more than $135,000 - about $75,000 for the mayor and $60,000 for the challenger. Both amounts shatter the previous record, $42,000, George Stewart raised in 1993 to win election as mayor.
Nicolaysen says that seems excessive.
"We're a small enough community that we should have enough personal appearances by the candidates . . . to obviate the need for heavy advertising," he said.
Whether that big spending will translate into more votes is unclear. As the polls open today, both candidates seem to think they have found the winning formula. Billings campaign volunteers knocked on 7,000 doors Saturday and hope to hit another couple of thousand today to get voters to the polls. Bailey's volunteers are putting hangers on Provo doors.
For his part, Billings does not expect another cliffhanger this time.
He says he should do fine if voter turnout is high and his volunteers work hard to counter the Alleged misinformation being put out by his opponent.
Bailey counters his opponent's "desperate tactics" show the incumbent knows the people of Provo are ready to "vote for a change."
meddington@sltrib.com
