LEHI - Before being sworn in Tuesday as Lehi's new mayor, Howard Johnson had one final request.

"Would you pull out your .44 and start shooting?" Johnson joked to a well-wisher.

Nobody did. And after taking the oath, the 73-year-old Lehi businessman who defeated incumbent Kenneth Greenwood in November expressed gratitude that U.S. elections are decided by ballots instead of bullets.

Johnson said his chief aim will be to involve residents in decisions.

"The one priority I have is to get [residents] what they need, what they should have, and let them be part of the process of it happening."

During his mayoral campaign, Johnson scolded Greenwood and others at City Hall for making too many decisions without sufficient public input. Even so, Johnson praised his predecessor for doing "all he could" and "giving his heart and soul" to the job.

"Now I have the opportunity to see if I can do as well," Johnson added.

"I wasn't in favor of this when he started" to run for mayor, said his wife, Elaine Johnson. "But now I am. I know he's enthused. He acts like he's 10 years younger."

- Mark Eddington