Two Salt Lake County Council members, who were firmly behind Sandy's soccer proposal, now are reconsidering their support.

That potentially leaves only three of nine council members backing the bid - two short of a majority and three short of overriding a possible veto from Mayor Peter Corroon.

"It certainly changed everything," Councilman Joe Hatch said Wednesday of Curtis' surprise comments. "If you get this public money and you can only spend it on one thing - soccer for Sandy or TRAX for the airport - I would rather have it go to the airport."

This from one of the stadium stalwarts, who publicly chastised two Democratic colleagues last month for calling into question Sandy's $35 million request as seed money for a soccer-and-entertainment complex.

A second potential swing vote: Councilman David Wilde, who notes Curtis, a Sandy Republican, was a key cog in constructing the soccer deal for Real Salt Lake.

"This is a shock to me," Wilde said, while driving home from Yellowstone. "I'm going to have to really seriously reconsider where to use this money."

Wilde and at least two other council members were out of town over the holiday weekend when The Salt Lake Tribune first reported Curtis' comments.

If the council rejects Sandy's soccer request, the House speaker said that - due to demand for more transit and Corroon's rejection of an earlier stadium-funding scheme - perhaps the $35 million slotted for stadium land and infrastructure near 9400 South State Street should go for a TRAX spur to Salt Lake City International Airport.

"Why don't we take that tax and give that tax . . . to UTA to help build the light-rail line downtown to the airport?" Curtis said Friday. "There's good policy in doing it."

So does Salt Lake City - which finished second in the stadium sweepstakes - win after all?

County Council Chairman Cort Ashton, who represents part of Sandy, has his doubts.

"He hasn't thrown in a wrench or anything at all," Ashton said about Curtis. "What the state Legislature and the speaker are saying is, 'Don't be looking too longingly at these tax revenues to do a theater downtown or something else.' "

Indeed, if the hotel tax goes toward TRAX, Curtis notes the revenue stream will not be available for other county priorities, including a Broadway-style theater in downtown Salt Lake City.

Neither Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan nor an RSL spokesman returned calls seeking comment Wednesday. Through a spokeswoman, Curtis said Wednesday he need not offer further comment.

County Councilman Michael Jensen said he was surprised by the speaker's suggestion.

"I'll take him at his word that he's sincere," Jensen said. "It's an interesting idea."

Still, Jensen argues Sandy's soccer proposal and the TRAX decision should be separate.

Currently, the county is considering an $895 million bond that would extend light rail to Draper, West Valley City, West Jordan/South Jordan and the airport.

Curtis' suggestion was welcome news to Utah Transit Authority spokesman Justin Jones.

"We can't argue with that," he said, "as long as something happens this year. If we delay even through the next [legislative] session, we are delaying a season of construction."

But County Councilman Randy Horiuchi, a stadium-in-Sandy supporter, is dismissive of the speaker's alternative plan. He says the hotel cash wouldn't pay the full cost of the airport line and argues that the TRAX route should not be done at the expense of the others.

For his part, Curtis notes the hotel tax simply would lessen the overall burden on county taxpayers to pay for all four transit lines.

Horiuchi also doubts Curtis' sincerity.

"I did sense a bit of cynicism from the speaker and some frustration with the council," he said, calling the comments "tongue in cheek."

"In this three-act drama, we're still deep in the second act," Horiuchi added. "The rotund lady has not sung yet."

djensen@sltrib.com

---

Tribune reporters Patty Henetz and Heather May contributed to this story.

Where County Council members stand now on Sandy soccer proposal:

Michael Jensen: leaning for it

Cort Ashton: supports it

Randy Horiuchi: supports it

Joe Hatch: rethinking his support

David Wilde: rethinking his support

Jim Bradley: opposes it

Jenny Wilson: opposes it

Mark Crockett: opposes it

Marv Hendrickson: leaning against it