Many people say this year's election has been one of the quietest ever.

Campaign signs are few and far between in this town of approximately 8,000 people, and few issues have dominated the races for mayor and the City Council.Three men are hoping to win jobs as city councilmen - Kenneth D. Barlow, Bruce Stokes and Kenneth F. Willis. Voters will elect two of the three to represent them when they cast ballots on Nov. 7.

Two current council members are vying for the mayor's post - Joanne Hansen, 2673 N. 770 West, and Steven E. Weller, 547 W. 1250 North.

All of the candidates agree they want to increase the city's tax base. Clinton has one of the highest mill levies in Davis County, largely because of the lack of businesses.

But the question of expanding the city's tax base has been an issue for many years and for many elections. Most of this year's candidates admit that it is an important, but slow process.

Mayor

Hansen, 42, has served as councilwoman for the past eight years and has served as mayor pro tem for the past year. The focus during her campaign has been "experience and integrity."

Some of her experience includes serving four years on the Planning Commission. She helped design the city's master plan along with the subdivision and zoning ordinances. She was also a member of the Economic Development Committee and is a volunteer for the local PTA, the Cub Scout and the Boy Scout programs.

One of her strengths, she said, is that she "never goes to a meeting with my mind already made up."

If elected, she wants to reorganize the Economic Development Committee. She said two years ago, the committee set goals that have already been accomplished and more can be done to help improve the tax base.

Weller, 32, works for the U.S. Postal Service and has also been a councilman for eight years. He is concerned that even though Clinton is one of the larger cities in northern Davis County, it is the least known.

"Clinton needs to be put on the map," he said. "It needs to come of age and step out and start leading instead of just following the rest."

Weller said that he feels that the city could make better use of some of its money and one of those ways is through interlocal agreements with other cities. He said he has worked with developers to bring in small businesses and will continue to do so.

Both candidates were asked what they think is the main difference between them.

Hansen said, "I've got more experience and I've got better people skills. I'll listen to what people have to say. I believe in a lot of public hearings, getting input from the citizens."

Weller said, "I'm quite outspoken. I don't believe you tell somebody to do something and then not do anything yourself. I roll up my sleeves and go to work," he said. "I like to be in the middle of it, doing it. I have nothing against taking my turn driving the snowplow if I need to."

City Council

Barlow, 1897 N. 1200 West, is a postal clerk and has served on the city's Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustments.

He said it is essential for the city to build up its tax base. "We've got a good master plan . . . looking hard trying to find some businesses to bring in and I think that's what the city needs, even though it's not going to be easy," he said.

Barlow, 37, said that as a councilman, he is willing to listen to the people and will vote the way the people want him to. "I think I can vote for the majority of the people in Clinton. I think I have a handle on that," he said.

Stokes, 1051 W. 950 North, is a journeyman lineman for Utah Power and Light. He said his experience working on committees have given him insight and ideas he believes can help Clinton.

He said his company has programs designed to help smaller towns work on their economic bases and would like to see Clinton take advantage of such programs. Although he has little political experience, Stokes, 40, said that in itself can be beneficial since many professional politicians are more worried about their position than what the people think.

"I'm one of them (the people). I'm a blue collar worker and I can understand where they come from," he said. "I think I can voice some of their concerns on the City Council."

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Willis, 2738 W. 1700 North, is a financial analyst and said his experience in city government has helped him qualify as a candidate.

He has served as vice chairman of the Planning Commission, chairman of the Board of Adjustment and was a candidate for mayor four years ago.

Besides bringing more commercial businesses into the city, he believes the citizens are also concerned about the substandard quality of animal control they are receiving.

"Nobody is really pleased with having to work with Davis County on the animal control issue," said Willis, 35. He would like the city to band together with other local city governments to obtain better-quality services.

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