Unlike most Sanpete County cities, which pick their municipal officers in non-partisan elections, Manti, the county seat, continues to take the partisan route, with the Democrats and Republicans nominating their candidates for mayor and the City Council in party mass meetings.
Manti party officials say the procedure counters voter apathy, brings issues to the forefront and fosters responsibility in officeholders.The candidates of both parties agree on the need for civic projects, like water development, street improvements and tight spending controls. They disagree on who is best able to achieve those goals.
The Democratic candidate for mayor is Kent Larsen, a former councilman. He is a graduate of Manti High School, Snow College and the University of Utah. He holds a degree in business management. Larsen works for Central Utah Mental Health, where he is involved in alcohol and drug treatment programs and is co-administrator of the Rural Family Development Project. He is also the owner and operator of a turkey ranch.
R. Lynn Nielson, one of the two Democratic candidates for City Council, is also a Manti High and Snow College graduate. After military service in World War II, he earned a bachelor's degree from Utah State University. A retired U.S. Department of Agriculture administrator, Nielson now serves as Sanpete County bee inspector.
The other candidate for the council on the Democratic ticket is Thomas Reece, an educator who has bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University. Reece is the Manti High School wrestling coach and teaches math and computer science classes at Ephraim Middle School. He is a member of the National Math Committee and received a national wrestling coach award in 1986.
May Peterson, the Republican candidate for mayor, is seeking a second term in that position. She has played a leading role in getting the city's sewer system, pressurized irrigation system and updated hydroelectric installations in place. She is the chairman of the Sanpete Mayors and Commissioners Association. A U.S. Department of Agriculture employee, Peterson attended Manti High School, Snow College and Brigham Young University.
Jim Petersen, the principal of Ephraim Elementary School, is a candidate for re-election to the City Council on the Republican ticket. His present assignments on the council include law enforcement and the public library. A graduate of Manti High School, Peterson has degrees from Snow College, Utah State University and the University of Utah. He was recognized as Outstanding Principal by the Utah State PTA in 1986.
Dr. Lee Thurston, the other Republican candidate for the City Council, practices dentistry in Manti. He was a naval aviator during the Korean War, after graduating from Snow College, and later received his dental degree from the University of Oregon. He is Sanpete district chairman for the Boy Scouts of America and has been active in the Kiwanis and Lions clubs.