In what was undoubtedly the most watched political race off the Wasatch Front, Springdale residents flocked to the polls to elect a new City Council. When the votes had been tallied, the only incumbent running had been soundly defeated (the other two chose not to run). The three new council members are all opposed to the policies of Mayor Bob Ralston.
One, Marcel Rodriquez, is a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the city's decision to build a large outdoor theater next to Zion National Park."I don't think there's any doubt it will help unify the City Council," Rodriquez said. "We did more or less run as a slate or a team. We're hoping to restore some measure of harmony to the politics here which have been pretty vicious up to now."
That viciousness, as well as charges of election tampering in the previous election, prompted the attorney general's office to send three observers to Springdale. No unusual or inappropriate incidents were reported.
Ralston vowed not to step down regardless of who wins the election, saying the only way he could be removed from office was to quit or die, "and I don't plan to do either."
Joining Rodriquez on the new Springdale council are Stephen Roth, elected to a four-year term, and Mavis Madsen, elected to a two-year term.