Depending on the mood of the voters, Salt Lake County government will look pretty much the same Jan. 1 - or drastically different.
If either or both of the incumbent Democratic commissioners - Randy Horiuchi and Jim Bradley - lose, the commission will fall into Republican control. Their challengers are Gene Whitmore and Mary Callaghan.The election will also determine whether the nameplates on the doors of the sheriff's, auditor's, surveyor's, clerk's and treasurer's offices remain the same. There are no incumbents running for the four other elective offices.
Assessor
Incumbent Robert L. Yates dropped his re-election bid, saying he was tired of all the political posturing surrounding reappraisals and resulting tax increases.
Candidates to succeed him are Republican Lee Gardner and Democrat David L. Swan. Both candidates work for the State Tax Commission, and both say they will bring equity to the property appraisal system.
Gardner is an appraisal specialist. Swan is a Tax Commission program specialist.
County attorney
Deputy county attorney Allan Moll, a Democrat, wants to succeed Yocom, saying he understands the office. With 23 years of experience, Moll says, "I won't have to reinvent the wheel."
Republican attorney Doug Short says he would bring fresh ideas and vigorous leadership to the office. A 1988 graduate of Brigham Young University's law school, Short said his private-sector experience is also a plus.
Auditor
Republican Auditor Craig B. Sorensen is seeking a fifth term, pledging to continue fighting waste and promoting efficiency. Prior to his election, Sorensen worked for a number of national CPA firms.
Democrat Kevin Whatcott, a lawyer, said it's time to elect an auditor who will devote more attention to the office."
Don Lee Gertsch, a county computer department employee, is running for auditor as a politically unaffiliated candidate. He said he would bring a different point of view to government.
Clerk
Democratic Clerk Sherrie Swensen is seeking a second term in office. She said she has done a good job of increasing voter registration and providing the public with the best possible service at the lowest possible cost.
Keith "Chum" Prows, a Republican, said he would bring more automation to the clerk's office and improve the elections process. Prows is currently working for Sen. Orrin Hatch's re-election campaign.
Hatch's sister, Frances Hatch Merrill, is also running for clerk as the Independent Party candidate. She is a former Republican state representative.
Recorder
Longtime Recorder Katie Dixon isn't seeking re-election, and her intra-Republican Party rival in 1990, Nancy Workman, wants the job. Workman, who owns a construction firm, said she would make the office more accountable.
Democrat Jan Johnson, an administrator in the treasurer's office, is running for recorder with the promise to implement new technologies and make information more accessible.
Surveyor
Democratic Surveyor M. Carl Larsen is running for the office he held from 1974-78 and again from 1986-1994. Republican Vaughn E. Butler is a licensed professional land surveyor.
Treasurer
Gary M. Pratt, a Democrat, became treasurer upon the death of Art Monson in 1993. He had been deputy treasurer for seven years. Republican Larry Richardson is chief deputy state treasurer.