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Show .Mayoral candidates discTiiss election issues Industries, development major topics ::'lyv - A $ ( 7 n' D if By BRUCE LEE Record Editor CEDAR CITY With the general election less than two weeks away, there seems to be only minor differences dif-ferences in the attitudes of the two Cedar City mayoral candidates on pertinent issues. In fact, the only thing the two really disagreed on during an interview Monday with the Record was what made the one a better choice for mayor than the other. Experience and time Democratic candidate Harold , 4'Huck" Shirley, currently a member of the City Council, cites experience as a point that would make him the best mayor. He has been on the Council for four years and worked with the City eight years before that in various committees. "I feel I get results," he expanded. "After all is said and done, results count." As an example, he cited his work on the Kolob water project. Obtaining water from the area for Cedar City has been on the back burner for about 20 years, but he and Dixie Leavitt and City Manager Joe Melling have succeeded suc-ceeded in obtaining the rights to 2,000 acre feet of water from the area. Republican candidate Robert "Bob" Linford said that he would be able to doesn't have the direct experience, he has the time to put into the job. A salesman at Bradshaw Chevrolet, Linford said tha he would be able to leave his work generally without too much notice for emergency business and would have the time to spend one full day in the City building each week. "I have the time to take care of the job," he added. Both men continued that they would have regular hours at the City offices. Industrial development most pressing Both also agreed that the most pressing problem facing the City is the need for industrial development and an increase in the property tax base. "I think we need to be concerned about our decreasing economy," said Linford, adding that the answer was to get an industrial park, which wouldn't be an overnight project. Shirley agreed, but also said that of $15,000 which was established this there are numerous "brush fires" which also need to be taken care of in the City, such as streets and water development. "We can't forget some of these other things." Development would not be inexpensive Both men also noted that such development would not come cheaply for the citizens oi Cedar City, and warned that they should not expect a tax decrease in the future, but would probably see at least a small increase. "It's better to spend a buck now and get two down the road in a couple of years," said Linford. Shirley expanded a bit further. "We've had an austere budget for about three years," he said, and now things must be done, and an emergency fund year must be expanded. Electrical power Surprisingly, the two didn't seem to disagree really on the issue of who should provide electrical power to Cedar City. Shirley, who in the past has been a strong advocate of cheap municipal power, stuck pretty much to his guns, but noted that it would all depend on economics. "I'm probably not as militant as some people think I am," he said. He noted that the City would need a firm price on the system and on available power, then power costs could be figured and the best route determined, see ELECTION on page A4 Cedar City mayoral candidates Robert "Bob" Linford (left) and Harold "Iluck" Shirley discuss a point during an interview with the Record Monday afternoon. The two seem to basically agree on many of the issues facing Cedar City.' . . ElcCtlOll. continued from page Al "Let economics, not politics, determine Cedar City's power future," he advised. Linford, who has remained fairly quiet on the issue in the past, agreed somewhat, but was a bit more non-commital, non-commital, noting that Utah Power & Light, which currently owns the system, would provide a large amount of taxes to the City. He also pointed out that $30 million, the price UP&L paid CP National for the system, was far too much for the cities in the area to pay. Law enforcement facility Probably the area where the two candidates agreed the most was the issue of building a new law enforcement-hall of justice building for Iron County and Cedar City. Both felt that the present plans to build such a facility, which would house courts, a jail, sheriff and police offices and the Iron County attorney, are the best route to follow. Both also felt that Cedar City should continue to pursue options to purchase a new building for the City offices. The City will soon be out in the cold if something doesn't happen. |