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Show Park City election is a yawner Those who walk by the Marsac Municipal Building need not fear being trampled by a thundering herd of would-be political candidates clamoring to put their names on the ballot for the Nov. 5 city election before the filing deadline, Aug. 27. In fact, the interest in Park City elective office is a yawner. Only Steve Dering has declared his candidacy for mayor. Incumbent Mayor Jack Green, a political veteran, is noncommital. He says his decision whether to seek a third term as the city's top executive depends largely on his health. Councilman Bill Coleman currently is unopposed and there have been no takers for the seat being vacated by Councilman Bob Wells, who wants to concentrate his efforts on developing a Lake Tahoe ski resort. There are those who have criticized the composition of the council, which is dominated by development and real estate interests. This is a chance to bring more diversity to that body. But there appear to be no takers. Why? It's hard to understand why the interest in this political race is so small. Generally, apathy occurs during times of prosperity when problems are few and people are concerned mostly about themselves. Park City is at a crossroads and it is rather disconcerting to see few involved citizens come forward. This is an opportunity for a leader to make a real impact. The city faces a myriad of important decisions, choices that can affect every resident. The council, among its other duties, handles perhaps the city's hottest potato zoning. That body apparently soon will resolve the very controversial nightly rental issue a question that Editorial reaches into every Park City neighborhood. Other zoning issues include the public debate over desires by some to downzone Prospector Square, the conflict over how much of the land around the Depot area should be zoned commercial and a myriad of other land-use issues. The city council also sits as the Park City Redevelopment Redevelop-ment Agency, .which Will largely determine Main Street's future. Another issue that affects nearly all Parkites is recreation who pays for it and whether residents of outlying areas should be charged substantial fees to partake of the city's fun. The list goes on and on. But the central issue is this: The Park City Council has the power to affect people's lives more significantly and frequently than the county, state and federal governments combined. It can decide whether an all-night restaurant can be built behind your home and whether to discontinue the buses that ferry your kids to the ski slopes, employees to your business or tourists around the community. The government that is closest to the people is, in actuality, the most powerful and has the greatest impact on their lives. It determines how quickly the snow is , removed from the roads, how high taxes will be and whether the house next door can be rented on a nightly basis. Is this any time for apathy? |