The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

Write for Us
Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor, send us an op-ed pitch or check out our open positions for the chance to be published by the Daily Utah Chronicle.
@TheChrony
Print Issues
Write for Us
Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor, send us an op-ed pitch or check out our open positions for the chance to be published by the Daily Utah Chronicle.
@TheChrony
Print Issues

In Depth: District Two candidates focus on west side

By Edgar Zuniga Jr.

Candidates running in election for the Salt Lake City Council District Two listed changing the negative reputation of their west side neighborhoods, a typically poor district of the city comprised of Glendale, Jackson and Poplar Grove, as their top priority.

Voters must pick between incumbent Van Turner and Michael Clara at the ballot box on Nov. 6. Since there are only two candidates in the race, District Two will not participate in the primary elections.

Both candidates said they want to be an advocate for a part of town that they said is at times forgotten. “We pay taxes just like the east side people,” said Clara, who serves as Poplar Grove Community Council secretary. The west side is turning into a ghetto and we want to stop it.”

Some of the issues that worry west side residents are zoning problems, lack of public transportation, poor street conditions and education, Clara said.

Clara successfully fought to move the Union Pacific Railroad’s 900 South line to make way for the Gateway Mall downtown. Members of the community fought to move the train line because it created too much noise, and the city previously promised a parkway in its place.

Public education is also a concern for many people in the community, Clara said. Hee favors the “No Child Left Behind” program, because it has created an improvement in student literacy levels.

Turner assumed his office in January 2000, and voters re-elected him in 2003. Turner who has lived in District Two his entire life is the current chair of the Salt Lake City Council. Turner, a U graduate, has owned the Hook & Ladder, a small shop in the Glendale neighborhood, for 35 years. Turner served on many boards and committees and fights to remove graffiti from the west side. In 1998, former mayor Deedee Corradini named Turner “Salt Lake City Citizen of the Month.”

Clara served as Glendale Middle School PTA President, Chair of the Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force, among other groups. Clara was also mayor of Manor, Texas, a small town outside Austin.

In 2003, he run unsuccessfully for Salt Lake City Council against Turner. Clara also ran for the Salt Lake City school board unsuccessfully. Clara said Turner has been a poor council member and “even people who supported (Turner) four years ago say he has done very little.”

Turner was not available for subsequent comment, but some District Two residents disagree with Clara.

“(Turner) is a wonderful person. He definitely has a vested interest in the area, and I know he is a good honorable man, with plenty of integrity,” said Spencer Criddle, a recent U graduate.

[email protected]

Leave a Comment

Comments (0)

The Daily Utah Chronicle welcomes comments from our community. However, the Daily Utah Chronicle reserves the right to accept or deny user comments. A comment may be denied or removed if any of its content meets one or more of the following criteria: obscenity, profanity, racism, sexism, or hateful content; threats or encouragement of violent or illegal behavior; excessively long, off-topic or repetitive content; the use of threatening language or personal attacks against Chronicle members; posts violating copyright or trademark law; and advertisement or promotion of products, services, entities or individuals. Users who habitually post comments that must be removed may be blocked from commenting. In the case of duplicate or near-identical comments by the same user, only the first submission will be accepted. This includes comments posted across multiple articles. You can read more about our comment policy at https://dailyutahchronicle.com/comment-faqs/.
All The Daily Utah Chronicle Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *