For the first time in recent memory, Snowville is having a primary

SNOWVILLE — Snowville is having a primary election this year for the first time in... well, as far back as anyone can remember.

The city has six candidates for its two open town council seats, and that’s after one candidate withdrew. Many years this town with 177 residents is scraping to find candidates to run, said Gloria Morgan, town clerk.

This year, however, there are choices. But nobody seems to know why.

There has been no controversy mobilizing people into political activity, no campaign for involvement. They all just wanted to help out.

Candidate Gary Frandsen said he just loves the little town where he lives and wants to support it. He’s a former mayor and has been on the council on and off for nearly 25 years.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, you can make a difference in any of these little towns, or the county or the state,” Frandsen said. “It doesn’t matter what level you’re on if you’re willing to listen.” Wayne Warner moved to Snowville from Kaysville eight years ago, shortly before retiring from Hill Air Force Base. Since moving here he has wanted to do what he can to improve the community.

He has been on the council since there was an opening last year, and is now running for a position.

A little growth would be good for the town, he said. Nothing big — he doesn’t want to see Snowville make the transformation Kaysville did — but enough to keep some of the kids in town and bring in more tax revenue.

William Heyden, former councilman and volunteer firefighter, said getting sewer and natural gas is necessary to get more growth in the town.

Heyden said he was laid off from ATK and has more time to devote to helping Snowville. He’d also like to represent the fire department and emergency services.

Frandsen said during his last run as a councilman, he had applied for grant money to improve roads, and now he’d like to be a part of using that to make the place better.

Campaigning in a small town is almost nonexistent, Heyden said. “If you see voters, you can encourage them to come vote,” he said. The sole piece of campaign material currently in town is a flier for Warner on the post office bulletin board.

“It’s just such a small town that everyone knows everyone,” said candidate Marilee Miller. “They know who you are and what you’re about.”

Miller said she has been appointed as a member of the planning and zoning commission for several years, so going through an election is a new experience.

Even if she isn’t elected, Miller said the other candidate will do a good job.

“Everybody that’s running is running for the right reasons,” she said.

She said big changes happening at the federal level as a result of the presidential election might have spurred some people to get involved locally. Miller said she thinks people need to vote and talk to their elected representatives in order to get what they want.

“You see things that need to happen or changes that should happen in the community,” Heyden said, “and maybe on the town council I can help do that.”

Whatever the reason for the influx of candidates, Morgan said she’s just excited to see so many people interested and hopes it means more people will participate in Snowville politics.

The other two candidates for the council seats are John Levenduski and Jennifer Webb.