Ex-chief of police prevails in Roy

2 incumbents are defeated in Ogden City Council races

By Natalie Clemens
Deseret Morning News
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005 11:56 p.m. MST
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A former police chief and Weber County commissioner snagged the Roy mayoral post in a tight race that handed former City Council member Brent Saxton a defeat in Tuesday's election.

Ritchie secured the mayoral seat by receiving 54 percent of the vote to Saxton's 46 percent.

"I think they went extremely well," Ritchie said of the races. "I think it was a very positive campaign on both sides."

Ritchie said he is looking forward to serving Roy residents and keeping the city's programs running well.

"I'll spend the next two months following the mayor around to see what he is doing," Ritchie said. "I am pleased."

In the Roy City Council race, two incumbents were challenged for their four-year seats by two candidates. Marge Becraft was successful in clinching another four-year term and will return to the council for a third term, but incumbent Dan Tanner failed to secure enough votes for his re-election. City Council newcomer Michael L. Stokes, who received 28 percent, will take Tanner's place.

Larry Peterson, who was running uncontested for a two-year council seat, will serve his first elected term. Peterson was appointed to fill former council member John Cordova's unexpired term in 2004 after Cordova resigned to take a job out of town.

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In Ogden, where a flurry of 19 candidates originally filed for various City Council seats, four candidates were left standing Tuesday night, and two council member incumbents were ousted from their City Council posts. Incumbent Kent W. Jorgenson, who received 44 percent of the vote, lost his at-large council Seat A to Bill Glasmann, who received 56 percent. Incumbent Donna S. Burdett was unseated by Dorrene E. Jeske, 56 percent of the vote to 44 percent, for the at-large council Seat B.

Jesse M. Garcia, who was seeking his fourth Ogden City Council term, came out on top with 59 percent of the vote against Dori Mosher for the Municipal Ward 1 seat.

Garcia said the last two times he has run for City Council he has been unopposed, but he said this year's race went as expected. Garcia, who was the only council member incumbent re-elected Tuesday night said he works hard to represent the people and that is why he was able to secure another term.

"I am accessible, and I am not afraid to ask questions and or vote against the proposition if I don't think it's right," he said.

J. Stephen Larsen and Clifton Douglas Stephens were vying for the open Municipal Ward 3 seat. Councilman Fasi M. Filiaga decided not to run for health reasons.

Larsen and Stephens were just 40 votes apart during the primary election, but Tuesday the gap was much wider. Stephens secured the Municipal Ward 3 seat by getting 59 percent of the vote to Larsen's 41 percent.

E-mail: nclemens@desnews.com

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