Fifteen candidates are running for six seats on the Tooele and Grantsville city councils -- seven candidates in Tooele and eight in Grantsville. The primary election for both city councils will be held Tuesday, Sept. 11.

After the primary election, the number of candidates will drop to six for each city. Those six will vie for three open spots on each council in the general election on Nov. 7. The three candidates with the most votes in each city will then fill the open city council positions.

Tooele County Clerk Marilyn Gillette said turnout for early voting last week wasn't as big as she had anticipated. She said there were three voting stations open -- one in Grantsville and two in Tooele. Last year was much busier with early voting, she said, and this year's poor turnout could be because people are still unsure of who to vote for, or because they are unaware of the primarily election entirely.

To help voters make a better-informed choice, the Transcript-Bulletin has compiled the following list of candidates with biographical information submitted by each:

Grantsville Joe Cartwright

Joe Cartwright is a business and trial attorney, and has given legal advice to various cities, counties, mayors and chiefs of police in Utah and Oregon. Cartwright intends to use his experience to increase public and children's safety in Grantsville, prevent uncontrolled growth, preserve open space, and hold developers accountable for fulfilling contractual obligations.

Todd Castagno

Todd Castagno was born and raised in Grantsville. He is self-employed as a mortgage broker and is owner of Willow Creek Lending. He believes growth is the biggest issue facing the city and that proper planning can lead to quality growth. He believes Grantsville needs commercial growth to provide a tax base that will allow for amenities like a youth center and library.

Michael Colson

Michael Colson is a partner with SC Builders, a general contractor. He would like to see Grantsville's growth controlled through consistent application of the city's general plan. He believes developers need to be held accountable for problems and methods need to be in place to ensure 100 percent completion of developments. He wants to improve pedestrian access to elementary schools.

Ryan Troy Johansen

Did not respond.

Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson has lived in Grantsville for about 28 years. He is an excavation contractor and owns half of the Hometown Hardware store. He would like to control growth in the area while keeping a rural setting. He would like to see affordable homes built for the younger generation, as well as commercial development.

DeRay Sparks

DeRay Sparks has lived in Grantsville for 31 years. He worked at Dugway Proving Ground and is now self-employed as an accountant. He would like to see improvements made in the road system, as well as in the parks and recreation area.

Lynn Taylor

Lynn Taylor has been living in Grantsville since 1979. He is the watermaster of the Grantsville Irrigation Company. He believes development should support itself, rather than raising taxes and fees. He would like to make sure Grantsville has enough water, and would like roads to be improved.

Tom Tripp

Tom Tripp has been a resident of Grantsville for 26 years. Tom is an engineer currently employed by US Magnesium. He believes that Grantsville needs to pay attention to infrastructure issues associated with impending growth, especially roads, sewer capacity and water resources. He believes Grantsville should require developers to help fund the consequences of growth.

Tooele Teri Battison Ellsworth

Teri Battison Ellsworth was born and raised in Tooele. She is a business owner, consultant and trainer. She would like to see ethics in government, completion of a project already begun to help sustain existing business and efforts to attract new businesses and residents that support a well-rounded living environment.

Thomas Isom

Thomas Isom grew up in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in business management. He moved to Tooele in 1999. His political platform matches his belief that a government should be both accountable and sustainable.

Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson has served on the city council since 1999. He'd like to see more work done in public facilities, parks and recreation, infrastructure and water and sewer development. He'd like to see completion of the sewer plant expansion project and 1000 North project, recruitment of commercial and retail projects, an updating of capital facilities and master plans, and further development of water resources and park and recreation facilities.

Dave McCall

Dave McCall will support the fire and police departments and work to combat current traffic problems. He will address current water issues and develop a plan to address future water issues. He will support local businesses' and residents' legitimate expectations regarding development, streets, sewer, water and safety.

Shawn Milne

Shawn Milne is the current chairman of Tooele City Planning and Zoning Commission, has served on other committees and boards, and is a business owner in Tooele. He'd like to see wise implementation of water resources, improvements to transportation infrastructure, continued development of the commercial tax-base, appropriate zoning mixes and expanding current community and family-oriented programs.

Richard Olson

Richard Olson has lived in Tooele for 11 years and is a carpenter. He would like to see more governing by the people and would like the public to have more of a voice. He hopes to get people involved more in the community and share their thoughts on what direction they want the community to go in.

Steven Pruden

Steven Pruden is in his first term of service with the Tooele City Council. He has been involved with the Fridays on Vine concert series, the Tooele Arts Council and the Communities That Care program. He has worked on the PAR tax committee, and has worked for the LDS Church for 27 years. Through careful and wise management, he would like to address the city's present and future needs without losing traditions of the past.

Sarah Miley: swest@tooeletranscript.com