Election Day is almost here - Nov. 6 - and Hansen City Council candidates are gearing up for what's sure to be a long and anxious night. In all, nine Hansen candidates will be on the ballot.

Candidate Chad Urie is running unopposed for mayor, but the City Council is a different story. Two candidates - Joseph Ratto and Anthony Bohrn - are vying for one two-year seat; while six candidates - William Pyron, Todd Stimpson, Mary Dana, Kevin McClain, Sarha Berry and William Burns - are contesting two four-year seats.

Something nearly all of the candidates have in common, at least those the Times-News were able to speak with, is their deep roots in Hansen and their dedication to positive change in the community.

For William Pyron, who was raised in Hansen during the Depression and returned after many years of service in the U.S. Navy to take care of two ailing aunts, the thing he most wants to accomplish on the City Council is to maintain the feeling of security.

"Hansen has seen some growth lately, and I want to make sure it stays a nice community, where people can live without fear of gangs or crime," he said.

Maintaining and enhancing the sense of a tight-knit community was a sentiment shared by other candidates. Todd Stimpson, who also grew up in Hansen but moved to Salt Lake City for a time, recently returned to his hometown. He said he found Hansen mostly unchanged. While it's nice the place has retained its small town charm, he said, with three children in the school system he would like to take a proactive roll in creating more activities for kids.

"I am not one to sit back and complain about things that should be done," he said. "I want to make things happen."

Most of the candidates agree that something must be done with Hansen's water system. Mary Dana, who has a background in bookkeeping and management, has been an active member of the Hansen community most of her life. She says her "vision for the city is responsible planning, developing the new well and water system, and updating outdated ordinances."

Current Councilman Kevin McClain, who has a license in wastewater management, said he believes the continued development of the wastewater plan is the most important project the City Council has to work on. "The well is drilled. We have water, but we need to develop it, get it online for the city," he said.

A similar sentiment was echoed by write-in candidate Joseph Ratto.

"If there was a fire in town we wouldn't be able to draw enough water to put it out," he said. Ratto said he believes he would bring a fresh perspective to the City Council.

Candidate Sarha Berry said she is interested in learning the political workings of the City Council. "I'm running because I want to become more involved in the community and learn about the process," she said. She was a bit evasive about what she might want to accomplish in Hansen, but she was excited about the prospect of serving the community.

Candidates Chad Urie, William Burns and Anthony Bohrn could not be reached for comment.