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SARATOGA SPRINGS — The race for city council in a growing Utah city is heating up, with 10 candidates vying for just three seats.
But that's not the unusual part. It's the age of one Saratoga Springs candidate, in particular, that is grabbing voters' attention.
"If I stepped in today, I would look into all the fines and ordinances to see which are too restrictive," Ryan Peltekian said Wednesday.
Peltekian is just 21 years old, but there are many voters interested in his campaign for city councilman. "Especially elderly people, they really, really find it awesome a 21-year-old is interested in running for city office," he said.
The small business owner is running the campaign from his parents' house, where he lives. He cites the Founding Fathers as his political inspiration and Herriman Rep. Carl Wimmer as a local politico he admires.
The Peltekian family has been campaigning to get a judge removed. Now, Peltekain says his political aspirations center around rallying for the citizens.
"I have the energy to set the city straight, cut the spending, and help the people," he said.
Peltekian joins a list of nine other candidates vying for three seats on the council. Bud Poduska is the only incumbent. With years of experience behind him, he says he's ready for another term.
"Saratoga Springs, when we first moved out here 10 years ago, was four stop signs at the crossroads; and now we have more than 19,000 people," Poduska said.
It's a sampling of a unique political demographic — one that gives voters a lot of choices, and a lot of decisions.
"I think it's great so many people are here and willing to make a difference," said Maelynn Marshall, a resident of Saratoga Springs.
"I want somebody who has a family, who knows the ups and downs of the economy," said Jeff Grover, also a Saratoga Springs resident. The candidate pool narrows down Sept.13 during the primary election.
Email: sdallof@ksl.com
