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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Utah Supreme Court has rejected Holladay Mayor Dennis Larkin's appeal of his city's change-of-government election.
The ruling released Thursday means the results of that election will stand and Larkin will not be able to serve out his remaining two years in office because the form of government will be changed at the end of the year.
On Aug. 5, Holladay residents voted to change their form of government from the council-mayor to council-manager.
As a result, Holladay residents will elect a new mayor in November. Six candidates filed for the office by the Aug. 15 deadline.
Larkin, who unsuccessfully sought an order from a lower court to stop the election before it was held, asked the Utah Supreme Court to overturn the special election.
Larkin declined comment Thursday, saying he wants to read the court's opinion.
"I'd really like to see how the court ruled and what their reasoning was" before talking about it is all he would say.
The court simply issued a statement Thursday, saying "the decision of the trial court is affirmed," and adding that an opinion in the case "will follow at a later date."
Steve Peterson, one of the City Council members with whom Larkin has been at odds, said the court's decision was "exactly what we expected."
"We're glad to have this decision behind us," he said, adding that he looks forward to the November election and the birth of a new city government next year. "It will be a good thing for the community, and we look forward to it with a lot of hope."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
