Monday Morning Emerald City News Roundup - Updated

Chime in on either of the two suggested topics below... or feel free to consider this an open topic thread

Just to get the conversation moving this morning, we'll focus on a couple of news items arising in the Standard-Examiner since our last WCF post:

1) The Standard reports this morning that the 2011 Ogden Municipal election is already heating up, with one prospective mayoral candidate, Ogden City Community Development Manager Johnny Ballard, already announcing his candidacy, and a second possible candidate, Godfrey sock puppet Councilman Brandon Stephenson weighing his options:

• One candidate to run for Ogden mayor, another considers it

So what about it, WCF readers? Are there any redeeming virtues which might make either of these prospective candidates worthy of Weber County Forum reader support at this still early juncture?

2) The Standard reported yesterday that "Easton Sports Development Foundation is continuing to work with the city to find a suitable site to construct a $2 million archery facility," although that company "has has abandoned plans for the field house because there would not be enough room for an outdoor archery range":

• Foundation targets Ogden for archery facility

Our initial gut reaction is that it seems odd that Boss Godfrey's field house plans would squeeze Easton out, inasmuch as this company appears to be the single identifiable private entity which actually did seriously hint at a substantial commitment of non-public funds to this project.

So what about it, gentle readers? Wouldn't it make more sense to locate the field house facility (if there is to be a field house at all) on a site more compatible with Easton's needs? Or should the lumpen taxpayers of Ogden (and Weber County) just grin and bear it, as the burden of funding this knuckleheaded project is heaped on the taxpayers' backs? We took the opportunity to walk the rumored field house site between 24th and 25th streets along Grant Avenue yesterday, by the way; and in our opinion, even a velodrome would be a "tight" fit.

Have at it WCF readers.

The world-wide blogosphere awaits your comments on either of the above two suggested topics... or feel free to consider this an open topic thread.

Update 11/22/10 10:30 a.m.: Thanks to the diligent googling of another sharp-eyed and alert WCF reader, we just now learn that Jonny (not "Johnny") Ballard is already running a rather unconventional 2011 campaign website:

• Jonny Ballard for Ogden City Mayor 2011

As fifties/sixties R&R legend Chuck Berry used to say, Go Johnny Go.