With more than a year to go before the 2008 presidential election, the 24-hour saturation coverage of the candidates is hard to avoid. But with Utah's municipal elections just three months away, a name on a sign may be all some voters know about local city council candidates.

In Orem, however, the Southwest Alliance is putting information about the candidates online to make it more accessible to voters.

With 12 candidates vying for three City Council seats -- the number recently decreased from 13 when Duane Jacobs dropped out of the race -- the neighborhood organization figures voters could use all the help they can get.

"It's overwhelming to say, 'Well, there's 12 people out there I don't know and I need to vote for three. Who are the three bestfi' " said Southwest Alliance president David Washburn, who is the brother of Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn. "So this is an effort to try to make that a more intelligent process. Obviously there's value to anyone who cares about their voting franchise."

The Web site includes personal profiles of candidates and lets them explain where they stand on the issues. The Southwest Alliance asked each candidate their positions on a new school district, roadways, Orem's relationship with Vineyard, school vouchers and residential density. It also asked two advocacy groups to submit opposing viewpoints on the controversial school voucher referendum that will be on the ballot in November. The online forum will likely be complete by today, Washburn said.

The Southwest Alliance first put a candidate forum on its Web site for the 2005 election, and Washburn said it was well received by voters. With 12 names on the ballot, there are few, if any, places in Orem where all the candidates could gather to explain their positions to voters, Washburn said. Even if there were such a forum, many voters may not have the time to attend.

"Here, anyone can participate thoughtfully and peruse what the candidates have said in the convenience of their own homes, when it's convenient for them," Washburn said.

Most of the candidates took part, though Steve Hemingway and Tom Fifita Sitake did not reply to an e-mailed request for information, Washburn said.

Others were enthusiastic about the opportunity.

"I think it's a great idea. I think that any grassroots participation in the democratic process is wonderful," said candidate Carl Hernandez. "I have no problems or concerns with discussing my position on issues with any resident of the city of Orem, and I welcome the opportunity."

Derek Whetten, another candidate, felt the online forum was a good chance for candidates to tell voters what they stand for.

"An election like this, a lot of it's based on name recognition and I think that everything we can do to get the issues and candidate platforms talked about seriously is helpful," Whetten said. "Certainly we don't get the coverage that a presidential or gubernatorial election might get related to the issues and positions and campaign platforms. A lot of it's name recognition and signs."

Orem's primary election is on Sept. 11, and the general election is on Nov. 6.

To visit the forum, go to

Southwest Alliance.

Jeremy Duda can be reached at 344-2561 or jduda@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.