Mud-slinging and negative campaigning are alive and well in Provo politics as evident in this election. I generally enjoy voting, because it is my civic duty and I know my vote counts. However, the tone in the just-completed election was a reminder to me, that power -- not service to the people -- is motive enough to run.

The StopCindy.com group, according to people who know her, smeared her with mean, ruthless and totally false accusations. I believe in term limits, but to smear an incumbent with lies is ugly and not in the spirit of this great city.

On the other hand, the mud which was thrown by John Curtis's opponent appears to have impacted himself instead. I voted for Curtis not because I thought he was a better fit for the mayor's position, but because I was upset with the smear put out by his opponent, in the form of flyers that were delivered to my door.

I guess with mud-slinging, you win some and lose some. But I hope that Provo political candidates would appeal to civility in the future. Smear campaigns not only shows the lack of character and integrity in the slingers, but it also reveals an ugliness in this city, which I love.

•Irwin Purcell, Provo