From Deseret News archives:
Salt Lake County mayor hopefuls debate the issues mainly development
The 3 candidates face off before S.L. County Bar
When mediator Rod Decker asked the candidates what they think is the "dumbest thing" the county is doing, development issues were the main concern. In fact, development became the overriding theme of the debate, held at the Marriott Downtown and sponsored by the Salt Lake County Bar.
Democratic candidate Peter Corroon said there is a need for a master plan that would redefine what areas of the county should and should not be developed.
Republican incumbent Nancy Workman said property rights issues restrict the county from interfering in certain cases. In addition, she said she refuses to believe the county is doing anything "dumb."
Independent Merrill Cook said too many developers have too much say in countywide development decisions. He said financial contributions should not warrant decisions.
The three expounded on their differing plans of how to deal with development and growth, both physical and economic, in the Salt Lake Valley.
When asked whether county government was earning its keep in providing for the several cities within, Workman and Corroon defended the organization, which provides several services that city governments don't. Cook said a consolidated form of municipal government would better serve the people.
"It's outrageous for taxpayers to pay for duplicative services within economic developments," Cook said.
Other issues discussed during the hour-and-a-half debate included getting involved with downtown development and support of the Legacy Highway project, which Workman and Cook support but Corroon opposes.
A question more subtly characteristic of the audience was directed at how the six golf courses in the county are funded and whether they were believed by the candidates to be essential. Current expenditures include almost $8 million spent on county golf courses.
"Golf is in the category that is nice to have but not totally necessary," Cook said.
He said courses ought to be able to pay for themselves with revenue and that marketing should include the general public.
Workman said a system is in place to allow that revenue to be effective.
"We're in the golf business, and if we're in it we've got to run it like a business," she said.
E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com
Comments
- Decision on boundary shifts to Feb. 5:01 p.m.
- School mourns Layton teen 5:01 p.m.
- Mormon Times briefly 4:55 p.m.
- Utah County deputy, motorist injured 4:47 p.m.
- House votes to ban foreign waste 4:42 p.m.
- Pittsburgh letters are art project 3:07 p.m.
- Still believes in mammograms at 40 3:03 p.m.
- GE, Vivendi deal paves way for sale 3:02 p.m.
- Sundance unveils 2010 lineup 2:59 p.m.
- Mom objects to teen spending frenzy 2:56 p.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- Mitchell compared to Ervil LeBaron
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett
- BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Orem pair getting a rep for crime
- Simple candies for the holidays
- Witness: Mitchell wanted attention
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
912 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
404 - Max Hall issues apology
389 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
357 - Utes won't respond to Hall
276 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
241 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
203 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
170 - Religion in politics is tiresome
154
As the TV cameras Tuesday night scanned the West Point audience during...
LDS Church publisher Deseret Book has some specials for the holidays.
But the nooooo the GOP passes over Sec. Condi Rice, Sec. Colin...
yes a saw a similar recipe on youtube on Utah Homes & Garden Television......
I wish we were hearing about how good the last drive of the game was and the...
I would like abortion to be the right of the individual not the government....
If a person needs an abortion, I feel it is betterr than an unwanted birth....
The senate bill already prohibits taxpayer money from being spent on...
Are you REALLY so desperate for attention that you'll troll the DN website...
Thank goodness it'll only be for one term.
3,396 comments now. And to the 10:17 comment above, I'm not "whining about...
you already own utah. why do you need another state?



You can be the first to comment on this story.