Shurtleff enjoys public service

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's campaign likes to label the 6-foot-5-inch Republican a big Boy Scout, a man who continues to live up to that organization's oath to do his best to do his duty.

There certainly is a boyish side to the former Salt Lake County commissioner who's seeking a second term as the state's chief law-enforcement officer, like the models of movie monsters displayed in his office that he purchased to replace the set he built as a child.

His wife, M'Liss, recognizes it. She recently gave her husband a copy of the Disney classic "Pollyanna" for his 47th birthday. The movie's title character plays the "Glad Game," looking for something to be happy about no matter how bleak the situation.

"She knows I love the message in that," Shurtleff said of his wife. "That's a positive attitude I like to look at. It's all about service. It's all about doing things for other people. That's what Boy Scouts do, and that's what Pollyanna is all about."

That attitude made the transition to the often rough and tumble world of state politics a little difficult for Shurtleff. "I think he was a little bit shocked about the behind-the-scenes stuff," his youngest brother, Kevin, said. "It's a much dirtier game than we had imagined."

Shurtleff's friend since childhood, Jon Tuttle, agreed. "Being attorney general has kind of opened his eyes to the reality of politics. It was difficult at first," Tuttle, a Sandy product developer, said. "He's toughened up."

Kevin Shurtleff, an Orem scientist and businessman, said the four Shurtleff brothers were raised to be idealistic. "We thought public service meant you were really there to serve the public," he said. "You did it because you thought you could help other people."

The oldest Shurtleff son, Mike, is a teacher with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church Education System in North Carolina. Another brother, Keith, has a law degree but has become an Army chaplain.

Their parents, who still live in the same Sandy home where the brothers grew up, have been on several missions for the LDS Church and are currently serving one in the Dominican Republic.

With the rest of the family away, Kevin Shurtleff has taken on the responsibility of reminding his brother of those long-ago lessons. The candidate says his brother's role is to keep him grounded.

"Kevin's always talking about principles," Shurtleff said. "He constantly is telling me, 'Mark, you don't stick your finger in the air, you don't test the polls, you don't ever worry about if I do this, will it help me get votes. . . . That's not the reason to make a decision.' "