Tooele hopefuls cite need to deal with growth

TOOELE — Growth-driven change is coming to Tooele County, which County Commission candidates say makes this election year the ideal time for a shake-up on the County Commission.

That opinion was shared by Tooele County Republican delegates, who decisively squashed the re-election bids of incumbent Commissioners Matthew Lawrence and Dennis L. Rockwell at the GOP convention in April.

Only Colleen Johnson, who was elected in 2004, will remain on the three-person commission after this year. The two newcomers who'll join Johnson will be selected by Tooele County voters on Nov. 7.

"I think this is probably the most critical election at the county level in a long time," said Michael R. Johnson, a Democrat seeking the commission seat being vacated by Lawrence. "No matter what, you're going to have two new commissioners."

Joining Johnson in the race for that commission seat are Constitution Party candidate William R. Bodine and Republican Jerry Hurst. Candidates for the other commission vacancy are J. Bruce Clegg, Republican; Wade Pearson, Constitution; and Kendall R. Thomas, Democrat.

All of the candidates say planning for rapid growth is the No. 1 issue facing Tooele County. The county's population has nearly doubled over the past 15 years, topping the 50,000 mark in 2005, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Johnson says that growth isn't expected to slow down anytime soon, and that will amplify the county's water, transportation and recreation problems. As a Tooele city councilman for the past 7 1/2 years, Johnson says he has experience in dealing with many of those issues at the city government level.

Bodine cites the new Miller Motorsports Park as the type of change commissioners need to keep better tabs on. He says the $80 million racing facility wasn't developed with county residents' best interest in mind.

"It's in a location that's wonderful," Bodine said, "but until the road infrastructure surrounding that area develops further, there's nothing more that can really go in there effectively to leverage off that nice facility."

Hurst, a retired schoolteacher and lifelong Tooele County resident, says the county's population has gotten so large that its residents' needs can no longer be met by part-time commissioners.

"I want voters to know I'm committed to do this full time, to work hard for the people of the county and work with them to improve our quality of life," he said.