Owner of Frazier Park in Provo Canyon vies for commission seat

PROVO — Owner of Frazier Park in Provo Canyon, Leon Frazier, has decided to run for the Utah County Commission seat currently held by Steve White.

Frazier, a 60-year-old Provo man, said he will run on the Republican ticket and that he is a conservative Libertarian. Frazier said he is a lifelong Republican, agrees with the economics of Ron Paul and wants to see a more business-friendly Utah County.

"Business should be given a free hand," Frazier said. "It is better when the government keeps their hands off business."

Frazier, who has run into some confrontations with the commissioners regarding the use of his own land located between Vivian Park and Bridal Veil Falls, said the county has been too controlling over businesses, especially in his area.

Frazier also said property taxes in the county are too high. He would like to decrease them by 25 percent. And he wants to decrease the county commissioners' salaries by 10 percent to try to create a less self-serving atmosphere.

Frazier was born in Utah and has lived here most of his life. He graduated from the University of Utah in journalism.

Frazier has been using Facebook to promote his candidacy.

"Utah County should sell or lease out its assets," Frazier wrote in one of his posts. "Local commissioners should aim at lowering, and in the long run, eliminating property taxes. The county commission has no business guaranteeing a convention center will be paid off. It will fail and it should be sold off before it fails."

Frazier will run against incumbent White and former American Fork Mayor Ted Barratt. Frazier and White are seeking the Republican nomination, and Barratt the Democratic nomination.

e-mail: slenz@desnews.com