Democrat Jim Greer hopes to balance Utah County politics

OREM — Jim Greer is running for the Utah House of Representatives in District 59 because he wants to restore balance to Utah County's legislative delegation.

"Even before I became a Democrat a few years ago, I recognized the problems we have with a supermajority running the state," said Greer, an Orem resident and sales director for a Salt Lake technology firm. "I think the whole idea is I'm trying to support the rest of the people in Utah County who are trying to level the playing field. I want to have parity within the Legislature."

He is running for the seat currently held by Lorie Fowlke, who is serving her third term.

Greer said he favors ethics reform and supports the ethics initiative petition currently being circulated in the state. He also favors establishing a way to secure funding for education that doesn't rely on annual legislative wrangling.

"I believe that there should be a long-term funding mechanism for regular education and higher education," Greer said. "I think it's ludicrous to have to wrangle out funding for schools every year."

Greer and his wife, Mary Ruth, have lived in Orem for 20 years. He has worked in the technology sector as a sales and marketing director and project manager. He was a member of former Gov. Michael Leavitt's Coalition for Year 2000 preparedness and serves as a president's ambassador with the Salt Lake Chamber.

—? Marc Haddock