Ogden state senator drops re-election bid

OGDEN — Sen. Jon Greiner, a Republican who also serves as Ogden's police chief, has withdrawn from his race for re-election.

Greiner issued a statement saying he had been advised by his attorney to withdraw from the race after being found in violation of a federal act prohibiting government officials from running for partisan office if they receive federal funds.

He also apologized to Ogden residents and leaders for "the embarrassing course this locally, legally misunderstood process has taken over the last four years." Ogden faces federal sanctions as a result of the decision.

Greiner's statement, posted on the Senate GOP majority's Web site, also criticized the 1939 federal Hatch Act that the state Democratic Party accused him of violating when he first sought the office in 2006. The federal government's decision in that case was released March 19, the final day for filing for office.

"Our Founding Fathers would probably roll over in their graves at the notion that a part-time state or local citizen legislator would be denied his or her First Amendment rights and all voters would be denied their rights by a 70-year-old act of Congress that was originally passed to curb the currying of partisan political favor for federal employees," Greiner said.

Greiner's withdrawal leaves two candidates in the District 18 race — Stuart Reid, a former Democrat now running as a Republican, and Betty Sawyer, a community activist and Democrat. Greiner is expected to serve out his term.

Reid as a Democrat lost a close race against Greiner four years ago, and according state GOP Chairman Dave Hansen, "was a Republican for the 15 minutes it took him to register" two weeks ago in the District 18 contest. Hansen said he doubts the party can remove or replace Reid.

Reid is a former finalist for Salt Lake City mayor, running as a conservative Democrat in the nonpartisan race but losing to the more liberal Rocky Anderson. He served on the Salt Lake City Council and was the city's economic development director before moving to Ogden in 2000 to take a similar post. Since mid-2006, Reid has been an economic development consultant and real estate developer.

Reid said he had told both parties he wouldn't run for the legislative seat, but got into the race after hearing of the federal government's ruling against Greiner. His decision to run as a Republican was made after he "was pressed very heavily by some Republicans."

"It literally was a last-15-minute decision, going back and forth, back and forth," Reid said. "I've always been conservative. I feel in almost every area I'll be as conservative as the mainline Republicans are. … As they get to know me, they're becoming more and more comfortable with me."

Hansen said he talked to Weber County GOP leaders Wednesday afternoon "and as of now, we aren't going to do anything until after the Weber County Republican Convention," scheduled for April 10.

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