Lawyer seeks commission seat

Former Cedar Hills City Councilman Joel D. Wright has announced his candidacy for the Utah County Commission.

Wright, a 37-year-old lawyer, said he will run against Gary Anderson or Steve White in 2010 for a seat on the commission.

Wright, who grew up in Provo, returned to Utah County five years ago after living in New York and Washington, D.C. He said he made his decision to run for county commissioner about six months ago.

"I think Utah County deserves more effective solutions and focus on regional problems," Wright said. "There are regional issues that need to be pushed right now."

Some of those issues, he said, include removing obstacles to economic development, creating better transportation, improving accessibility of Utah Lake and fighting crime locally.

If elected, Wright said one of the biggest items on his agenda will be looking at changing the structure of Utah County government. Instead of having three full-time commissioners, he suggests that Utah County have one full-time mayor and five part-time county council members.

Wright said that would reduce the cost of government officials by one-third, and each council member could represent a region in the county.

The father of four has been involved with the Utah County Republican Party as a state and county delegate and has been on the Utah State Board of Regents and Utah State Charter School Board.

Wright received a bachelor's degree in economics and political science at BYU and a juris doctorate at New York University.

e-mail: slenz@desnews.com