Let the private sector flourish, Romney says

PROVO — The most effective way for the federal government to stimulate the economy is to get out of the way of the country's entrepreneurs, according to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

That's the message he delivered Thursday at a ribbon cutting for APX Alarm's new 125,000-square-foot corporate headquarters at Provo's Riverwoods.

"On the East Coast, the president is holding a jobs summit," Romney said. "A lot of politicians and economists will come together to talk about how to create jobs. I wish they were here instead, seeing how jobs are actually created — not just talking about it, not just wondering how government can make things happen, but seeing how jobs are actually created in the private sector by real businesses."

Romney, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and a likely GOP presence in the 2012 race, appeared at the ribbon cutting as a favor to Alex Dunn, APX's chief operating officer.

Dunn worked on Romney's gubernatorial campaign and later served as his deputy chief of staff. Dunn also was executive director of the Massachusetts Republican Party during part of Romney's term in office.

"This is the kind of stimulus that makes the country great," Romney said. "You have something to show the country."

Romney, who told reporters it was too early to talk about running for president, sounded very much the candidate as he blasted President Barack Obama's efforts to stimulate the economy.

"The policies coming out of Washington are, in a lot of respects, doing this country more harm than they are good," Romney said. "The best thing this country could do is to unleash the power of the innovative spirit of America, to get out of the way of good citizens and entrepreneurs and help the financial services sector get on its feet by having updated, modern, dynamic regulations, not labyrinthine regulations."

Gov. Gary Herbert, who also spoke, recognized he was eclipsed by star power.

"This looks more to me like a 'We love Mitt Romney' rally," Herbert said before offering praise for APX, which has increased its sales in 2009 by 30 percent over 2008, despite the recession.

"Government can't do it all," Herbert said. "There must be some empowerment of the private sector to help with our needs. … I do believe Utah is the right place for business."

Romney and Herbert praised the efforts of Todd Pedersen, the APX chief executive who was a BYU student when he started the business in 1999, selling alarm systems door to door.

APX Alarm is now the largest private security alarm company in the nation, with more than 9,000 employees. Some 900 of these will work out of the new two-building complex, which includes a 105,000-square-foot office and call center and a 20,000-square-foot conference center.

The company maintains another call center in Minnesota and sends out a summer sales force of thousands of temporary door-to-door sales representatives every year.

APX recently announced it will add 200 full-time jobs in Provo in connection with the opening of the new building.

e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com