South Salt Lake to get new city attorney

SOUTH SALT LAKE — The city attorney of eight years will not be reappointed when Mayor-elect Cherie Wood takes over in January, city officials announced Tuesday.

During his tenure, attorney David Carlson defended the city's sexually oriented business ordinance, helped reduce the number of licensed taverns and instituted a good-landlord program. He served under former mayors Bob Gray and Wes Losser.

Late Tuesday, Wood had already started interviewing candidates for the attorney's post, she said.

"I feel that the city attorney is a position of absolute confidence and trust and that an incoming mayor should have the ability to select an individual that shares the same common interests, work ethic and work history to meet the objectives of my administration," Wood said.

Both Wood and Carlson said the decision was not related to personal conflict or disciplinary action.

"He has served very well," Wood said.

— Rebecca Palmer