Most incumbents preparing to run for Weber County offices

OGDEN — Weber County residents will see some familiar names on the ballot for various county offices in this year's election.

Those names belong to the six incumbents who have declared intentions to file as candidates in March.

Weber County Commissioners Jan Zogmaister and Kenneth Bischoff, both Republicans, will join fellow Republicans Ernest Rowley, running for recorder/surveyor, Alan McEwan, running for clerk/auditor, and John Bond, running for treasurer this year.

Zogmaister will complete her first term as commissioner this year, and Bischoff will complete his third.

Zogmaister said commissioners have worked to keep expenditures down so tax increases wouldn't be necessary.

Bond, who had been Weber County Treasurer Nila Dayton's chief deputy, was appointed in June after Dayton became ill and resigned.

Dee Smith, a Democrat who was appointed as Weber County attorney in May, also is running as an incumbent.

Smith started his legal career in the county attorney's office but went into private practice in 2002. When former county attorney Mark DeCaria was appointed a 2nd District Court judge, Smith was appointed to take his place.

Weber County will have a new county assessor come January.

Cheryl Madson, who is completing her third term this year, will not seek re-election. Madson said she is supporting her chief deputy, John Ullibarri, who is planning to run as a Republican.

"I'm happy with that," she said.

Weber County Sheriff Brad Slater announced he is retiring from law enforcement at the end of this year, and two men — corrections chief deputy Terry Thompson and Capt. Bret Haycock, who works in court services — have said they plan to run for sheriff.

Weber Democrats will meet in a central committee meeting Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Weber County Library, located at 2464 Jefferson Ave., in Ogden. The meeting will be held in the auditorium downstairs, and candidates and potential candidates in county and state races, legislative district and precinct officers should attend.

Steve Olsen, chairman of the Weber County Democrats, said he feels optimistic about this year's election.

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