Wasatch County OKs new government by 57%

WASATCH COUNTY — Voters here spoke loud and clear: Out with the old government, bring on the new.

By a margin of 2,443 to 1,886, residents elected to change from a three-person county commission to a seven-member county council with an appointed county manager.

The 57.4 percent margin was strong affirmation the county was ready to switch from the decades-old style of government, joining Cache, Morgan, Grand and Salt Lake counties among those with seven-member bodies, supporters of the change said.

"I wasn't surprised it passed, but I was a little shocked at the margin. It sends a message the voters were tired of the old way of doing things," said Tim Quinn, chairman of Voters for Representative Government, which sponsored the initiative.

"Among the reasons: Residents wanted to see an end to nepotism in the (Heber) valley and many felt left out of the process," Quinn said.

The new model — the state's only seven-member body with an appointed manager — calls for one representative from each of five districts: (1) Lake Creek/Center Creek/Timberlakes, (2) Daniel/Charleston/Wallsburg, (3) Midway, (4) Heber North, (5) Heber South. Two members will be at-large.

Such distribution allays fears that a huge buildout of up to 20,000 residents planned at the Jordanelle Reservoir might have dominated the old three-member commission.

"That's a massive amount of people. They could have elected all three commissioners in the future," Quinn said.

Mike Moulton, co-chairman of Wasatch County Citizens for Conservative Government, opposing the change, said. "I'm very disappointed. I think we had to overcome a late start because we didn't understand how strong the support was. But the voters have spoken. What's important now is to come together, set aside the acrimony and rancor that has risen up over this issue, and get back to being the best county in the state."

Still to be decided is whether the new seven-member council will be elected in February or two years from now when current commissioners' terms end. Earlier indications were the matter was headed for court.

"I'd hope the other side would recognize the overwhelming support and not present a court contest," Quinn said.

Republican T. Laren Provost, the only current commissioner up for re-election, nipped Democrat Lynn D. Thacker, 2,694-2,506. Libertarian Mark Covington had 375 votes.

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