Comments about ‘Lawyer seeks commission seat’

As the article stated, I believe we need regional solutions to regional problems. Right now, we send too much tax money to Washington DC or Salt Lake City, and then have to hope they send a little bit of our money back to us.

Utah County has 550,000 residents now, and will likely have over one million in 20 years or less. We are rapidly becoming an urban county, and we need to prepare for it. For example, there is no good reason why the State should own or manage the roads in Utah County that do not cross county lines. Instead, Utah County should keep their share of the gas tax, and manage these roads on their own. In addition, it is clear we can not count on the State or Federal governments to effectively stop Ponzi schemes in Utah County before they have mushroomed. We need to give our Utah County Attorney and Sheriff the resources and training they need to fight and prosecute these crimes. Finally, we need a Utah County government based on the principles of the US Constitution, with separate executive and legislative branches.

Just what we need, another "big government" type wanting to have a Council instead of a Commission. Did he move in from Summit or Salt Lake county or something? They both have Councils and now have large or growing staffs to support the council - particularly Salt Lake Council... just something to think about... more government and more expense

There's a reason the job growth that does exist in Utah is going to Salt Lake and Summit Counties, whereas Utah County is losing out. I don't think we can rely on Provo and Orem to improve things for the whole county - we need high-quality Utah County management to get that done for us. The current commissioners aren't getting it done. If someone new can put together and enact a real vision, I'm all for it. PS: I checked up on Joel Wright's background - looks like he's solidly a Utah County guy 100% - anyone who knows Joel disagree?

What job growth does exist in Utah is going to Salt Lake and Summit Counties -- Utah County is losing out. Our current commissioners aren't getting things done for us there, so a new form of Utah County government along with people who can vision and implement a coordinated county plan sounds like a good idea to me. PS: I checked up on Mr. Joel Wright -- looks like a 100% Utah County background to me, except for his few years going to graduate school and then working out of state before coming back home to Utah County -- anyone who knows him disagree with that? He has a good campaign website - most candidates don't even address anything real or state an opinion -- at least he's willing to do both, which would instantly improve the Utah County Commission.

I think I have to agree with Nando. A Council will just resort in more government and more expense.

Mr Wright states that we "need to give our Utah County Attorney and Sheriff the resources and training they need to fight and prosecute these crimes" Yet, at the public hearing Tuesday, "Cedar Hills resident Joel D. Wright suggested that the county cut employees' wages to offset shortfalls in the budget."

You do realize Mr Wright, that the Sheriffs office employees are paid for by the County? I sounds like you are definitely giving law enforcement the "resources" you spoke of.

How many are in your 90 thousand a year plus club? Thirty? That will SURELY save the cops on the street who are paycheck to paycheck. How many of those thirty are attorney's like yourself?

If there is anything we have learned throughout history... Attorney's have always known what is best for everyone..

You are just like all the others..(sigh)

In response to "The Amazing Nando" above, if we change to a Mayor/County Council form of government it would cost less, NOT more. Right now, we have 3 County Commissioners each earning $102,000/year. If we had a full time Mayor earning $102,000/year, and 5 county council members earning $20,000/year, then it would only cost us $202,000/year, while we are spending $306,000/year right now.

Also, we currently have 3 county commissioners that are largely invisible and are not leading out on the key regional issues like Utah Lake, transportation or removing obstacles to economic development. We have 5 or more elected officials in every city in Utah County, and every school board, and they have each have SEPARATE executive and legislative branches. Why shouldn't Utah County do the same? Note we now have 550,000 people in Utah County, and will have one million in 20 years.

Finally, note that both Commissioner White and Governor Herbert both support going from 3 to 5 commissioners in Utah County. And Mark Shurtleff supported the Mayor/Council change in SL County.

In response to JayB above, if we rolled back the huge 2008 salary increase for all Utah County employees, including the County Commissioners, then we would not have been required to raise the property taxes nearly as much in 2009 - they were raised by nearly 8.5% on taxpayers who are already struggling.

However, once we cut everything that should be cut, I am confident we would have the additional resources we needed to more effectively fight the Ponzi schemes and prescription drug abuse in Utah County more effectively. If not, then I would explain that to the taxpayers, and ask them to support a small property tax increase in order to do so.

Taxpayers are willing to invest in better government. But I think taxpayers are unwilling to "invest" in an 8.5% increase in property taxes to keep the very large 2008 salary increase in place that simply cannot be justified at this point in time for multiple reasons, including deflation and the fact that almost no one would leave if there salary were decreased in this economy.

I know a lot of Ut Co. employees that- like myself- would be more than happy to have Steve White replaced. My concern is you're talking about cutting our pay. So far, we keep seeing our budgets cut, increases in our health care premiums, and expenses, hiring freezes leaving us understaffed, and we lost our merit raises.

Your response is, "...almost no one would leave if there (I'm sure you meant they're) salary is decreased." You are taking the same approach as Steve White, the reason that a lot of us that work for the county looking forward to some sort of change, but I'm not sure if you're the change we need.