S.L. County Council Candidates Don't Want to Look Too Conservative
BY THOMAS BURR
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
None of these Salt Lake County Council candidates dares appear too far right on the political scale.
Not in Democratic-leaning District 1. Instead, the three men are trying to distance themselves from ultra-conservative views. Even Republican challenger Sean Thomas describes himself as leaning toward moderate on the conservative spectrum.
"I absolutely believe that I need to listen to both sides on any issue given the makeup of the district in which I'm running," Thomas said.
Incumbent Joe Hatch says the district -- which covers most of Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake -- needs a Democrat.
"There are too few voices that articulate a strong Democratic voice," Hatch said. "We should have a voice that is reflective of the populace out there."
Green candidate Patrick Beecroft says the populace needs another view. "It is important that there is a Green Party voice," Beecroft said. "I speak for a lot of people who want a sustainable, livable community."
Both candidates trying to unseat Hatch acknowledge the incumbent has been a vocal advocate for his district. Said Hatch: "No one in my district criticizes me for doing anything wrong."
Thomas does not level any accusations of wrongdoing, but says he has different beliefs on various issues and will have a different focus if elected. "I don't agree necessarily about the things Joe works for," Thomas said.
Beecroft says he would do things differently if elected. "I want to try and mobilize the community," he said. "My goal would be to get the community, get people who are concerned about their communities, to say something about it."
Aside from their political ideals, the three candidates do agree on some issues.
All three support a ballot referendum for a $15 million bond to buy a building for The Children's Museum of Utah. If passed, the bond would add $3 to property taxes on a $171,000 home.
Thomas, though, worries that impoverished residents will have to pay more taxes because of the new building, but will not be able to afford the entrance fee to get into the museum. Hatch says that is a concern, but notes the museum offers other outreach programs to schools and other free programs are available.
All candidates are united in wanting the county to investigate whether to take over emergency ambulance service in Holladay, Taylorsville, Herriman and unincorporated areas from private provider Gold Cross.
Hatch argues the county should be in the business and could offer better service for a "more reasonable fee."
Thomas agrees but wants the county to buy Gold Cross' ambulances so that the private company can recoup some of its investment in the vehicles.
Beecroft says there is no reason the county should not be in the business. "I don't see it as totally separate from the other emergency services the county provides," he said.
However, the candidates differ about constructing a new office tower to consolidate the county's criminal justice services and move them closer to the Matheson Courthouse.
Hatch says low interest rates and construction costs would make building an office tower a good deal. "Why not build now? In the long run this saves us more money than anything out there," he said.
Thomas and Beecroft disagree. "They shouldn't rush into this building. There is plenty of time," said Thomas, who supports moving the justice services onto the courthouse block in the near future.
Beecroft maintains there is plenty of office space in downtown Salt Lake City and no need to make more. "That should be filled in first before we build a building," he said.
The three support consolidating fire services in the county, and Thomas and Beecroft support doing the same with law enforcement services. Hatch, however, says a metro police force would not work because every community has its own standards for law enforcement. "Local control is better."
Thomas says consolidation could save cities and the county money and be structured so that communities retain control. No matter what, Thomas adds, the county should develop a countywide emergency plan "so that every officer and fire person knows where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing in a major emergency."
But Beecroft says now is not the right time but the future may be as the county becomes more metropolitan and there is more overlap in services.
Hatch is the lone candidate against a movement toward wall-to-wall cities in the county. "A substantial majority of the 205,000 people are provided better options when Salt Lake County municipal services are part of the mix," Hatch said.
Thomas says wall-to-wall cities eventually will make sense, though he wants cities that annex areas that contain county libraries to take over the operation of those facilities.
Beecroft adds: "Cities are better able to represent their residents than the county is."
Courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune
http://www2.sltrib.com/politics/Main/Story.asp?VOL=10152002&NUM=7180
