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Republican Utah County Commission candidates talk bankruptcies, increasing number of commissioners

By Katie England daily Herald - | Apr 10, 2018
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Candidates listen as Republican Thomas Sakievich speaks during the Utah County Commissioner Seat A Debate held Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Lehi Junior High School. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Republican incumbent Bill Lee speaks between fellow candidates Republican Timothy Spencer, left, and Republican Rich Jarman during the Utah County Commissioner Seat B Debate held Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Lehi Junior High School. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Attendees await the candidates before the Utah County Commissioner Seat B Debate held Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Lehi Junior High School. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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The timekeeper holds up how much time is remaining as a candidate speaks during the Utah County Commissioner Seat B Debate held Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Lehi Junior High School. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Anna Standage, of Lehi, takes a photo as she and other attendees listen during the Utah County Commissioner Seat B Debate held Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Lehi Junior High School. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Ten total candidates are vying for two Utah County Commission seats up for election this year, and the eight Republican candidates had a chance to debate in front of hundreds of county delegates Tuesday night.

With the Utah County Republican Convention taking place Saturday, the candidates have only a few more days to convince county delegates to vote for them at convention.

Saturday, the county delegates will vote on the candidates. If a candidate gets more than 60 percent of the delegate vote, they automatically advance. If no one gets to that threshold, the top two candidates will advance to a Republican primary.

Five Republicans have filed to run for Commission Seat A, which is being left open by Commissioner Greg Graves, who is not seeking reelection after finishing his first four-year term.

Russel Billings, Karen Ellingson, James Dixon, Tanner Ainge and Tom Sakievich have filed for that seat.

Of those five candidates, Ainge is the only one to take advantage of the alternate route to the ballot by gathering signatures. The required number of signatures have already been verified, so Ainge will advance regardless of the convention results.

Two Republicans, Rich Jarman and Timothy Spencer, have filed to challenge sitting commissioner, Bill Lee, for Commission Seat B. Lee is finishing out his first four-year term in the seat.

The candidates debated Tuesday night at a Utah County Republican Party debate in Lehi following a candidate meet-and-greet.

The only other candidates to file for the seats are Democrat Jeanne Bowen, for seat B and Teri McCabe, with the United Utah Party, for Seat A.

Commission Seat B

Candidates for Commission Seat B were asked a variety of questions, ranging from the county’s growth to the candidates’ financial and criminal pasts.

Spencer said his top issue in running for the office was school safety.

“Our schools are not safe,” Spencer said. “Our leaders in Utah have miserably failed to protect our children.”

Spencer said, if elected, he would do his best to ensure that there were two armed security guards at the entrances to schools, and would encourage teachers to carry weapons with the proper training.

Lee, however, said he believed the biggest issue facing Utah County will be planning for growth, since by 2060, the county population is expected to grow by about a million people.

Transportation issues in particular are something that will be discussed by candidates well into the future, Lee said.

Lee said it’s important to get public input and plan ahead now so the county can “try to find a way in which we can protect ourselves by buying up land for corridors and the preservations that we have so that we can go forward with this, we’re ready to go all the way.”

Jarman echoed Lee’s sentiment that growth will be the biggest issue, and emphasized looking at development on Utah Lake.

“I’m all for looking at some development with the Utah Lake, whether it’s a bridge or actual development, like’s been in the news of late,” Jarman said. “We have a lake in the middle of the county that’s just sitting there, and I think that’s something we need to look at talking to developers who want to come in and do that.”

The candidates were also asked about their views on increasing the county commission from three commissioners to five, districted commissioners.

Both Spencer and Jarman said they favored increasing the number of county commissioners.

Lee, however, said growing government won’t necessarily solve the issues. The conversation about the issue should be data-driven, Lee said.

Lee said he wanted to dispel the notion that just because the county is growing, it needs more commissioners. He compared it to Los Angeles County in California, which has more than 10 million people and the equivalent of five commissioners, meaning they are representing more than 2 million people each.

Each candidate was also specifically asked about past bankruptcies, foreclosures and criminal history in light of current commissioner, Greg Graves, whose bankruptcies came to light after he had already been selected as the Republican nominee four years ago.

Jarmin said he has experienced a bankruptcy when he lived in North Carolina, something that happened during the housing crash.

“I hope you can still trust me with your vote,” Jarman said. “You’re welcome to look at my background. I have nothing to hide.”

Lee and Spencer both said they have not had bankruptcies or home foreclosures and have no criminal history.

Commission Seat A

The five Republican Commission Seat A candidates were also asked their thoughts on changing the form of county government from three to five commissioners.

Ainge said he supports increasing the number of commissioners, and particularly likes the idea of commissioners having districts.

“I think government is always better the closer it is to the people, so right now, theoretically, being able to have three commissioners from Provo, I don’t think that’s representative of the diversity in our county,” Ainge said.

Sakievich said he hesitated to say he would increase the number of commissioners, saying that once government grows, it stays grown.

“I would not increase the number of commissioners, because it’s the mayors that represent the people,” Sakievich said.

Ellingson did not come down hard either way on whether to change the form of commission, but said she wanted the form of commission that will best serve the county.

“If that’s five people, then it’s five people,” Ellingson said. “But I want to make sure that there’s communication happening, that there is leadership that is happening, that we are avoiding corruption by having enough voices at the table to thoroughly vet decisions rather than having two people, when one person is out, two people who are running an entire county.”

Billings said, though not opposed to a five person commission, he thought the county could function if all three of them were “coming to the party,” referencing the extended absence of current commissioner Graves after a sexual harassment claim against him was released in December.

“If we can get three working toward common goals to bring Utah County forward, and have some good honorable men and women in that position, then we could move forward with three,” Billings said.

Dixon said he wants to review all the options for changing county forms of government that are allowed in state code.

“Bottom line is, your government needs to deliver services to you,” Dixon said.

When asked about bankruptcy and foreclosures, Billings was the only candidate to say he had a previous bankruptcy.

Billings said the bankruptcy occurred about 12 years ago in a private business with two other business partners.

But, Billings said, his criminal record is a clean slate. He currently works as a detective with the Provo Police Department.

“There better not be anything based on my current job,” Billings joked.

Utah County Commission Seat B: 

Incumbent Bill Lee of Pleasant Grove – electbilllee.org

Timothy Spencer of Provo – no website found

Rich Jarman of Springville – electrichjarman.com

Utah County Commission Seat A: 

Tom Sakievich of Spanish Fork – tomforcounty.com

Tanner Ainge of Alpine – voteainge.com 

Karen Ellingson of Springville – karenellingson.com 

Russel Billings of Orem – votebillings.com 

James Dixon of Lehi – YOUtahcounty.com 

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