As a concerned former resident of Utah’s 4th district, I feel it’s important to consider the past in relation to our future. As such I have great concern with the Democratic candidate for Utah’s 4th District, Ben McAdams.

On multiple occasions, McAdams allowed for increased taxes on Salt Lake County residents. In 2015, McAdams advocated for about $10 million in higher taxes on homeowners and business owners. And in 2016, McAdams supported increasing property taxes on residents of unincorporated Salt Lake County by 9.5 percent. Also, in 2014, Ben pushed to bring back the ZAP tax, which would put an increase on sales tax, therefore giving the government more money to spend where they please.

Sound unbelievable? Do a quick Google search and you’ll see Ben’s quotes of support in our local papers.

In addition to these tax hikes, it’s interesting to see where the money is being distributed. For example, before Ben took office, there was only one Salt Lake County Deputy Mayor. Under Ben’s direction, the number of deputy mayors has increased to four. What’s worse is the staggering salary package that comes with each. For example, according to http://www.transparencyutah.gov, in 2017 each deputy cost taxpayers: $212,094, $258,362, $211,610 and .$213,232

That’s more than$894,000 in salary packages for one year in a county that has only grown 7 percent since Ben took office!

We’ve seen what he’s done in Salt Lake County; just imagine McAdams in Congress. At the county level, this increase is horrific, but at the federal level, these numbers would be catastrophic.

Bottom line, McAdams is your average tax-and-spend liberal. His time in congress would be spent raising taxes then wasting the money taken from the taxpayers. Ben’s hypocrisy is beginning wear on his public image. This isn’t the kind of representation the 4th district needs.

— Brandon Loveland, Orem