It’s unfortunate to see the negativity we observe on the national stage playing out here in Orem at the last minute of the campaign. Instead of presenting a plan for how to move Orem forward, they are attempting to sway votes by negativity and deceit.

The lies and slander are beneath Orem and its wonderful residents. We are better than this.

Other candidates or their surrogates are simply mis-representing the facts when they say that I am “pushing for high density,” “pushing to run Bus Rapid Transit on State Street,” or somehow committed an ethical violation by agreeing to support University Place. None of these are true and I call on all candidates to speak out against the lies. If not, they are just as guilty as their supporters.

The agreement that we signed states that we will support the continued development at University Place including:

“A mixed-use development that is zoned and approved for 700,000 square feet of office space, 1.2 million square feet of retail space, 1,800 housing units, a 140-room hotel, and for other civic and entertainment uses.  Additionally, a place designed as a live, work, shop, and entertainment community created for residents of Orem City and Utah County.”

These recitals are all statements of fact from the PD-34 zone and CDA that was approved back in December of 2013 to hopefully turn the mall around for Orem’s future.  Upon reading the attachments of the approved PD-34 zone one can see that all the things that have either happened or are in the process of happening are approved uses in that zone.

Ultimately, signing the recent candidate agreement with Woodbury is only committing the signers to support the development that has either happened or is in the process of being completed under the terms of the PD-34 zone.

To assure that signing this agreement did not bind me or encumber me to approve anything for Woodbury outside of the things already in the works I’ve received the following opinion from legal counsel:

“The Agreement has no provision or requirement for a candidate to vote for or against a specific law or ordinance.  Candidates are not committed to, nor have they promised to agree with or vote consistent with, UP’s position on any specific issue.  A candidate may in fact disagree with UP on the best way to accomplish those broad goals set forth in the Recitals without violating the Agreement to support economic growth and UP’s role in that growth.  The statement in the Ethics petition that the Agreement is a ‘legally binding agreement regarding decisions’ is false.”

The petition also states: “candidates cannot make legal commitments on behalf of the city before they are elected,” suggesting those who have signed the Agreement have made such “commitments” for the city.  This is false.  There is nothing in the Agreement remotely suggesting a candidate is making “legal commitments on behalf of the city.”

I give thanks to the Woodbury Family, University Place and all the included businesses on that property  for their efforts to make this a vibrant and tax providing entity for our community.  Because of them we are able to keep our property taxes lower and still support our police, fire, parks and all the other Orem City services that we enjoy here in our community.

 Jim Evans is candidate to be the mayor of Orem.

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