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Show THE PARK RECORD A-15 oints SAT/SUN/MON/TUES, APRIL 2-5, 2005 EDITORIAL THIS APRIL FOOLS EDITION ISSOkTA LIKE THE CBS NEWS...YOU NEVER KNOW W So Brickey might not seem like the first choice. But he is % IF A STORY IS REAL OR the most suitable. Here is why. & IF I T S FAKE! /^ Appointment shouldn't be a partisan decision he Summit County Commission this week heard from three applicants for the county attorney's post and declined to make an on-the-spot choice. Presumably the three commissioners could not come to a consensus on which candidate was best suited to the job. The elected position became vacant in February when long-time county attorney Bob Adldns, a Democrat, was chosen as a Third District Court judge. The commissioners must appoint someone to serve out the reminder of Adkins' fouryear term that ends Dec. 31. 2006. The selection is problematic in this case because the most qualified candidate is a Republican, and county Democrats are reluctant to give up one of the few elected posts they hold. Nevertheless, the job, which chiefly entails prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the county, docs not pivot on partisan issues. Most criminal cases on the county level do not lend themselves to political interpretation - at least we hope they don't. The throe applicants under consideration are: David Brickey, the county's current chief prosecuting attorney, Joe Tesch. a private attorney who has represented several land developers in their litigation against the county and Anne Cameron, a deputy attorney for Salt Lake County. Tcsch is listed on the county voter roles as a registered Democrat. Cameron says she is registered as an Independent but considers herself, philosophically, more aligned with Democrats. Brickey, is not only a registered Republican, he has served as the county parly's treasurer. T Since the appointment is essentially for only a ycar-and-ahalf-long term, it makes sense to have someone who is already familiar with the office to step in. Cameron, the least experienced of the three would likely use up much of the time getting adjusted. Tesch would not have as steep a learning curve but the change would still consume time and resources. Ilicre is another stumbling block that works against Tcsch. He has a busy private practice that would cut into the time he could spend working for the county. It is not logical to ask him to give that up (not that he would) for an 18-month-long assignment and it is troubling to consider the potential conflicts of interest that the commissioners might encounter in dealing with Tesch who has vehemently opposed county planning policies. Although previous county attorneys have maintained their private practices while in office, the county's legal load has grown and it would behoove voters in 2006 to demand a fulltime county attorney- Since taxpayers pay their lead attorney $95,243 per year, it seems fair to demand the candidate's full attention. That, however, will be a matter for the voters to decide in 2006. Given the current slate of applicants, it makes sense to appoint the candidate who can make the smoothest transition regardless of his or her political affiliation. Brickey already cut his teeth on a tough county murder case (the Erik Low trial) and proved he is capable of doing the job. JOHN KILBOURN//W7A'/?£-.CCWZ? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Qualifications should be No. 1 Editor: After urging by a number of friends and civic leaders, I applied to fill the term of office of the county attorney, which was vacated when Bob Adkins was appointed judge. 'hie most persuasive reasons presented to me for doing so were that I had more qualifications by far than anyone living and working in the county, and that since Bob was a Democrat, we needed a Democratic replacement. At first I thought the idea was ridiculous, but it took hold and I finally agreed for two reasons: I have always had a passion for open, honest and responsive government; and, at this stage in my life. I have the time, energy and skill set necessary to do the job well. In applying. I made it absolutely clear that I would not abandon Tesch Law Offices or act in any way contrary to the best interests of our clients. I have been to the belly of the beast - the County Commission interview process. In that process, it was made clear that the most important issue was not qualifications. Who would have thought? The issues they stated were-most important were that they wanted a full-time County Attorney; and, that I had "baggage" (having sued the county on behalf of clients and having made enemies). Regarding the "full-time" qualification: First it's bad law. There is no constitutional or statutory requirement that the County Attorney's office or any other elected county office be full time and so the commissioners are without legal authority to require it as a condition of office. More importantly, it's not good policy. By requiring it, you restrict the appointee to lawyers who have no significant current private practice (mostly government lawyers), thereby eliminating the greater pool of qualified attorneys, or who are lawyers willing to abandon their current clientele - do you really want such an attorney representing the county? On the issue of baggage, no one has ever accused Tesch Law Offices of not putting it all on the line for our clients. When you do that, people will lake il personally and you will create enemies along the way. On the other hand, we have agreed to take on no new clients presenting possible new conflicts with the county. We have proposed a system to process current issues with the county in a way we believe will facilitate quick resolution of many of the issues and an unbiased processing of the remainder. Since Commissioner Elliott stated publicly that none of the three available candidates had two affirmative votes after the interview process, 1 have had a number of people call and ask me if they could write letters in support. I have encouraged them to not do so. This isn't a beauty contest. From my point of view, if the most important attribute by far is not the qualifications, the job and I are not well suited. I rest my case. Joe Tesch Park City Editor: Who is SLR President Mark Staples kidding? In the Sail Lake Tribune article on March 27, the proposals for the Suburban Land Reserve development at Kimball Junction (780 residences and 600,000 square feet of commercial space) were diagrammed. Mark Staples "maintains the project actually would ease the area's snarled traffic." by creating two additional left turns before Landmark Drive, which would funnel traffic via Uinta Blvd. onto Landmark between Wal-Mart and behind the outlets, and onto Kilby Road behind the outlets by Powderwood. The additional left turns off of S.R. 224 prior to Landmark would further congest traffic by lining up cars for left turns at Uinta and at the unnamed road prior to Uinta (which would require another traffic light). More congestion would be created on Landmark where one new road would come out -- this area is already congested. Kilby Road already has added traffic because of the new Quarry Village, and only a few tenants are operating - there are many more to come. The speed limit on Kilby Road is 25 mph and 35 mph. Imagine dumping additional traffic in a hurry to get onto 1-80 onto a two-lane road with curves, a school, a firehouse, residential areas and curves. This traffic would need to navigate a four-way stop at Kilby and Pincbrook and would overload the Jeremy Ranch exit off 1-80. Now the area would have two dysfunction junctions (not to mention real safety issues)! SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION 1 Year inside Summit County, $37, outside Summit County, $70 6 Months inside Summit County, S20, outside Summit County $39 Exp. Date: lives of weak and helpless people. His columns are invariably long whines interrupted by occasional limping attempts at irony (e.g. "Janet Jackson's right breast was about to cause the downfall of the republic"). What is worth noting is that this last column was unintentionally instructive. His comments regarding affirmative action in the form of rat poison validate what opponents of a so-called right to die assert: the granting of such a right empowers some people with a right to kill. Judi Fey Park City Artistic field trip Editor: It comes as no surprise that Tom Clyde (More Dogs on Main Street, March 26, 2005) expresses such sinister views on the Dear Kimball Art Center: Thank you for inviting the third grade to the Kimball Art Center. We learned a lot about Latino art. We learned that the paintings don't have to be perfect, because they GUEST EDITORIAL Two extraordinary stories By JIM DOILNEY Park City t This is about two local heroes: Justin Johnson and Bill Marolt. Last month, Justin Johnson, a 27-yearold Park City native, took first in the Super G and second in the Downhill of the Canadian National Ski Championships. In February. Justin came in 20th in the World Cup Downhill Championship, a result totally overshadowed in the media by Bode Miller's first and Darin Ralves' second. Justin's an inspiration. Two weeks ago Bill Marolt led USSA to finish its best ever. World Cup season, coming in second in the nation's Cup, only trailing Austria. Bode Miller won the overall World Cup. the first American to do so since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney did it in 1983, the last year USSA was a force. In 1983 Bill was the head coach on USSA. Today he is president. In between he look the University of Colorado to its only national championship in football. Bill is an inspiration. Bill's results vouch for the efficacy of his philosophy and standards. Justin had to overcome both. And Bill left the door open a crack. When Justin outgrew the Park City Ski Team and entered the USSA system in his late teens, great things were expected of him. I'd watch him routinely smoke his local peers. Victories over him became badges of honor much like the time my niece, Essie Doilney, beat Picabo in a Junior Olympics race. Still, it seemed his results were coming more from genetic advantage, than personal sacrifice. . After early USSA successes, Justin faltered. Bill's system required everyone to keep producing or make space for younger racers. First I heard Justin's knee cartilage was almost gone. Next I heard he was cut from the Ski Team, eliminating Park City's best homegrown 2002 hope. As Justin was living out his drama. Bill was re-building the USSA team he took over in the late "90s. Around 2000, Bill announced USSA would win 10 Olympic Medals in 2002, four more than their best previous total. In 2002 USSA won 10 medals. Justin was an Olympic spectator. When I'd have been planning a new future, Justin was training to come back. Last spring, against all odds and competing as a self-sponsored racer, Justin came in second in the USSA run national downhill championship, earning a spot on the World Cup tour through the door Bill left open. I hope Bill leads USSA to 15-plus 2006 Olympic medals and that Justin competes in those Games. Regardless, if their stories ended today, both are inspiring. Justin's age and history kept him off the USSA team despite results that earned younger guys slots. Bill stuck to his guns and everyone knew the rules, Sometimes the guy guarding the door, in this case Bill, brings out thftbest in us. Park City is the home of my (fleams. Our inspiring physical environment is only exceeded by our inspiring community of people like Justin and Bill. Any lime I get down. I just look around and find another one... inspiring me lo never, ever, ever give up. Mail to: The Park Record, P.O. Box 3688, Park City, Utah 84060 Visit The Park Record website at zozinv.parkrecord.coin For the record still look good. We liked that you had many Latin artists and paintings. We loved going downstairs and doing some of our own art. We liked painting on the faces. It rocked. We loved the Kimball Art Center. It was great! TJ Mayo and the rest of the McPolin third grade The Park Record Staff Arthur Holland Park City Tom Clyde and the right to kill Dysfunction junction Mastercard or Visa No._ Name Mailing Address The project is ill-conceived. The density and height of buildings do not enhance the look of the area or support the mountain environment. The proposed plans for traffic are not workable. I hope John Roberts who said, "We can't move forward with this until we have found a solution to present traffic problems" will persist. I also hope John Tucrff (CARG president) and the Planning Commission will not give approval to this project now or in the future. It represents super saturation that is not wanted or needed. The ParkRecora'welcomes letters to (he editor on any subJecL We ask thai the tellers adhere lo (he following guidellnes:They must include the address and telephone number of author. No letter will be published under an assumed name. They musl not contain libelous material- Writers are limited to on.9 letter QVQry 28 days, Letters must nol be longer lhan 350 words (guest editorials. 550 words) and should il possible, bo typed. We reserve Iho right to edit leiters il they are too long or H they contain statemenls we consider unnecessarily offensive or obscene. In addition, thank you letters may be limited In length with regard to businesses and event sponsors. PUBLISHER Andy Bernhard Editor Nan Chalat-Noaker Staff writers Jay Hamburger Pat Parkinson Joe Lair Jared Whitley Adia Waldburger Matt James Anna Bloom Contributing writers Tom Clyde Teri Orr Jay Meehan Joan Jacobson Silvia Leavitt Linda Jager Editor's assistant Courtney Herzinger Classified advertising Inkarna Black Sherree Durastanti Office manager Holly VanDenAmeele Circulation manager Michael Duffy Accounting manager Kate Fischer Advertising director Valerie Demlng Advertising sales Wendy Halliday Anne Anderson Molly Ballard Cheryn McNicol Teresa Chavez Lacy Brundy Chris Gill Annie Macdonaid Editorial production Kat James Photographers Scott Sine Grayson West Production director Matt Gordon Production Kristi Ruppert Scott Schlenker Jason Plawecki Kyle Burress Kim Vance Jon Smedley Distribution Chris Anderson Todd Kendall Cartoonist John Kilboum Contents of Ihe 77ir Park Recording copyright (0 2005, Diversified Suburban Newspapers. All rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the managing editor or publisher. The Park Record (VSPS 378-730) (ISSN 07459483) is published twice weekly by Diversified Suburban Newspapers, 1670 Bonanza Dr., Hark City. Utah. Periodicals Postage paid at Park City, Utah. POSTMASTER: Send address changes lo Vie Park Record Box .VvSS. Park C'iiy. Utah 841)6(1. Entered as second class mailer. May 25.1977 at the post office in Park City. Utah .S406U, under tlie Act of March 3. 1S97. Subscription rales are S37 inside Summit County. $70 outside Summit County. L'lah. Subscriptions are transferrable; $5 cancellation fee. Phone (435) 64^-91)14 or fax (435) 649-4lM2. Published every Wednesday and SaturdayHome delivery subscriptions in Summit County include delivery of the Sunday edilion of 77/c Siilt Lake Tribune. "ITKTC are no other service opiums available. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SINE Asked of middle schoolers What's the coolest electronic game to have and will your parents let you have it? Alex Harrison IanSteele Chris Yeates CMsWafen ZockRenner "The Sony PSP. The graphics are the best. My parents bought it for me as a gift." "The Sony PSPs are the new handhelds. In order to have one, I would have to earn it myself." "The PSP. Yes, my mom would let me have it, only if I paid for it." 'The Sony PSP. I got it for Christmas. It was from Japan and I got il before it came out in the USA." 'The Sony PSP and Nintendo DS. My parents say as long as I get good grades, I can have them. And I get gcxxi grades." |