Show WT"T Obituaries Classifieds Standard-Examine- r Saturday October 29 1988 Auditor denies charges By WENDY OGATA Standard Examiner Davis Bureau FARMINGTON — Davis County Auditor Ruth Kennington is denying accusations of wrongdoing leveled against her by county commissioners saying they stem from Commission Chairman Harold Tippetts’ bitterness over his primary election loss “Obviously he blames Ruth Kennington for his defeat” the auditor said Friday “His most recent charges against me made only in the press and not in any other forum show him to be bitter vindictive and mean-spirite- In a news release issued Wednesday county commissioners accused Kennington of misusing her office staff and equip- ment for political purposes At the same time County Attorney Mel Wilson revealed his office is investigating Kenning Ruth Kennington former commissioner and now interim County Clerk Glen Saunders Among other accusations made in that petition commissioners are alleged to have prevented Kennington from doing her job as auditor Commissioners last spring took two workers out from under Kennington’s control and this week said they are eliminating funding for the internal auditor hired last November at Kennington’s request because only a few audits have been completed They said they will contract with an outside auditing company to perform the audits Kennington said Friday that action will e workers — leave her with 35 none certified public accountants — and render her unable to do her duties She said commissioners erroneously be- - ton for possible criminal wrongdoing “I categorically and unequivocally deny any wrongdoing criminal or civil” Kennington said “If I am guilty of anything I am guilty of doing my job “An auditor who is the watchdog for public expenditures is never popular with those whom she audits” she said’ The commissioners’ news release was the dislatest development in the months-ol- d pute between Kennington and commissioners over the authority her office has to audit county departments and implement accounting changes Their accusations this week stem from information obtained depositions given last week by Kennington and internal auditor Jim Larson The depositions involved a petition for removal from office filed by eight county residents against Tippetts Commissioner Bill Peters and m She believes accusations are based in Commissioner Harold Tippetts bitterness over his elecuon loss lieve she was in league with the residents who filed the petition for removal against them “I did give them information they requested but the law says those records are open to the public” Tippetts’ “most recent tirade in the press against me makes me feel he must be a bitter man whose sole purpose appears to be pulling others down into the muck and mire with him” she said “It is a See AUDITOR on 2C full-tim- Quiet race turns to cutthroat in Davis V - Standard Examiner Davis Bureau 15' FARMINGTON two-ye- ar Da- vis County Commission race has turned n from a tug of war into a three-wa- y game of cutthroat ' ' ’ 'S : two-ma- For awhile 8 it M rprA SCI1 ft' ' looked like Republican William “Dub” 8 general election in a face-o- ff that would be relatively low-ke- y compared to Nov the primary Lawrence ran a successful campaign as a Democrat to be elected sheriff in 1974 This year as a Republican he defeated Commission Chairman Harold Tippetts in the September primary after Election '88 the incumbent became embroiled in various controversies and was named in a petition for removal from office filed by' eight county residents Lawrence fueled some of the controversy himself by criticizing a proposal in July to make the county attorney’s post full time and raise the salary by $14500 Commissioners later decided against the pay increase He also accused commissioners of manipulating the political process through timing resignations and appointments of interim officials Commissioners have denied the allegations In comparison to the primary the general election race between Lawrence and Sill was not shaping up into a very hot contest Ask Sill what he thinks of Lawrence and he will tell you he likes him Ask Lawrence what he thinks of Sill and he’ll tell you his opponent is “a good man” Ask Layton Mayor Richard McKenzie what he thinks of the two men and he starts campaigning “Golden Sill has integrity and is a good man but I don’t believe he has the qualifications to be a commissioner” McKenzie said He’s not as kind in his assessment of Lawrence “Golden stayed away from it but the other candidate has seemed to take a lot of pleasure from other people’s misfortunes” McKenzie said of the controversy surrounding Tippetts “I began to look at his (Lawrence’s) background and didn’t find anything to indicate he’s qualified to be a commissioner” Three weeks after the primary McKenzie launched a write-i- n campaign commission scat and lit for the two-yea fire under what had become a tepid ar race He said his backers are principally Re publicans and his supporters include Tippetts and Commissioner William Peters Lawrence said he isn’t taking it personally that some Republicans are backing McKenzie’s write-i- n campaign race” he said “It “I like the three-wa- y and it may different a perspective gives bring up different issues that need to be discussed” For the record all three candidates oppose initiatives A and B which would limit and rollback taxes McKenzie and Sill oppose Initiative C but Lawrence supports it Lawrence has pledged to oppose any new taxes or bonding for the next two years if elected He said he’ll also make the commission make more decisions in the open “Decisions are made now behind closed doors “They make decisions and then announce them in an open meeting Government needs to be open and needs to recognize freedom of the press and freedom of speech” Lawrence said He freely criticizes current and past commissioners for purchasing land near Kaysville for fairgrounds then putting it back up for sale and purchasing other acreage in west Farmington for the same purpose The expense of the new county jail for which voters last year passed an $185 million bond issue also could have been avoided if commissioners had supported his plans back in the 1970s to build a new public safety complex by obtaining an economic development administration grant said the former sher-if- f The Ogden woman says she docs it as a treat for the kids “I’ve always decorated the It’s just a lot of fun for house ecr body” That fun includes eerie Halloween mannequins which are fully clothed and hung from her porch It also includes a bleeding skull made of wax and haunting creaks and groans — courtesy of a scary cassette tape “I think the sound effects are really what make it They are so much more effective than just the picture itself” By CHARLES Slandd-- F TRENTELMAN- - Examiner staff OGDEN — If the biblical prophecy that “a little child shall lead them” still carries any weight Michael Dukakis is doomed The children at least from one class in Ogden are going GOP “I want Bush because he likes the space program and wants Star Wars and I think he would make a better president” writes Chance a at Wallwork Grandview Elementary “He’s had more experience and he thinks like I do” Brad Norton agrees “I would vote for Bush because he has the same beliefs as me” Norton said “He would not raise taxes he will keep a strong defense and he has more experience” The few Dukakis voices in the crowd are no less vocal however “All this talk about Bush won’t raise taxes and Bush wants to make friends with Russia is a bunch of baloney” says Aubrey Palmer “I may not be 18 yet to vote but if I was I certainly would not vote for Bush” Of 14 letters to the editor write ten by LuR Robins’ class only two supported Dukakis one didn’t state a preference and the rest all firmly supported the Republican cause The letters weren’t written primarily to push one candidate or the other though Robins said what the students really want to do is get out the vote They put their political leanings in their letters because they have been studying the issues she said and have strong feelings about the candidates “The kids really know quite a bit about the electoral vote and they really know who they want” er We she said f K' They are taking the whole process seriously she said Being 10 years old they are just old enough now to be fully aware of their first presidential election and they are impressed with the importance of it all What shocked them she said was the part of their studies where they learned that older people don’t think it’s all that important They learned that the age group is the lowest in the country in percentages of voters The letters all make that point who don’t vote telling grown-up- s that they’re missing out on a good thing “Do you know that the 18- - to people vote the least?” asks Matt Sclandcr “That’s weird” “I think it’s very important to vote because if nobody ever voted there would never be a new president” notes Brittany “I am happy for the peowho vote and there is always ple room for more” Several students point out that only one vote can change any 5 v f I' 18-to-- ld Har-berts- McKenzie said he knows his write-i- n candidacy will be an uphill battle He’s printed up fliers is putting up signs working on instructing people on how to vote for a write-i- n candidate and passing out stickers residents can use to vote for him when they cast their ballots on Election Day He’s still relatively new to politics McKenzie retired from Hill Air Force Base as the senior civilian at Hill Air Force Base in 1982 and ran a successful mayoral campaign against Sill in 1985 His goals as commissioner would be to first iron out the conflict between commissioners and the county auditor See DAVIS on 2C Halloween yard display created for the young play habits fifth-grad- would Lawrence meet Democrat Golden Sill in the OGDEN — Patricia Burback wasn’t tricked into turning her front yard into a Halloween dis- aghast at voting fifth-grad- By WENDY OGATA — The Kids Ey Amy Joi Bryson j4 s M i 'tk While the display is put together with children in mind Burback said adults enjoy it as well 9 t i- J ' s ’ 9 I t K J 14 ’ r - v - r fPf - n) 4 1 Burback said she also uses dry there” she said I v 10- ice to create a visual effect that is both startling and spooky Burback who works at Hill Air Force Base said she also decorates the front yard with a tombstone a variety of pumpkins and Halloween lights “I walked across the street and you know if I didn’t know better I wouldn't want to go over J - i Salute Examiner Two can ride as easily but not as son gives Tanya Vradenburgh a comfortably as one David Nichol- - ride to North Ogden this week ‘ i bidir KooisliabtariOdd Hitching a ride ±jL I election ' v'-V- U i j )- L : I -' 'T: XT' X ij Jud OwensSlanaa'd Examiner arranged the display each of the last four years “I guess I’m just a kid at heart and I'll never grow up” One even cites President Andrew Johnson’s rescue from conin Senate his viction impeachment trial by only one vote “I wish I could vote but I’m only 10” laments Kiki Bunc “If I could vote I would go out and vote now! So please vote!” Secondary water plan moves ahead By CHERYL ARCHIBALD S’3-da- Pat Burback and daughter Debbie amid decorations “The adults really have a riot with it You can sec them push- ing the kids forward” Burback who lives near Ccn- tral Middle School said she has on sta‘f Examiner The Davis & Weber Counties Canal Co is proceeding with plans for a $387 million project aimed at bringing secondary water to 13500 homes in the two counties Canal company officials say the project will meet the needs of residential water users and also will generate fees that will be used to pay for repairs of the deteriorating canal In March the canal company asked the state for a loan of $33 million toward the $387 million project to supply secondary water to 13500 residences in Davis and v Weber counties said company manager Floyd Baham The State Water Resources Board in August authorized its share of the funding The canal company will contribute the remaining $57 million said Steve Wilde chief investigator for the State Division of Water Resources Baham said the canal company will pay back the state loan which carries a 5 percent interest rate by charging users an average of $275 for hookups and $200 a year for water use Cities to be served by the project would be Layton KayWHle' See CANAL on 2C |