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Show AILY ‘easy mark’for con men. We continue to improve ourability ° to do these complex investigations and will continue to do so in the future.” “... over the past several years | have seenthe office's reputation and effectiveness in fighting crime steadily decline. | have watched as the office's relationships with ourpolice officers severely deteriorated.” Kay Bryson, ‘Jeff Buhman, “No longer does Utah County have a reputation as an incumbent A: Yes.This was relatively small office whenI first cameinto the countyattorney's Continued from Al office as a deputy. All components of the criminal justice system in Utah County, in- Bryson was first elected Utah County at- torney in 1990. Before that he was a deputy attorney in the office as well as a justice court judge for Payson and Utah County. Buhman has worked as a private and public attorney andcurrently is a major in the ArmyNational Guard. Larsonis a formersheriff's deputy, police officer and small claims judge who joined the county attorney's office in 1994. KAY BRYSON Orem www.electkaybryson.com Why are you seekingre-election? sked why anyone It's the county attorney. difficult job. The adagethat “you can't please everyone”is true about this position in the extreme. But on most days | enjoy the work I do and I derive a great deal of personal satisfaction andfulfillment knowing I'm partof an effort that makes the community inwhichI live a better and safer place to live andraise a family. eet te i law enforcement officer in3the county,f he should cases. He should “tg in the courts, working cases on a routine regular basis.” Curtis Larson, challenger challenger Attorney onesfiled for the race, whoever wins the nominationwill be the only name on November's general election ballot. Sunday, April 23, 2006 HERALD cluding the county attorney's office, have grownsignificantly. The caseload has grown in numbers. We prosecute many moreseri- ous and‘complex crimesthan wedid 16 years 0. The amountoflegal representation provided to the county governmenthas increased significantly. Budget, budgetissues and budget managementaresignificantly more complicated. Personnelissuesin the office and the county require more of the county attorney's time. The demands ofthisposition have changed ii n many more ways. Q: Youface two opponents in this race who say that a lot needs to changeintheoffice. How doyou respondto theircriticisms? A: Every person runningfor public office against an incumbentcalls for change. My two opponents areno different. The changes Ihave heard them speak about — plea bargains for instance — areall things they could implement for themselves in the way they handle their own assigned cases. But they haven't done so. How canthe public havefaith in a candidate who promises to do onethingif elected, but is not willing to do that same thing before? Mr. Buhman,for example, speaks of tougher prosecution for child abusers, yet he himself has asked his su- now seem too common.I don't think a month has passed in the past few years whenI wasn't prosecuting at least one type of homicide case. For a while we had some gang problems — but for a numberof years those problems subsided. We are now hearing more about gangsand othercriminal organizations — the drug pipeline — operating within our county. We cannot be mediocre or bureaucratic. We must do moreto fight these crimes. Q;Is it difficult working in an office while seins compas Naas Onn nel 6 Sen} office? A: I havespecifically asked attorneys and staff in the office ... to not publicly endorse me.| believeit is unprofessional to ask employees who mayhave promotions or assignmentson the line to takea sidein political race involving the person who has the power to change assignments andcontrol their promotions. However, every county attorney and every staff memberhas been as friendly and supportive as always, and many are helping me in my campaign. The current administration has claimed that my desire to restore the office’s reputation andeffectivenessis a criticism of the current employees. This claim is wholly false. Any organization staffed by talented people — if it lacks effective leadership — will not reachits potential. Q: Are the endorsements you've about that, andbasically said,‘I don't want to do it, I don’t need to do it. They get their training elsewhere.’ It’s the wrong attitude for the county attorney to have. I think we need to be proactivein going to the police and being involved in their staff meetings, their detective meetings, providing counsel and feedback. Weneed to have formalized training also. Q: Has Utah County's growth had an impact on the county attorney's office? A: The growththat we havein the county right now brings with it an associated rise in criminal activity. I wish I could say that every person who moves into Utah County: is a good law abiding citizen, and I very confidently suspect that 99 percentof themare, but that 1 percent can cause such an increasé in our criminal statistics that it's important that webe properly prepared. Wereceive morecase reports, a greater caseload. You also have... The state Legislature passing new lawsthat arefelonylevel offenses and also taking misdemeanorlevel offenses and faa them up tofelony offenses. Just by that, you havesort of a doubledig into the criminal area, which causes concern for prosecution and law enforcement.Either we hire in new attorneys or we seek ways to work the cases that may not havethe highest priority so that the ones that do havethe higher priority do get the properattention. Q: Prioritizing can mean plea deals, something Buhman has said the office does too leniently. Do you agree? proving influential with delegates? A: [hope so,butI can’t speak for the delegates. Manyof them have mentioned to me county attorney'soffice, and how should they [EDITOR'S NOTE: Buhmansaid he's indiA: | agree with that. I think we could be cated a preference for not taking those cases, that they wantto verify if the many reports be addressed? morejudicious. We need to use our discretion of problems with and within the office are A: Thesingle issue impacting Utah County but that he’s willing to do so and has doneso. a little bit better in the cases that we negotitrue. Whatthe endorsementsofferis the the most are problems that come with He also noted that theoffice has attorneys names of people they can call to discover the ate anduse our better judgment. I don't like growth. All departments of Utah County gov- specifically assigned to those cases.] ernment, from the assessorto the recorder to truth. My endorsement from the ProvoPolice having plea negotiations occur just simply They both speakof fewer plea bargains, because an attorney wants to use them as a the county attorney, are searching for ways Officer's Associationis an obvious indicator and yet both usethattool in handling their that the policeofficers see'the problems and owncases. They say they will have a policy way to managehis caseload.I think that’s a to meet the demands of an ever-growing concern. county population. For the county attorney's onplea bargains. Wedohave policy. It’s de- believe I can fix them. Q: Is it a challenge runningforan office in office, an increasing population means more tailed, but strikes a balance betweenallowing Q: You andanothercandidate,Curtis Larson, ani for re- rice your opponent is the head of that ofcriminal cases to prosecute. It means a grow- prosecutorsthe discretion they need to man- havevoiced similar forms. How doyoudistinguish your candidacy? age their cases and making certain cases are ? ing workforcein county governmentthat A: Since this is my secondtime around,I require legal representation and advice. I've A: Oneis, my leadership experience.In the prosecuted appropriately. Mr. Buhman says haven't sensed anyof the pressure and conguided this office successfully through 16 office, I was headof the drug unit as long as he'll take morecasesto trial. Taking a.case years of explosive growthbyhiring good, it Was in existence. Second,I've been a comcern,the difficulty that occurred four years to trial just for the sake of being able to say’ you've donesois a waste of public resources manderin the national guard for many years ago. I think that’s because whatstarted four experienced,dedicated people who doa difyears ago toward me from Mr. Bryson has ficult job well. of a unit larger than the county attorney's if an appropriatelevel of accountability can pretty muchcarried on. The relationship beMorespecific issues of concern facing the office. Another thing I wouldsay, I have the be achieved with a plea agreement. county attorney's office are how to effectivetween Mr.Bryson and me is tenuous atbest, One has to wonder — if they haveplans for support ofthe policeofficers. The rank and ly deal with drugs,child abuse and financial changes that would maketheoffice function file police officers support me. I have experi- it has been forthe last four years. This parcrimes. ticular time there's not much change... Jeff better, why haven't they madethose sugges- ence not only as a prosecutor,but as a.civil andI have an excellent working relationship. I'm a memberofthe board of directors of litigator, contracts and criminal defense. tions already? But they haven't. They say the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force There's no animosity,there's noill will. If, by they will make change, but I haven't heard and as suchhelp direct that agency's effort chance, Jeff was elected I wouldn't feel bad onesubstantive suggestion. CURTIS LARSON working for Jeff. 1 don’t have any plans on to identify and arrest drug dealers. As the county attorney,I then prosecute those same JEFF BUHMAN leaving the office, no matter what happens. American Fork SS ee people andhold them accountablefortheir www.curtislarson.net From what I can see,there's not much crimes. Orem : Why did you decideto run forthis po- discussion ofpolitics going onin the office Weare addressing the drug problem with sition again? www.jeffbuhman.com generally. I don't believe that’sreally affectdrug court. Drug users who meet our cri: Whyare you seeking election to this A: Four years ago, when I ran,I ing the office itself. I think the workis being teria and are accepted into drug court are done at the same level. office? push@d Bryson out of the convention and required to plead guilty to the crimes they A: love being a prosecutorfor this into a primary election, and 36 percent of the Q: Buhman has emphasized his endorse-commitbut the pleais held in abeyance and courty and I enjoy working with the wonder- voting Republican Party ... voted for change. ments, including some former deputy county they're placed on court probation. As part of ful attorneys andstaffin the countyattorFouryears ago, over one-third of the Repub- attorneys who have also endorsed your camthat probation they must report to the court ney’soffice. But over the past several years lican Party thought we n some new regularly and deal directly with a judge who leadership in theoffice. I had anticipated that The former deputy county I haveseen the office’s reputation andefhas the powerto send them iinesiately to fectivenessin fighting crimesteadily decline. with a 36 percent negative vote that there feyrenunay sauue That obatttre: jail. They are drugtested frequently. They're I have watched as theoffice's relationships would be someevaluation take place with the ally comes downto, since they're supporting required to receive counseling and treatment with our police officers severely deteriorated. incumbent — Whatam Idoing wrong that nen us...st aetcaty really like change. for their addiction as the court requires. I have seen an alarming exodusoftalented one-third of the people want me out? What are not coming out with an prosecutors — 10 in the pastfive to six years. am I not doing that they would like to see me They're required to havejobs and acquire endorsement for one candidate or the other. an appropriate education,if that’s needed. I have experienced the lack of direction and doing? ... Over the past four years there has Q:Since there are two challengers to the inManysucceed and overcometheir addiction. leadership in the office. As a deputy county been no change whatsoever.If I'd seen some Se are Ton Worried soak <etiing any attorneyI lack the authority to make the ... We're presently expandingour drug court changeI probably would not have thrown and will continueto do so in the future. changesto restore the office's reputa- myhatin the ring again. we om way te the voting takes place at tion, rebuild relationships with the police and The issues that are being presented now We address the drug problem with educathe convention lessens that a great deal. We tion before it becomes a problem ... For’10 provide the hands-on managementso badly existed four years ago. have multiple ballots. The first ballot that’s needed in the office. The only way we can Q: What are some of those issues? years we've conducted a drug awareness cast, all of the delegates vote for one candire-establish the office as a leaderin the fight panelpresentation with probationers and paA: Weseem to havea self-servantoffice date of the three. They then tally those votes. rolees in Utah County schools. It has expand- against crime is with a new county attorney. instead ofa public servantoffice. We need to If neither of the three candidates obtains the bring the office back into the public sector, ed every year and will continue to expandif Q: Whatare the currentissues facing the 60 percent, then the one who receives the I'm the county attorney. Health teacherstell county attorney's office, and how do you think and makeit a public service organization. least amount ofvotes is takenoff the ballot. me the program provides insight for students ‘they should be addressed? That's whyI speak of becoming moreinThen they havea second vote with the two they can’t acquire with regular classroom A: The most significant issue facing the volved in community issues. Right now . the top tosee if either one of them can get 60 work. We will reach approximately 5,000 stu- officeis influx of heroin and methamphetpercent. only thing that the county attorney's office dents this year with our program. amineinto the county. While estimates vary, does, really, is the drug presentation at the juWhoever’svoting for me is not going We're addressing issues related to child somewhere between 50 percent to 90 percent nior highs. I think we shouldbe doing more. to vote forBryson, [and Buhman voters abuse with prosecutors specifically assigned of othercrimeis directly related to drugs; Weshould be involved in crime prevention, wouldn't either]. I don’t necessarily believe to do that type of case. Those prosecutors in other words, most forgeries, burglaries, working withlocal law enforcement agenthat we're going to water down the vote to receive ongoing specialized trainingin the thefts andidentity frauds — as well as many cies, with seniof citizens. Our seniors are rethe point where Bryson is going to win. In investigation and prosecution of sex crimes other crimes — aredirectly related to drugs. ally taking a hit with fraud and ID theft and fact, in talking to delegates from north to against children. Weparticipate in the Utah Ourcounty also averages about one overdose thingsof that nature. We have a wonderful south, I will tell you that thereis very little County Sex Crimes Task Force, the Utah death a week. The county attorney's office investigation division that focuses on white support for the incumbent.I will be surprised County Children’s Justice Center and the must do two things immediately: (1) we must collar crime. Why couldn'tcrepe together if Bryson picks up 25 percent. Ido believe Division of Child and Family Services ina ‘ drastically curtail lenient plea bargaining an hour-and-a-half or two hour presentation that if nobody gets 60 percent, a is . multidisciplinary approach. That cooperative with drug dealers; and (2) we must re-engage on how to be safe and take that around to all going to be between Jeff and I. yotes are effort will continue and wewill do whatever the office with the Utah County Major Crimes the seniorcitizens groups? Eeee: it takes to protect our en. Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional agency Weshouldn't limit ourselves to just a drug Q you and Buhman are running I have established an investigations divicharged withinvestigating and curtailing the panel. We should be assisting the local law on similar reform platforms, how can people ‘ sion in the Utah County Attorney's Office to flow of drugsinto Utah County. enforcement agencies ‘andthy the schools in distinguish deal moreeffectively with financial crimes Anothersignificant issue is the continued broadening thatinto more of a crime prevenA: You take my experience in law enforcethan is possible when each police department loss of talented attorneys from the office. tion. We need to protect our children from ment, add that to 11.5 yearsin the county atinvestigates them individually. Since I've The countyattorney’s office cannot properly online predators. And there are programs out torney’s office as an advocate, and sitting as beenthe county attorney,the division has mentor junior attorneys, effectively prosthere al things that people are doing, but aiewhere you have to have a completely grownfrom one investigator to five. We are ecute ited cases and maintain any weneed to lend our support tothat. . ferent perspective — you takethose three the best in the state at what we do and we're type of reputation in the legal community if Since the county attorney is the chief law triang] making a difference. No longer does Utah ‘we cannot'keep our experienced attorneys. enforcement officer in the county, he should County havea reputation as an “easy mark” years ago,there was only Q: Has growth in the county changed the be prosecuting cases. He should be in the for con men. Wecontinue to improveour nce tescounty attorney'soffice?If so, ae working cases on a routine regular had the courageto stand up for the people of any to do these complex investigations and Utah County and say, “We need .” If will continue to do so in the future. aewhen I began in the office it seemed Weneed to have our county attorney's you want someone with the ge to stand Q: Have the demands on the county attorlike the most serious crimes, such as muroffice ... That is providing training to law up when it could be very, very I'm ders, were quite rare. Unfortunately, they ney's office changed during your tenure? enforcement officers. Bryson was asked the man. Q: What are the current issues facing the rvisor not to be assigned to do those cases. |