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Show ' Richins represents tri-city interests on county commission In the past, this newspaper has taken a definite position against endorsing political candidates for local offices. We have attempted, rather, to present each candidate's can-didate's credentials and then let the voters make up their own mind. The issue is one hotly debated among community newspapers, but seldom resolved. This year, however, north Utah County is facing a serious threat to its regional representation on the Utah County Commission, as Keith Richan and O'Niel Miner face each other in the Aug. 21 Republican primary. It is traditional in these County Commission races that the candidate from either the north or south part of the county point to a.."gentleman's agreement" that all areas in-Utah" County have representation -on.the commission. This is a tradition they claim makes certain that Pleasant Grove and Payson are as well represented on the board as are the residents of the more populace centrally-located communities of Provo and Orem. Candidates from the Provo-Orem area, however, pooh-pooh this gentlemen's agreement and claim that personal qualifications, not where one's home is built, should be the determining factor in the election. For some time, the region view has been successful in keeping representatives from north, central and south Utah County on the commission. Recently, however, as Orem and Provo have swelled, the trend has been towards more centralized representation. And since the bulk of Utah County voters live in that central portion, the trend will be more true this year than it has, perhaps, in past elections. , We think it is essential that Commissioner Richan maintain his seat in the County Commission office in order to maintain a balance between the needs of north Utah County and other areas in the county. Duf needs- -are different, and our commission should reflect that difference. Local voters should unite behind Keith Richan on Aug. 21 to preserve the voice they have had in the county building in years past. . A united effort is the only way to stave off the trend to centralize our county government with Provo-Orem based representation. Local voters owe it to themselves to maintain the traditional balance that has given north Utah County a voice in the affairs of county government. |