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Show Self-serving politics not tolerated at Republican convention By E. MARK BEZZANT . The overriding issue of the recent Utah County Republican Convention was not taxes, spending, liberalism or conservatism. The overriding issue was whether or not Republicans would become complacent com-placent and fail the test of success. The answer was very clear. Republicans in this county will not tolerate any nonesense, or at least not for very long. Just prior to the election, Deseret News reporter Kris Radish had referred to conditions in the commission com-mission office. People were slamming doors, refusing to speak to each other, and in general not working for the benefit of the county, but seemed more interested in keeping the fat salaries that had been recently voted in. That reporter was soundly chewed out and called on the carpet. Later she was blamed for the outcome of the election. What nonsense! The facts are, that Republican delegates had had enough of the brand of government some of these people were implimenting. When they saw many of their n eighbors taking salary cuts and being layed off they had little compassion for commissioners who voted themselves them-selves a fat increase. When they are having a tough time putting meals on the table they had little sympathy for county officials of-ficials who spent $1300 for super at Sundance one night. You might have noticed that right after the convention the commission finally acted on the emissions control, the Traverse Ridge Zoning issue, and several other issues they have been postponing. Convention delegates had heard there was no money in the budget, but saw commissioners hire expensive ex-pensive administrative assistants. The most recent one was bid away from Howard Nielsen's congressional office and given a substantial pay raise. The list could go on and on and does. One candidate justified the big pay raise saying that the commissioners com-missioners were making about $15,000 and had a pay increase almost every year since raising their salary to the current $45,000. Commissioners were spending so much time before the TV cameras I asked one commissioner if they had not ought to purchase the old Osmond Studios with make up rooms, etc. What commissioners don't want to talk about is that from the moment they 1 eave home they are patd 24 cents a mile until they get b ack home. I ask you how many of your friends and neighbors would like to be paid to commute back and forth to work? Delegates got tired of the double talk, and sent a clear message to incumbents. The message as I see it was that "We will not tolerate the brand of government we have been . seeing and reading about! " Now it will be your opportunity to sort out the issues, and select the people who represent honest straightforward government. In many of the races you will not have the opportunity to even hear people -kwhowereUnunated Aoift-the Aoift-the ballot. Most of these; folks Averer-newcomers Averer-newcomers to politics. One in-cumbant in-cumbant lamented that all of the competition for county offices was not good. This office holder suggested that such competition divided the party. From my view , these political novices deserve a tribute. They have and are raising issues that need to be raised. The one issue that was never raised publicly is the fact that your tax bill from the county could tie. 10 percent too high. You see the -' commission used . to collect 96 percent of the taxes that were assessed. That percent has been steadily falling is now closer to 86 percent. That means a lot more folks are not paying their taxes and you are making up the difference. That ought to make you mad , enough to get involved in this year's local, county races. A word of caution. Look at the record, not the slick brochures with fancy words and pretty photos. This county needs more work horses than show horses, ' and speaking of horses, have a great time at Strawberry Days! |
