Boosting citizen morale is one of the top issues mentioned by two candidates for mayor, and candidates for two City Council positions say Ute tribal jurisdiction is a major issue facing the community.
Mayor
Ellen Rawlings and Leonard Ferguson are campaigning for the position soon to be left by eight-year Mayor Lawrence Yack. Both said they want to boost Roosevelt, beginning with citizen morale.
"I'd like to beautify the community," said Ellen Rawlings. "We need to get people more positive and more united. Everyone's interested in bringing industry to Roosevelt."
Rawlings hopes to encourage voluntarism and pride in the community. "I've been satisfied with the council," she said. "But I think we need to be a little more proud of Roosevelt."
As a councilwoman for eight years, Rawlings, 72, co-owner of The Attic clothing store, was once the only woman on the council. If elected this year she would be the first woman Roosevelt mayor. She received Utah's Total Citizen Award in 1978 and has served on numerous boards such as the school board and has been involved in the Red Cross, airport expansion, new city pool and the building of Union High School.
Leonard Ferguson said he is independent from special interest groups. Currently a Roosevelt councilman, he favors "expansion of the business base to encourage shopping at home, which would increase city revenue."
Ferguson is presently serving on the Uintah Basin Task force. "I am concerned about drug abuse and in helping to stop drug use and trafficking."
As a Utah Highway Patrol officer, he was able to see the problems of the Basin that need to be solved. Now retired, he puts his energy into city issues and projects including the Hayden Well, city pool, park improvements and new library.
City Council
Five people are vying for two City Council positions, and they say tribal jurisdiction is one of the major issues they will face.
Roosevelt, with a population of approximately 5,000, is the largest town on the Ute and Ouray Indian Reservation. The tribe in itself is a separate entity from Roosevelt's U.S. government system. But legal judgments from either often overlap.
Council members will continue to face problems of cross-deputization, tax uncertainty and tribe relations.
"The question is, according to the law, what can they do and what can't they do," said four-year incumbent Bill Hall. "We need to know."
Roosevelt officials have concerns about cross-deputization - which allows city officers and tribe officers to make arrests regardless of a person's race. The document was signed by tribal leaders last year, but newly elected members of the tribe's business committee do not recognize cross-deputization.
For years citizens have wondered if the tribe has the right to tax income and property of non-members on the reservation. "It's not possible to improve our economy until these problems are solved," said Hall.
Hall, 47, is employed at an IGA Supermarket.
The other incumbent, Darrell O. Mecham, is seeking to keep the seat he took after it was left vacant by Garth Sorenson.
"We all ought to be equal under the same laws and under the same court system," said Mecham. He feels that Roosevelt has suffered because tribe members do not pay sales taxes in town.
Tribe issues have overlapped economic issues, which Mecham also wants to address. "It's the council's responsibility to give incentives to bring businesses to this area," said the Napa Auto Parts manager. "We need to actively solicit business."
John B. Gale wants to work with the state Legislature to bring industry to the Basin. He encouraged Roosevelt citizens to work toward a better economy and hopes the chamber and council can work together.
Gale said one of the major issues involves the tribe. "We need to work with the tribe to guarantee that CUP (Central Utah Project) promises made to them will be kept."
At 63, Gale has had experience as a chamber president, 24 years as a justice of the peace, six months as a tribal judge and 12 years as the chairman of the county Democratic Party. He now owns Gale's Office Supply and Gale's Insurance.
Beverly Hansen said the residents of Roosevelt should be able to say where tax dollars go. "The City Council has an obligation to the taxpayers to keep them informed of council business and problems facing them."
Hansen, 45, co-owner of Bev & Millie's Indian Curios, feels that economic conditions must improve. "I would work to attract events to the community such as tournaments and conventions and utilize the facilities we have."
She also believes the city should show more support to the children and young adults of Roosevelt and is concerned for senior citizens. "I believe the city should provide more services for these people such as creating jobs and involving them more in public affairs," she said.
Kim W. Olsen said city and tribal relations need to be improved. "I can't see why we can't come to some working agreement. If we can get through the problems we'll make a pretty good team."
Olsen, owner of Noah's Ark Pet Store, feels that past campaign promises to improve the economy have not been met and the business competition is needed. "I don't know if I can make a difference, but I promise to try," he said.
He suggested encouraging petroleum and chemical companies to come into the area and to utilize the USU center and Uintah Basin Area Vocational Center.