Crime, economic development and solid waste disposal top the list of issues facing the seven candidates seeking two Weber County Commission seats.
County Commission Seat A- Bruce Anderson, 30, 4485 W. 4350 South, West Haven, is president and general manager of Trace Minerals Research. The Republican candidate for the commission has run for both West Haven City Council and U.S. House of Representatives.
Public safety is one of Anderson's major concerns.
"We need to maintain the rights of law-abiding citizens," Anderson says.
He says he would like to focus on prevention, not only of crime but in fire and medical assistance areas. He feels that appropriate punishment, particularly for youth offenders, would deter crime. Shortening response times in emergency calls is another of Anderson's goals.
Anderson believes Weber County needs to take a look at its limited resources, including money, before consenting to indiscriminate growth. He feels the public needs to decide what development should take place.
"Not the government, but the public knows best," Anderson commented.
He feels that any project that commits the county to long-term debt, like the controversial Convention Center, needs to be voted on by the people.
Weber County must define its landfill needs and then examine all possibilities, including a new landfill within Weber County or a regional landfill in Box Elder County, he said.
He added he is strongly opposed to borrowing money from the county's landfill closure fund to go toward the Convention Center.
"The county has to define its needs vs. its wants," Anderson says.
- Ken Bischoff, 55, 1376 Lark Circle, Ogden, says he is a Republican write-in candidate. Bischoff is an insurance agent for Guardian of New York and has owned his own business for 29 years.
Bischoff feels that public safety and law enforcement should be top priorities for county government. Along with providing sufficient law enforcement funds and encouraging programs aimed at curbing gang activity, Bischoff says he will make sure extra security is provided at public events, ensuring an atmosphere that allows citizens of Weber County to feel safe.
Bischoff sees the Downtown Conference and Performing Arts Center " . . . as a cornerstone of the Weber County business establishment."The role of the county in economic development, Bischoff says, is to keep existing businesses strong along with working toward attracting smaller, higher-paying new businesses. He would put an emphasis on maintaining public parks and facilities.
- Charles "Chuck" Eddy, 65, 2502 S. 3500 West, Ogden, is an unaffiliated candidate. He was mayor of Clearfield from 1966 through 1969 and is retired from Hill Air Force Base.
Eddy, who is campaigning with unaffiliated candidate for County Commission Seat B, Steven L. Boyd, wants to see government back in the hands of the people. Issues need to be considered in open debate or put on the ballot.
A unique aspect in the Eddy/Boyd campaign is their refusal to accept financial contributions. This, Eddy says, frees them from any obligation to support any special-interest groups.
He says as commissioner he'd like to see the commission reorganized, essentially with more commissioners, each representing a specific district.
Eddy would like to see "a 4-H sort of thing" in the city to help direct young people away from crime. He feels such programs, particularly in the arts, can do a lot to keep kids out of trouble. He also feels that publishing names of juvenile offenders and punishing them as adults would deter crime.
People need to control economic development in their own areas, Eddy says. He feels growth needs to be controlled and wants to see the 1 percent of Weber County that is farmland stay that way.
An agreement between Weber, Box Elder and Davis counties, which would unite them in a regional landfill, looks like the way to go in solid-waste disposal, Eddy says.
- Randall Williford, 42, 4150 Edgehill Drive, Ogden, is the incumbent Democrat. He has served one term in the commission and served for seven years as deputy Weber County surveyor.
Williford says statistics show crime in Weber County is steadily increasing, as it is elsewhere. As commissioner, he is committed to assuring the sheriff's department has the funds to handle needed programs.
The overcrowded jail is another issue that must be faced, Williford says. Whether the old facility can be expanded or a new one must be built, the commission must plan for funds to be available for the project.
Williford feels the emphasis on economic development in Weber County should be on making a better business climate for existing businesses. That done, not only will existing businesses flourish, but new businesses will automatically be attracted.
"There needs to be less focus on chasing down new businesses," Williford commented.
Williford added that, because it involves use of taxpayers' money, the Conference and Performing Arts Center in Ogden needs to be put to a public vote.
Because Weber County's landfill must be closed by October 1996, finding an alternative is an immediate problem. Williford believes the best way to go is to build a transfer station in the county and send solid waste out of the county, either to East Carbon or possibly to a regional landfill in Box Elder County.
He added Weber County has been putting aside funds to close the old landfill and build needed facilities without raising taxes. Some of that money, however, was moved by the commission as an "interfund loan" to make funds available for the Conference Center.
County Commission Seat B
- Steven L. Boyd, 47, 2770 S. 4550 West, Ogden, is running as an unaffiliated candidate.
Boyd says running his own credit-reporting business is good preparation for the commission.
Along with Charles "Chuck" Eddy, unaffiliated candidate for Commission Seat A, Boyd has visited several local commission meetings and talked with commissioners as preparation for holding office.
As commissioner, Boyd says, he would fight crime by making sure the sheriff's department has sufficient funds to enforce the law. He also would lobby state and federal governments to enact laws to make prison time hard time, which he feels would deter offenders.
"We need to keep these bums off the street," Boyd said.
Boyd would like to see Weber County maintain a balance between rural and city lifestyles, with residents deciding what happens in their areas. Rural areas such as Ogden Valley need to be protected from overdevelopment.
Boyd has met with Box Elder and Davis county officials and groups in order to unite the three counties and their mayors in solid waste disposal. He feels waste should not be shipped to East Carbon and the three counties need to develop a regional landfill as an alternative.
- Glenn Donnelson, 56, 874 E. 2100 North, North Ogden, is the Republican candidate for Weber County Commission Seat B. A physical facilities manager for Deseret Industries, Donnelson says the people have to know the facts and if they do they will make the right choices in government.
"I believe in the will of the people over the power-brokers." Donnelson believes crime is a primary concern. Along with seeing that the sheriff's department has the money to enforce the law, Donnelson would encourage neighborhood organizations to deter crime. He would like to see punishments fit crimes.
Careful planning and funding for economic development in Weber County is crucial, according to Donnelson. He would like to see less in frills and more in providing the basics, like attracting businesses to downtown Ogden. He says issues such as the controversial Conference Center need to be put to public vote.
Donnelson says Weber County should explore other options besides an East Carbon landfill for solid waste disposal.
"A Joint venture between counties would be great," Donnelson says.
- Joe H. Ritchie, 57, 5969 S. 3850 West, Roy, is the Democratic candidate for Weber Commission Seat B.
A 28-year veteran of law enforcement, Ritchie was Ogden police chief for 15 years and is a former director of the Utah Chiefs of Police and now owns his own consulting business.
Helping the sheriff's department fight crime by providing sufficient funds is a priority for Ritchie. He feels the mutual respect between him and sheriff's candidates would expedite law enforcement issues.
Ritchie feels it is important not to raise taxes to promote economic development.
"We need to get citizens involved in how to spend tax dollars," he said.
Don't plan too many things that can't be funded or can't support themselves, Ritchie added. He would like to see the Weber County Fairgrounds made more attractive to "paying groups." He feels the facility is the finest In Utah, but because of poor promotion, is not being used to its full potential.
Ritchie says he supports the least expensive and environmentally best plan for solid waste disposal, whatever that may be, and says he needs to investigate alternatives more carefully.