On June 21, by secret ballot, a county committee recommended that the downtown maximum jail facility be moved to Murray. I do not support the Murray site. The present jail location is the only logical site for the construction of the new jail.

If we are serious about crime, we cannot afford to continue allowing convicts to be released out of the back door of the jail on a daily basis because of overcrowding, while county officials pursue a "field of dreams." The only construction site available immediately is the site where the jail is currently located.It is probable that, if the county continues to pursue its current course, it will face several lawsuits in order to clear the way for actual construction of the jail to begin. The fight for community support alone could delay the start of construction on the jail for years. Salt Lake County doesn't have the luxury of waiting to build a new jail.

Neal Gunnarson

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Republican candidate for district attorney

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