A longtime believer in public service, Mark Griffin took the big step into politics this year in a pitch to hold others in public service more accountable to the public.
"I've always been active in voting, talking to candidates and watching the process, but I guess what motivated me to run is the belief that I can make a difference," Griffin said.That and a belief that Neal Gunnarson, his own party's incumbent candidate for Salt Lake County district attorney, dropped the ball on the so-called "Giftgate" scandal.
According to Griffin, the district attorney had a duty to prosecute Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini for soliciting and accepting money from personal friends and others who do business with the city.
His assertion played well enough at the GOP convention to force a runoff election. The winner will face former Salt Lake County attorney David Yocom in the November election.
Though new to politics, Griffin, 42, has been involved in government for much of his professional career. A graduate of BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School, he has served for the past five years as director of the Utah Division of Securities. Before that, he held the same watchdog role in Ne-va-da.
Griffin said prosecuting complex white-collar crime and managing a statewide regulatory agency has prepared him for the district attorney's job, which come January will once again include county civil functions.
If Griffin has his way, the two offices will eventually be separated again. "It was not a flawed concept; it was personalities that caused all the problems," he said, adding, "I believe I can do better than the two current legal officers."
During his tenure in government, Griffin has testified seven times before congressional committees and has conducted two White House briefings on consumer rights issues. He has also been active in the North American Securities Administrators Association, the Wayne Brown Institute (which assists small businesses with start-up capital) and the Investor Protection Trust.
And while most of his background is in white-collar crime, Griffin is tackling the street crime issue in his campaign. Serious crime has been going up in Salt Lake County, which suggests that the current approaches are not working, he said.
Griffin said he would approach crime with a "blueprint" that focuses on prevention and enforcement. In his campaign literature, debates and interviews, Griffin also promises a new emphasis on government corruption.
"I will not shy away from prosecutions because a politician might be involved," he says in a campaign brochure. "One law, one standard of enforcement."
Griffin believes public concern about government corruption is growing, partly because of Giftgate but also because of all the tax money being poured into huge construction projects. The district attorney must address those concerns through the powers of the office and by personal example, he said.
"During my term, I will not accept any special favors from anyone. I'll buy my own Jazz tickets. It's important that public confidence in elected officials be restored. It's an easy thing to do," Griffin said.
Running for the office, however, is not so easy, he said.
"I enjoy walking the neighborhoods and meeting people, but politics is a hard game. It's been a very difficult thing for me to do. But I'm learning as a I go along," Griffin said. And no regrets, he adds.
"I believe that if you feel strongly about something, it's your duty to get involved. We're turning too much into an armchair society. I live in this community; my children are growing up in this community, and I care what happens here."
Griffin and his wife, Stephanie, are the parents of three children, ages 6 to 14.