Salt Lake County Commissioner Mark Shurtleff has decided to run for Utah attorney general in the year 2000.
Shurtleff, whose term as commissioner ends at the same time Attorney General Jan Graham's does, on Dec. 31, 2000, considered challenging Congressman Merrill Cook, R-Utah -- something that Cook was upset about, sparking an argument in a Salt Lake restaurant that got some publicity -- but ultimately decided against it to be able to spend more time with his young family.Shurtleff worked in the attorney general's office for five years in corrections and public safety and has long had a keen interest in criminal justice matters. As chairman of the county's Criminal Justice Advisory Council, he has been working on a crime-reduction program in Salt Lake County.
"If I run for attorney general I can continue that not only for Salt Lake County but for the entire state,"' he said.
Graham may run for re-election in 2000, or she may challenge Gov. Mike Leavitt. Her chief deputy, Reed Richards, would likely run for attorney general if Graham does not.
While Shurtleff said he would be more cooperative with the governor than Graham has been (her relationship has been prickly with Gov. Mike Leavitt), he supports a court decision on the Legislature's pruning Graham's powers this year.