It is important that we all vote this election. Think carefully about who you will vote for. Many residents have felt let down by their local leaders over the past several years of controversy. Consider which candidate will have our best interests at heart and will represent us as we need and deserve, versus who may have their own agenda to benefit themselves and their own circle of associates, whoever that may be.

For Richfield-area residents, instead of voting at SVC this year, voting will take place at the Sevier County Fairgrounds, located at 410 East 200 South, in Richfield. ID is required to vote. Visit
http://elections.utah.gov for more information, including the location of your local polls.

The ballot will contain the following races:

- US Senate (Vote for One)

BRIDGEWATER, TIM REPUBLICAN
LEE, MIKE REPUBLICAN

- Commissioner A (Vote for One)

MASON, GARY REPUBLICAN
STRAW, SARA REPUBLICAN

- Commissioner B (Vote for One)

OGDEN, GARTH “TOOTER” REPUBLICAN
POULSON, KIMBALL D REPUBLICAN

- Sheriff (Vote for One)

CURTIS, NATHAN J. REPUBLICAN
RIPPSTEIN, G. KIRT REPUBLICAN

We at Ideal Living have talked with dozens of people about this election. According to the many people we have spoken with, the races size up as follows:

- Bridgewater, a businessman, appears to lead locally over Lee, a lawyer.

- In the Commissioner A race, Gary Mason says that the job of commissioner is a full-time job that often takes more than forty hours per week to complete even the basic duties, given the need for
frequent overnight travel to Salt Lake for various meetings and training. Further, he says that he has found the position to be more difficult than it may appear. That said, he is running on his record and experience.

Sara Straw, a retired grandmother who has been involved in local issues for many years, will seek to correct the lack of honest leadership we have had in the past. For an example, she cites the
on-going controversy of the proposed coal-fired power plant which she opposes alongside most local residents, particularly women. For example, since Proposition 1 passed easily years ago, it effectively prevents the construction of any coal power plants in the county; yet NEVCO remains defiant and eager to build one — with some local governmental support. She says she is a careful researcher who will devote herself to serving us in the position full-time.

- Garth “Tooter” Ogden is also semi-retired, and he has commited to serve full time for the local citizens as county commissioner in the Commissioner B race. Ogden is a hard worker, and has successful experience as a respected businessman — having owned, managed, and manufactured food products for the Ideal Dairy for many years. He also has decades of agricultural experience, with his own dairy cattle, alfalfa farming, and so forth. Further, he has many years of community service, as well as serving as captain (and other positions) in the Richfield Fire Department and for many other organizations, including handling statewide legislative issues for farming groups. He wouldn’t say this himself, yet Tooter is widely liked and respected throughout the area, and is often seen as an informal leader on local issues. Ogden wants to have more dialogue with local citizens about our concerns and priorities for local issues. He is concerned about economic growth, and says we should support local businesses first and foremost, and then seek outside investment. In his campaign, Tooter has said that he wants to be a voice for the people, and has made himself available to talk with local folks about their concerns throughout the campaign, widely publicizing his cell phone number, 979-6310.

Kimball Poulson is said to be “acquisitons director” for Jorgensens, and currently has a part-time job with Richfield City, and is a college student in Provo. He said, “I don’t feel like it’s necessary that I have to quit a job or do anything else” to serve as county commissioner, saying to some that he did not feel it was a full-time position, while reportedly saying to others that it would appear as though he was serving full-time. He has said the county commissioner job boils downs to handling financial matters, which he is eager to do. He said that in terms of economic development, he first and foremost would move the NEVCO power plant proposals forward.

- The sheriff’s race appears to be close and, while the candidates have run a civil race, in the minds of people we have spoken to the race appears to focus on contentious issues regarding the former sheriff’s election — after which the sheriff demoted or fired those who opposed him. Law suits were filed on behalf of the harmed employees, and eventually a modest settlement was agreed to. Both
Nate Curtis and Kirt Rippstein believe that greater communication with the public and within the sheriff’s office would be beneficial for everyone. Rippstein has spoken of his years of administrative
experience, and Curtis has cited his public communication responsibilities in the department. You can learn more about their specific positions at www.nathancurtisforsheriff.com and
www.rippsteinforsheriff.com.

You may view Kirt Rippstein’s new commercial online here:

Sevier County Commission candidate Tooter Ogden is offering three TV commercials, to help you learn more about him and how he wants to serve you.

Tooter Ogden: Working Hard for You

Tooter Ogden: Businessman

Tooter Ogden: A History of Service

The Central Utah Public Health Department reminds you that a baby should never be left alone in a vehicle – even for a minute. Heat is much more dangerous to babies than to adults. When left in a hot vehicle, a young child’s body temperature may increase three to five times faster than yours, which can cause permanent injury or even death. Learn how to protect your baby and keep her safe in and around vehicles. For more information, visit http://www.usa.safekids.org/.

To clarify what was written before about the Abigail Adams “Meet the Candidates” night, during the meeting the candidates were asked whether they would devote their full time to the position, if elected.

However, we wish to clarify that at the end of his remarks, candidate Poulson did specifically say that, “I don’t feel like it’s necessary that I have to quit a job or do anything else” to do the job as a Sevier County commissioner.

Currently, he is said to work full-time at Jorgensons, and has a 20-hour per week job for the City of Richfield.

The candidate’s campaign literature says the candidate is also actively seeking a college business degree. Ideal Living confirmed that he is a first year student in a two-year program of 52 credit hours total in Provo.

County officials confirm that the position of county commissioner is a full-time, 40+ hour per week job.

The event sponsors asked that we include the fact that a week is 168 hours long.

Ideal Living regrets the error.

A packed room enjoyed hearing from the many county commission candidates, and the two sheriff candidates, on May 26. The meeting is currently being broadcast on Channel 10 on CentraCom cable television.

The Republican, Democrat and Constitution Party county commission candidates faced summarized questions, based on suggestions submitted by over 170 respondents.

The Republican candidates — who are facing a run-off primary election over the coming weeks, culminating on June 22 — answered questions covering a variety of issues:

Incumbent Gary Mason generally conveyed that the county commissioner’s job was harder than people seemed to give him credit for, and said he hoped that his experience would be valuable to voters. He said that placing additional requirements on NEVCO’s power plant proposal was generally off the table, because local government officials didn’t require them of all applicants. This struck an off chord for many in attendance, who say they have attended government meetings and seen applicants regularly face differing standards before construction. Mason said that bringing more jobs to the area had proven to be very difficult, if not impossible. He said that the commissioners’ job took a lot of time, often more than full-time, and although he had significant demands from his farm and family, he hoped to continue to serve the county as commissioner.

Challenger Sara Straw said the the power plant was not likely to be a positive thing for the county; she has opposed its construction for some years over public health, property value, water, and other issues. She listed numerous ideas for bringing jobs to the area, noting her penchant for doing in-depth research on the issues, stating that Sevier County was a wonderful place to live, showing great economic promise for the future. Straw said she was retired, and eager to serve Sevier County full-time.

In the other commissioner race, challenger Kimball Poulson styled himself as an incumbent of sorts, who had served in a variety of capacities to bring our area to its current state. He repeatedly said that due to the money involved, the county had to force NEVCO’s power plant proposals forward and approve the projects as soon as possible. When asked about how he would stimulate our local economy, he again talked about his support for the controversial power plant proposals. He appeared to side-step questions on whether he would forfeit his current job to work full-time as commissioner, claiming that busy people got more done. Poulson is reportedly employed full-time at Jorgensens. He also claims to be working on getting a college business degree.

In striking contrast with Poulson, Tooter Ogden stated clearly that he has been semi-retired (since selling Ideal Dairy), and when elected, he would devote his full time and energies to serve us, the people of Sevier County. Ogden said that although he was generally supportive of the gas power plant proposal, that numerous issues still needed to be clarified, citing several facts and statistics about the size and water consumption of the Mona natural gas plant, which is said to be very similar to the NEVCO gas plant proposal. Economically, Tooter Ogden said that Sevier County had served as a hub for this part of the country for years, saying we should support local businesses first and foremost, and then as a secondary priority, seek outside business. Ogden said that a varied economy was a strong economy, listing the key industries in the area. He explained that he wanted to hear from the public, to find out what we, the people, wanted more of in our area. Briefly noting the divisiveness of the power plant proposals in our community, Tooter Ogden said that while good, solid economic growth could be difficult, by pulling together as a county, we would achieve a more prosperous future.

Sheriff candidates were asked about several important issues as well.

When asked about the demotions and firings after the last election, which Sheriff Barney authorized apparently against those who opposed him, Kirt Rippstein said that he had joined a lawsuit in order to protect the people who served under him and who had supported his campaign. He noted that the suit showed that he had a backbone, stood for justice, and cited his many years of administrative experience. Rippstein also said that he would work hard to communicate with the public and would work to keep us all safe.

Nate Curtis said that the lawsuits were regrettable, suggesting that the firings and demotions were arguable as to what exactly happened. He also said that he would help to keep us safe, and would communicate better with the residents of the county.

- Annual “Eyes to the Sky” Hot Air Balloon Festival in Salina
June 18-19
http://eyestotheskyballoon.com/

- Heritage Days Festival in Elsinore
June 18-19
http://elsinoretown.com/

- Seventh Annual Blast from the Past Car Show in Salina
July 30-31
http://blastfromthepastcarshow.com/

- 2010 Sevier County Fair in Richfield
August 9-14
http://seviercountyfair.net/

Trivia note: Who designed all these web sites? Ideal Living Media. Do you need help with your web site? If so, please allow us to help. Contact us at ideallivingmedia@gmail.com or by calling 435-979-3331. Thank you.

The Republican primary election day will be June 22, and in Richfield, will be based at the Sevier County Fairgrounds (rather than Sevier Valley Center, as in the past).

The Trib editors believe that Sevier County residents will not (should not?) trust the company enough to allow its revised plans for a natural gas-fired power plant to go forward, until the coal plant is “off the table.”

Indeed, many residents are murmuring their fears that NEVCO is trying to sell their incomplete plans for a coal-fired and gas power plant, so the mythical buyer could build whichever it chose, unhindered by restrictions already imposed upon the project. NEVCO officials recently refused to cancel their incomplete coal plant application in order to protect their “rights.”

Proposition 1 was passed by a large majority of voters which makes construction of any coal-fired power plants subject to a referendum of Sevier County citizens.

THUMB DOWN: A lump of coal » Many people in Sevier County have raised their voices loud and clear in opposition to a coal-fired power plant near Sigurd. After years of effort, an initiative petition and a couple of Utah Supreme Court rulings, they forced approval of the plant onto the ballot. Perhaps as a result, Sevier Power Co. has asked for approval of an alternative plant fired by natural gas. That would make a lot of residents breathe easier, but they can’t until Sevier Power withdraws its application for the coal-fired facility, which it refuses to do. If the company wants to make peace with the neighbors and the community, it should take the coal plan off the table. That might create a bit of good will and allow the debate about the pros and cons of the gas-fired generating plant to go forward with a modicum of trust. If the company clings to coal, however, that will never happen.