Meet the Emery County candidates

Sheriff candidate: Keaton Cowley
I was born and raised in Emery County. My parents are Barry Cowley and Wynne Ann Jensen Cowley. I graduated from Emery High in 2004. While attending college, I was lucky enough to marry my high school sweetheart MacKell Huntington Cowley, daughter of Mack and Julie Huntington. I graduated from Southern Utah University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. MacKell and I then had an opportunity to move back home. We were very excited to move back and raise our family in the same community that raised us. We have three beautiful daughters and one little boy.
I started working for the Sheriff’s Office in 2010. During my time at the Sheriff’s Office I have been able to work in Dispatch, the jail, and work the road as a deputy. I also attended Utah County’s Swat training. I am a certified Drug Recognition Expert through the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Emery County is entering a new generation of law enforcement. I will strive to bring up-to-date training and services to your officers so they may provide safe and efficient service to all. The internet and public schools have increasingly been targets for crimes. With the internet becoming more dangerous each day to our youth, we need officers that are able to tackle issues such as cyber-bullying and harassment via social media. I will implement an active school resource officer to provide the utmost safety for our children. Together, I want to combat the drug epidemic that is all too familiar, in Emery and neighboring counties. Partnering with agencies and like-minded individuals I will exert all resources to achieve this goal. We will provide up-to-date information to the public by utilizing social media and a functional sheriff’s office website. We will keep the public informed with current information on issues in our community. Officers will be held to the highest standard of professional conduct, while providing safety and service to all. Officers will be held accountable and will be encouraged to work with the public to achieve our goals. I will work relentlessly to serve our great community and change the culture of the sheriff’s office. I am eager and excited to lead the sheriff’s office into a fresh and united relationship with our citizens, serving with the honor and integrity our community deserves. United we can make the county we all love a better place.
County Attorney: Michael Olsen
I have had the honor and distinction of being your County Attorney since 2015 and Deputy County Attorney since 2009. These years of service have been the most rewarding of my professional career. I am seeking a second term because I care deeply about Emery County.
I was born and raised in Castle Dale. I am the son of Art and Shannon Olsen. I married Jodi (Leamaster) Olsen, the daughter of Darrell and LaRae (Guymon) Leamaster of Huntington. I am a fourth-generation resident. My great-grandparents joined with other families to help homestead this Valley. We appreciate the opportunity to live, work and raise our five children here.
Over these eight years of service, I have had the opportunity to work with other elected officials, department heads, employees, districts and boards who all work diligently for the betterment of Emery County. The current state of Emery County is excellent in its administration, legislation and legal standing. Our County government performs at the highest level in the best managed state in the union.
Despite the excellent state of our County, we must continue to progress and meet the challenges of our future.
One such challenge is protecting victims of crime. Our office has applied for a grant from the State of Utah that will substantially pay for a victims advocate. I will fight the drug problem in our community and work with law enforcement in dealing with those involved in the drug trade.
Public lands are vital to our current and future economic health. The use of these resources must be managed in a way that ensures long-term vitality and growth. Our public lands are under attack by special interest groups that are opposed to multi-use management plans. These groups are organized, funded and litigious.
I will continue to defend Emery County by active involvement and support for legal and legislative means that maintain laws and regulations supportive of multiuse. I will fight for Emery County by holding the federal government responsible in following the rules and by supporting the preservation of rights at the local level of government.
I will work with the local, state and federal level in protecting our County. I am an experienced lawyer specially situated in understanding the needs of our County. I am personally invested in the success of Emery County for generations to come and ask for your vote on November 6th.
Clerk/Auditor: Brenda Tuttle
I am Brenda Tuttle the current Emery County Clerk/ Auditor and I am seeking re-election to this office. I have worked in the Clerk/Auditor’s office for the past 21 years and have been the Clerk/Auditor for the past 12 years. I grew up in Ferron, graduated from Emery High School and then Southern Utah University with a Master’s Degree in accounting and a minor in Business Administration. After college I spent three years as an independent auditor of local governments. During this time I obtained my Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) license and moved back to Emery County.
During my tenure at the Clerk/Auditor’s office the past 21 years Emery County has worked under a balanced budget. Considering the overall budget of the County has not increased much, that is an accomplishment. It has been achieved with the help of administrations who had the same belief as I of living within our means. Managing a governmental budget requires extensive knowledge in governmental laws and accounting. I have the required expertise in this area. The job of Clerk/ Auditor is not an easy one, it involves making sure we are compliant with current rules and regulations and doesn’t always mean saying yes to requests. We have to continue to be diligent in looking for ways to save money and manage budgets in the best interest of the citizens of Emery County.
Besides managing the County budget I also process the payroll for over 200 employees. There is a long list of other duties and responsibilities that the clerk/auditor’s office is in charge of including: managing and conducting elections, passports, marriage licenses, tax rates for all of the taxing entities, accounts payable and cash receipts for all county departments.
I have managed all of the components of our election cycles very efficiently, professionally and frugally.
I have dedicated my time and efforts to ensure that Emery County runs efficiently and smoothly and have the desire to continue doing so. I have a proven track record of managing the Clerk/Auditor’s office and I have been a conservative steward over the County’s money.
I ask for your support and your vote for EXPERIENCE on June 26th.
Sheriff candidate: John Barnett
My name is John Barnett and I am running for the position of Emery County Sheriff. I have lived in Emery County for over 25 years and reside in Cleveland with my family. I have proudly served the citizens of Emery County for over 21 years in various positions with the Emery County Sheriff’s Office. During my career I have been fortunate to receive many hours of training and on-the-job experience in law enforcement. I have diligently worked my way up in the department from Dispatch to my current position as Detective. In the past 12 years of being a Detective and Drug Task Force agent, I have had the opportunity to work many of the major crimes in Emery County and have received great experience and training in all aspects of law enforcement and public safety. Through many of my experiences in this profession, I have become a strong believer in proactive law enforcement.
We live in a small community and we must all work together to provide a safe and secure environment for our families, schools, churches, and businesses. For over 10 years now, I have been active in training our children and teachers about school violence and drug abuse.
If elected as your Sheriff, I pledge to provide the deputies with the best training and leadership possible so that they can better serve the citizens of Emery County. I envision a department that is one of the best trained and respected in the state. The citizens of Emery County deserve this. I strongly believe that the position of the County Sheriff should be a non-partisan position. Regardless of my personal political beliefs, they cannot be allowed to influence any decision that is made based on state or federal law.
The duties of the Sheriff are to serve and protect the citizens of Emery County and the visitors regardless of their race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or political affiliations. This is why I have chosen to run as an unaffiliated candidate.
I believe new leadership and direction at the Sheriff’s Office will benefit ECSO employees and the county as a whole, and I believe my experience and training can bring positive changes to law enforcement in Emery County.
I look forward to the opportunity to serve as your new Sheriff. Thank you for your support. Visit my Facebook page or call (435)609-9926 for more information.
School board: Mike Justice
There are multiple reasons that I have decided to run for the Emery County School board. The three reasons at the top of that list are: Champ, Jory and Poppy. These are my three kids and I, like any parent want to see them get a first class education. How do we do this? Focus on the teachers. Teachers are at the front lines of education. During the school year teachers spend more waking hours with our kids then we do. The difference a teacher can make in our children’s lives can last a lifetime. We need to listen to them, we need to help them, we need to create an atmosphere for them to thrive. This atmosphere includes smaller class sizes, more tools and better benefits allowing more individualized education where everyone learns at their level.
What do I bring to the table? #1 Passion. Anyone who knows me knows me as a person of passion. Everyday in every way ask yourself how can we do this better? This is my passion and what drives me on a daily basis. # 2 Negotiation/ Compromise. Growing up with four older brothers one thing you learn at a young age is how to argue. My brothers were better then me at arguing so I learned how to negotiate. #3 Problem solving. I will tell you right now that I don’t have all the answers, no one person does, BUT that doesn’t mean that there are no answers. So often in life we sit back and complain about how things are not how they should be and point fingers at who we think is to blame. Emlen Tunnell, who was the first African American inducted into the NFL hall of fame in 1967 said “Losers assemble in small groups and complain about the coaches and other players. Winners assemble as a team and find ways to win.” A win here is preparing our kids for life outside of our homes and this is too important to fail. We need to come together. Our children are our greatest commodity and we need do everything in our power to help them succeed. We need new ways of looking at new problems that are facing our kids and I am willing to help make this happen.
County Attorney: Dave Blackwell
Everyone suffers when an injustice occurs. The job of County Attorney is to see that justice is done; whether it be in the prosecution of crime or dealing fairly with county personnel or citizens generally. I am running for Emery County Attorney – a job I did for 21 years. When I stepped aside 4 years ago, it was with the idea that I would continue to serve Emery County as a deputy attorney to handle personnel and other civil matters. In the end, that opportunity was denied me.
I have the education, experience and integrity to do this job without the need to hire outside attorneys to handle personnel issues, GRAMA requests, civil matters or write policies. After graduating from BYU Law in 1985, I clerked for the Federal District Court in Las Vegas before taking up private practice in Richfield, Utah with the firm of Labrum, Taylor and Blackwell. In 1992, I was hired as the Deputy Emery County Attorney. Two years later I was appointed Emery County Attorney and was elected thereafter for 5 terms of office. My time as County Attorney was marked with transparency and accessibility. I made my cell phone number available to the public and met with or talked to anyone who had a grievance or issue, including county personnel and department heads.
I was privileged to serve on the Utah Counties Insurance Pool litigation review committee for 12 years. This committee reviews all claims submitted against counties in Utah. The committee also reviews and revises county policies to ensure state law compliance. With the knowledge I gained from this committee, I was able to help Emery County avoid unnecessary lawsuits. During my service, Emery County enjoyed one of the best records for insurance claims.
I am running independently as an unaffiliated candidate. I believe the position of County Attorney should not be susceptible to influence of party leaders or affiliations. I am financing my own campaign for the same reason.
I hope the citizens of Emery County will stand with me again in our pursuit of openness, fairness and justice. I have proven I can do this job as it should be done. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
David A. Blackwell
Independently Unaffiliated
(435)749-9888
rovinglawoffice@gmail.com
School board: Marie Johnson
Hello! I’m Marie Guymon Johnson candidate for Emery County School Board, precinct #4, which includes Elmo and West Huntington, including Huntington Canyon and outlying areas. If you don’t know me, please let me introduce myself. Although born and raised in Idaho, I have come to love Emery County and it’s remarkable residents during the 40+ years I have lived here. Each of our eight children have benefited from attending public schools here, and I have had the privilege of serving on the school board for the past 28 years. I believe our school community has contributed in many positive ways to the development of a multitude of outstanding young people who have gone on to become exceptional men and women. However, we need to do even more. I see our educational community facing new challenges and want to continue to be involved in finding creative ways to expand services, improve education and encourage meaningful social contributions, while keeping school taxes as low as possible for the members of our community.
I also feel that it is very important to be actively involved in the day-to-day workings of our schools so as to have a feel for the ongoing needs of students and staff. One measure of my commitment to kids can be seen in the hours I spend each year volunteering in a myriad of classrooms…during the past school year, for example, I have spent over 250 hours in various classrooms. I have been volunteering for over 35 years, and intend to continue as long as I am able.
I ask for your support in the upcoming election. I pledge that, if elected, I will do my best to ensure the very best education possible for each individual student in Emery School District.
Clerk/Auditor Russell Larsen
Hi, I’m Russ Larsen running for Clerk Auditor for Emery County. Over the years it’s been my experience that whatever we undertake in life if we are sincere and devoted to the project it always works out. That was demonstrated when I graduated from Utah State University with a degree in computer science and business administration. I also wanted to serve my country. After four years in ROTC I was commissioned a lieutenant and spent 10 years in the U.S. Reserves and the Utah National Guard reaching the rank of captain.
I took on the challenge of becoming a financial and tax expert being motivated by that same devotion. For over 30 years in this business this knowledge has served me well and I have had the privilege of serving many people in the community.
This devotion is what I intend to provide to the Clerk Auditors position. I will have a forthright and open dialogue with the people of the county and with the other departments and offices that the Clerk Auditor deals with each day. I will have transparency and an open door policy in the Clerk Auditors office. I intend to face problems head on and take full responsibility for the office. I will treat all the cities in the county with equality. With this said, I realize that there are always tough decisions that have to be made. I will put forth my full efforts to ultimately reach a win/win solution for all parties involved including all the departments and offices of the county.
I will love to serve the people of Emery County as the Clerk Auditor. It is my sincere hope and desire that the citizens of Emery County will vote, giving serious thought to the candidate that will best serve Emery County in all aspects of the Clerk Auditor office.
Thank you for your consideration.
I encourage all registered Republicans to vote in the primary election on June 26.
Commission: Kent Wilson
It has been over 8 months since I was appointed to be an Emery County Commissioner. Wow, what a ride. I have worked hard to live up to the promises I made. I am motivated to make good decisions, ones that will hopefully lead to a better life for us today and a better future for Emery County.
As a Commissioner I have had the opportunity to participate in many field trips, taking State and Federal leaders to the desert and sharing with them the beauty and history of our area. I have tried to help them understand what our desert means to us. The sacrifice of our ancestors, trying to graze cattle and mine uranium, and all those things that went with taming a wild, new frontier.
I soon realized the one who was most converted – was me. I have come to appreciate this little valley, with its beauty, its mountains and spectacular desert. It all inspires me to try and make a good difference.
I believe Emery County has a bright future. In the last decade, coal’s future has been uncertain. We have lost many jobs. We have had a season of decline. From my perspective we have endured the worst and are starting to rebound. I want to chase all opportunities for new growth and try to overcome every hurdle.
Julie and I have seven children between us. Some left for big city life, but three left because the coal industry hit hard times. Therefore, economic development is very important to me and quite personal. I want our children to be able to make a good living in Emery County if they wish to. And to be able to stay here and raise their children in our safe little valley.
Working at BK’s, it was easy for me to see and talk to many people throughout my day. I loved my association with them. Commissioner life is very different and I miss those spontaneous interactions. I appreciate those who take the time to let me know how they feel on a particular issue or share an idea. That is very important to me. Some issues we are facing are complex and dividing but I love chatting with our citizens and coming to agreements and compromises. Please feel free to stop in and say hi. My door is always open.
Thank you for your support.
Kent Wilson
Emery County Sheriff: Greg Funk
I’m Greg Funk. I have served you as Emery County Sheriff for nearly eight years.
I’ve had the opportunity to get acquainted with many of you on a personal basis, being with you as you worked through personal or family tragedies. I’ve shared in your trials while keeping the confidentiality entrusted to me.
Being Sheriff is not about having the “title.” It is a responsibility you live with every day 24/7. The reality is that you are responsible to and for every citizen of this great county whether it be a personnel matter, criminal threat, wildfire, flooding or any other disaster that threatens life and property. I care for and am dedicated to serving the citizens of Emery County as I have demonstrated these past years.
An increased responsibility has been created by people coming to our county for recreation, resulting in a significant impact upon our resources and time. Search and Rescue call volume was unprecedented last year. I am very proud to say we have the best team of volunteers in the state.
I recognize an increased responsibility to provide protection to the most vulnerable, our children. I have implemented training programs at all schools and provided a full-time resource officer in the Emery School District.
I have an outstanding working relationship with the Commission in budgeting for all departments including Jail, Drug Task Force, Patrol, Investigations, Communications, etc., providing the best service with ever shrinking county revenues.
I understand and fight for issues affecting Emery County. I have developed excellent working relationships with other government agencies including the Utah Attorney General, Governor, UHP, BLM, Forest Service and other sheriffs throughout Utah, forming a unified coalition to better protect all Utah citizens. We can’t go it alone.
I make sure employees follow policies and procedures, state law, and make sound judgments that do not jeopardize any matter they are working on, while protecting your rights. Being Sheriff means making hard decisions which I have done and will continue to do. I have always put Emery County first and promise to continue.
I bring 22 years of progressive law enforcement experience, including nearly eight years as Sheriff. I have a bachelor degree in Business Management and speak Spanish. I understand the responsibilities given to the office of Sheriff. I have served you diligently and ask that you give me the opportunity to continue my service as your Sheriff.