Ed Bentley was born and raised in rural Little Lake, Mich.� Little Lake had a population of about 100 people, so he is familiar with small towns. Michigan is obviously much colder and more humid there than here in the desert of the American Southwest, but it is not much different than Green River. Ed lived in an area very much dependent on mining and tourism.
Like Green River, the economy was drastically affected when they lost the mines and the local military base. Unfortunately, they did not capitalize on the situation, and sunk into economic and social depression.
To this day, the economy continues to suffer and more and more people are leaving to seek livelihoods elsewhere in the big cities.
Ed’s father was in the U. S. Army, and the family moved around a lot. Ed is the oldest of five children. He was active in scouting and the LDS church, and was honored with the Eagle Scout Award. As the son of an Army serviceman, the family lived all around the country.� Ed also had the opportunity to live in Venezuela, and speaks fluent Spanish. While living in Venezuela, Ed was able to see what it was like to live where people do not have the freedoms that we have.�
Ed moved to Provo 10 years ago, and received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Brigham Young University. He then entered the police academy to become a sworn police officer and was hired by the Utah Highway Patrol. Green River is his first assignment.��
Ed married Tami Christensen from the Wasatch Front in 1998. Tami is the oldest daughter of eight children. They have three children: Brian, 6 years, Sarah, 2 years, and Rachel, 4 months. They have purchased a home in Green River, and would like it to be home for quite awhile. He feels their children are safe here.�(Safe enough even to wander around from time to time.)�
Ed believes that Green River has great potential. “We have done great things, but we are capable of so much more,” said Bentley.�He sees the future of Green River as bright, with a strong foundation of industry.�
Small business owners will bring more families to our community and help keep our children here.�He envisions a Green River bursting with pride, but working with its neighbors as the true heart of Castle Country.�Green River is not only the geographical center of Castle Country, but we are the social center as well. He believes it is time that we let everyone in the world know this.�
Ed is taken with the rich heritage and history of the area, and understands that people from around the world are interested in what we have here.�
Ed’s sincere wish is to bring honesty, openness, and a cooperative spirit to the office of Mayor.�Ed will be a proactive mayor who will look for opportunities for Green River. He says, “Opportunity will only knock so many times before she goes next door.”� ��
Green River installs new mayor
