Lt. Gov. visits

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

Lincoln Day dinner goers hear from Spencer Cox
Bill Dellos, the party chairman welcomed everyone to the Lincoln day dinner on Saturday night at the Museum of the San Rafael.
Spencer Cox the Lt. Governor of the state of Utah was the guest speaker. He said he is from rural Utah, just over the mountain in Fairview. He is a sixth generation Fairview resident. He went away to school and became an attorney. He wanted to return to Fairview and he started working with his father at Central Utah Communications. He moved his family back to the farm. He has three sons and one daughter.
He ran for city council and they used him for his free legal advice. He became the mayor and eventually a county commissioner. When the legislative districts in the state were redivided, he ran for the House of Representatives which included Sanpete and Juab counties. He figured he would do a few years and go home.
Lt. Gov. Greg Bell resigned his post and the governor began a search for a new Lt. Governor. Cox received a call from Gov. Herbert that he would like to talk to him. So he met with the governor a couple of times and then he was offered the job. The governor told him he would need to move to Salt Lake, Cox declined saying he was going to stay in Fairview and commute. Sometimes on late nights or early mornings he will stay with his uncle in Bountiful.
Cox said he is different because he grew up in rural Utah. His family has a great support system in Fairview and he wasn’t going to uproot his children.
The best part of his new job he said is he gets to travel and meet people. He is proud of the state of Utah and believes it is the brightest star on the flag. It ranks fourth in the nation for the most diversified economy. People want to come here because of the work force. People here are honest and hard working. Because of all the public lands in the state there is never enough money for education. Rural Utah is so important to the economy. “In every meeting I go to I remind them about rural Utah. The ideas to fix our country will come from rural areas. I will take our message to Salt Lake. Rural Utah has amazing leadership,” said Cox.
Cox said he has had the chance to work with Emery County commissioners and met with them at the Capitol.
Our way of electing leaders is unique. The caucus system is not perfect but it gives rural people a voice. If count my vote succeeds then rural Utah counties would not be visited by those running for office. They will only visit the large counties explained Cox.
“We have a great governor that cares for the people in the state of Utah. If we had elected officials in Washington DC that really cared about the people we wouldn’t have all these problems in our country,” said Cox.
Cox said the governor and his administration is working to keep coal as a viable energy option as well as looking to diversify. The federal government is making things very difficult for coal fired power plants. Efforts are being made to work with a seven county area with the commissioners and economic development directors to regionalize the efforts of the energy producing counties. If they work together, everyone can benefit. Job creation in transportation is being worked on as well as more options for getting the products out of the Uintah Basin and transported so it can be refined. Solutions that start at the bottom and work their way up are the best kind. It’s you and your county helping yourselves and not us telling you what to do, emphasized Cox.
Willie Billings the vice chairman for the state Republican Party spoke and he travels throughout the state educating people on the Republican party and on the count my vote initiative and how harmful it could be. He also wants to help the young people get involved in the political process. He encouraged everyone to get involved in the caucus meetings which will be upcoming and to help raise money for your local party.
State Senator David Hinkins said he is one of three rural senators that stick up for rural Utah. It’s an honor to have the governor we have. He said the seven eastern county coalition will be very helpful. There is $200 trillion worth of oil and gas in the basin and the problem is it’s a bottleneck out there and transportation is a problem. Two new roads are being considered to help move the product out of the Basin. Grand County is now interested in buying in and they need higher paying jobs than tourism offers. The refinery in Green River is also going in which will help the county and they are building a railroad spur. A toll road will be built for the hauling of oil and gas.
Sen. Hinkins said in Germany they are building 23 new coal fired power plants. They have learned the benefits of coal and cheaper power. European countries are in negotiations with Consol and other coal producers to ship coal overseas. Natural gas is expensive to burn for electricity. Fuel bills will double. It will bankrupt us. Sen. Hinkins said he is available at any time and loves to hear from those he represents. One area he is very concerned about is the Navajo Nation. Nearly 70 percent of their children are being raised by their grandparents, He hopes to do more for them.
Caleb Worthen from Ferron is the chairman of the college republican party. He travels all over the state working with the chapters at each of the colleges and universities. Some college professors have a liberal bias and many say and do whatever they want. “This party is the only line of defense against what’s happening in our country,” said Worthen.
Chairman Dellos asked anyone wishing to declare their candidacy for office to do so.
For County Attorney, Mark Tanner and Mike Olsen; county commission, James Nelson and Jeff Horrocks, for county assessor, Kris Bell; for county clerk, Brenda Tuttle; for county treasurer Steve Barton; for county sheriff Greg Funk. The filing for office begins in March.