Mark Crockett to announce candidacy for mayoral race

Mark Crockett to announce candidacy for mayoral race


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SALT LAKE CITY — Former County Councilman Mark Crockett plans to announce Tuesday he will enter the race for Salt Lake County Mayor.

Crockett, 46, is a management consultant and a Republican who served one term on the Salt Lake County Council, from 2005-2008, before being unseated by Democrat Jani Iwamoto.

He said he will enter the race with three campaign priorities: strengthening the county's core services, shrinking its reach to those core services to compete less with cities, and paying for essential services at a time with federal and state budgets are shrinking.

"No more money from residents right now," he said on Friday. "For the last several years the county has completely depleted its fund balances, and we are just out of money."

County services he sees as "core" focus on human services like mental health treatment, after-school programs and the county jail. "The county is poised to really be a lot better and smarter about how it provides those services," he said.

Salt Lake County mayoral race candidates
(Only those formally announced)
  • Salt Lake County Councilman Richard Snelgrove, R.
  • Salt Lake County Recorder Gary Ott, R.
  • Ben McAdams, D.
  • Minority Leader Ross Romero, D.

The model for county government he sees as ideal is that of a good- faith facilitator that protects unincorporated areas and complements cities without competing with them.

He also supports the current distribution of budgeting and accountability responsibilities in the county. Sitting Mayor Peter Corroon and a majority of the County Council support a plan to move budgeting responsibilities away from the County Auditor's office. "I actually think that the auditor should have its historical role" as a budget officer, Crockett said. "I think a lot of people need to look at the budget."

Crockett said he supports the arts and would like to see a new Broadway-style theater in the county, like the proposed $110 million Utah Performing Arts Center proposed in Salt Lake City. "Who wouldn't like to have one? The question that will come soon is: How are we going to pay for that? It's good that Salt Lake has volunteered to pay for the design, but there's no money in it for the build yet."

Already in the mayor's race are Salt Lake County Councilman Richard Snelgrove and Salt Lake County Recorder Gary Ott, both Republicans; and two Democrats who are sitting state senators: Ben McAdams and Minority Leader Ross Romero.

Crockett's formal announcement is planned for Tuesday, Jan., 10, at the Magna Library, 8339 W. 3500 South.

Email:sfidel@ksl.com

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