The 'Candyman' can
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Trent Toone
Standard-Examiner staff
Idle Isle business owner joins county commission – all in search for justice
BRIGHAM CITY -- In the beginning, all Rich VanDyke wanted was for the people to have a voice.
He was just a local business owner. He had no political ambitions.
But a funny thing happened to VanDyke on the way to the Box Elder County historic courthouse. He got a taste of county government and realized he liked it.
Taking the next step was only a matter of time.
Last November, VanDyke was elected as a county commissioner.
" 'Ironic' is the word," VanDyke said of his experience. "Politics was just never part of my deal. It just developed."
That development process began in spring 2005, when VanDyke learned the commission wanted to construct its new justice court building just south of the historic courthouse and right behind his business, Idle Isle Candies.
He disagreed with the plan, its use of public funds and claimed "it had tax increase written all over it."
"The Candyman" attacked the issue with a fury, circulating petitions and gathering thousands of signatures (about 6,500 -- more than the required 20 percent of registered voters).
"I didn't think he'd be able to gather that many signatures. That was impressive," said Scott Hansen, a county commissioner at the time. However, he said some may have been misled in signing the petition.
"Misinformation was going around."
Ultimately, after VanDyke talked with residents and filed a lawsuit, the location proposal was defeated.
Victorious, VanDyke returned to running his business. He never had an agenda in fighting the justice court, he said. He just wanted justice.
But people had seen what he could do. So when two county seats opened up last November, many encouraged him to run.
VanDyke said he wrestled with the decision at first, then chose to run and didn't look back.
"It was 'yea' and 'nay,' 'yea' and 'nay,' " said VanDyke, who had no real political experience.
"Once I filed, I spent a great deal of time getting up to speed during the campaign. I figured there is a lot of stuff I needed to learn, or at least be exposed to, because there have been some people who have been elected who didn't know anything about what they were doing.
"I felt like I had a good chance ... (and) if I'm successful, I'd better hit the ground running."
Shari, his wife of 22 years, was -- and is -- his biggest advocate.
"He's a passionate guy. When he gets involved, it's all or nothing. That's just the way he does things. It was something he felt strongly about," she said.
"Deep down, I think he wanted to do it all along. It was a question of whether we could take more on (in addition to our business)."
VanDyke said he was humbled when he won in a landslide, taking 70 percent of the vote for County Commission Seat A.
When it became official, Shari rewarded him with an old-fashioned red rotary telephone featuring a Batman logo. It sits on his office desk in the commission chambers.
"He loves Batman, and it struck me as funny because he can be like Commissioner Gordon," Shari said. "He was tickled by it."
Once sworn in, VanDyke pledged to unify the county, prepare for growth and eliminate unnecessary spending. He felt prepared for the new challenge after having been exposed to various things during the campaign.
But how unprepared he really was. He said the first three months were brutal.
"I don't know what I would have done had I not spent the time preparing, because it has been an absolute eye-opening experience," VanDyke said.
Now somewhat settled in, the Brigham City native feels his background in business will contribute to an already efficient commission. VanDyke's assignments include the county fair, personnel, ITS (technology), work force services, mosquito abatement, involvement in the planning commission, tourism and buildings and grounds.
"We're just looking at the same problems with a different set of eyes, although people don't always see that," he said. "I am grateful to work with the caliber of people who work in the county. We have a good team here."
Aside from learning that changes in county government often require more time and patience than he is used to, VanDyke, 59, is having the time of his life.
He said he enjoys the satisfaction that comes from working through a problem. He also treasured the opportunity he had to attend a county commissioners convention in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.
VanDyke, who earns an annual salary of $37,000 as county commissioner, hopes others will learn from his experience and choose to become more involved in issues that affect the public.
"There is more real talent out there than people realize," he said.
Lorna Ravenberg has served as the commission secretary for 15 years and has worked for the county for 25.
In that time, she has known numerous commissioners and says VanDyke's dedication to the county is impressive for someone with little political experience.
"He's fantastic. His heart is in it," Ravenberg said. "He's a hands-on commissioner."
Ravenberg didn't mean any disrespect to previous commissions, but said this commission has become very "unified."
"They don't agree on everything, and that's healthy. But they are very mature in how they handle their differences. They work very well together."
VanDyke has been instrumental in the unification, she said, and Commissioner Jay Hardy agrees.
"He's a sharp individual. He brings a lot to the table. We all bring different backgrounds ... yet we complement each other. What each one of us brings individually is an asset to the county."
As a group, the new commission is doing a decent job of handling day-to-day issues, Hansen said, but he's waiting to see how it takes on pressing issues like the justice court or the fencing ordinance.
He hopes VanDyke attacks those issues with the same passion as the justice court.
"The evidence is in. It's clear a new justice court is needed. I would just like to see Rich and the commission see this through," Hansen said.
Perhaps the person most content with how things have worked out is Shari, who doesn't mind the increase in phone calls at home.
"It's nice to get him out of my hair once in a while," she said, laughing.
"Hey, honey, don't you have a meeting or something to go to?"
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