Reprieve From Office
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By Bryon Saxton
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
bsaxton@standard.net
Layton's Handy leaves council but not political life
LAYTON -- After eight years of resolving zoning and development issues, Layton Councilman Stephen G. Handy is taking a reprieve from public office.
But the political pause may not last long.
"I don't think you have heard the last of Steve Handy," said the 56-year-old manager of his own public relations firm.
Handy, after two four-year terms on the city council, did not seek re-election.
Councilman-elect Scott Freitag, 38, will replace Handy on the council at noon Jan. 7, when he takes the oath of office at City Hall, 437 N. Wasatch Drive.
Handy was recently appointed to Gov. Jon Huntsman's 11-member Uniform Building Codes Commission, which oversees licensing for builders. Through not-so-subtle hints, he dismissed the notion of his permanent exit from politics.
"I would love to be in the state Legislature. I have made no secret about that. That has been a lifelong goal of mine, to be in the state Legislature," he said.
The longtime Layton resident said he has also been approached repeatedly to make a run for a Davis County Commission seat. If Handy is to seek a commission seat, he says he will approach the matter from the Republican side of the ticket.
Currently, three members of the GOP hold seats on the commission.
But before committing to any campaign, Handy said, he will weigh all options with his wife.
The last time Handy ran for office was his 2005 unsuccessful bid to capture the Layton mayoral seat. His contest with then-council member Steve Curtis resulted in a hotly contested race and possibly the most painful episode of his political career.
But Handy and Curtis, who captured the seat by a narrow margin, have remained civil, approaching city issues in a businesslike manner.
"I believe we will miss the wisdom (Handy) carries," Curtis said of one of the many assets his political partner has provided to the city.
Curtis said Handy has always shown wisdom and insight in his decision-making and approach to the issues. He said he wouldn't be surprised to see him run for an elective office of some kind in the near future.
Should Handy pursue a political office again, one thing he will have is a track record in which he takes a great deal of pride.
Two projects Handy is particularly proud of are finalizing the west Layton plan, including bringing water to the area, and participating in an Envision Utah planning exercise -- the genesis for redevelopment of the old downtown.
Handy has also been an advocate for the $65 million south Layton interchange to alleviate traffic congestion, and opening old downtown to economic development. He is a strong proponent of the city identifying sensitive land areas for homeowners.
"That is something that has been important to me," he said.
In his second year on the council, Handy said, the Heather Drive slide occurred, damaging homes of residents he also served with in a church leadership role.
"It has had a great personal effect on me," he said.
Most of Handy's time on the council, however, has been enjoyable, as Layton, one of the fastest-growing communities in the Top of Utah, continues to receive high marks for its fiscal management and ability to attract a retail base.
"The first thing I will miss is just being part of something that works pretty well most of the time," Handy said.
Despite differing opinions, council members make an effort to be unified, Handy said. That approach eliminates name-calling and bickering that can arise in political debate.
"I will miss being a part of something generally very positive and very good," he said of the council.
In the meantime, Freitag said he anxiously awaits his turn, looking on from the wings for now.
"I'm just very excited to get started," Freitag said. "I am excited to fill (the) spot of Steve Handy, who did a great job for the city the past eight years."
Freitag said he has tried to get his hands on "every piece of paper" addressing city plans and budget, in addition to meeting with department heads.
"I never knew how much I didn't know, until I began to meet with (department heads)," he said.
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