FARMINGTON -- Former state Sen. Terry R. Spencer, of Syracuse, has declared his candidacy for the Davis County Commission, and via a series of letters, he has been in contact with potential delegates.
Officially, however, candidates do not file for office until March 9.
Spencer, 51, is challenging Davis County Commissioner John Petroff Jr. on the Republican ticket.
Petroff is currently finishing his first four-year term on the commission, having been elected in November 2008 and beginning his term in January 2009.
Prior to that, Petroff served as West Point mayor for seven years.
Petroff said he intends to seek re-election, but has not yet made an official public announcement.
The filing period begins at 8 a.m. March 9 and ends at 5 p.m. March 15, according to county officials.
Candidates are to file with their respective county clerk's offices.
The Davis County Republican Party Convention will be at 7 p.m. April 13 at Woods Cross High, with the GOP's neighborhood caucus meetings being held at 7 p.m. March 15.
In a letter to potential delegates, Spencer states that it has been nine years since he finished a term in the state Senate, and that he is making a personal return to politics out of concern about a "creeping government."
Spencer, from 1999 to 2002, served one term in Utah's 22nd Senate District seat. Sen. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, currently serves in that capacity.
"Rather, government's role should be limited to those functions which the private sector cannot or will not provide, such as national defense, road systems, and the taking care of those citizens who are truly unable to care for themselves," Spencer stated in a letter.
In addition to being a former lawmaker, Spencer said, he has worn many other hats while living most of his adult life in Davis County. Some of those positions have included being a teacher, a financial analyst and a lawyer, he said.
Spencer, who currently practices law with offices in South Ogden and Sandy, said his background gives him a "unique skill set" to help serve in county government.
"Those who have known me over the past two decades have realized that I will not shy away from making the tough political decisions. I do have the ability to say 'No,' just ask my children," he said.
However, societal political decisions should not be made in a vacuum, said Spencer, who is forming an election policy committee to get input on what changes should be made to the existing Davis County government structure.
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