Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

WASHINGTON TERRACE — Weber County Republicans have several choices to make in the looming primary, and most of the candidates they have to choose from gathered at a forum to offer their views on the issues.

With 14 GOP candidates variously running for the U.S. House, Utah Senate, Utah House, Weber County Commission and Weber County clerk-auditor’s post, it was a fast-paced affair, the hopefuls offering snapshots of themselves and their candidacies. The Weber County Republican Party hosted the event, held at the Pleasant View Branch library in Washington Terrace.

Mail-in ballots are to be sent to voters next week, and primary voting culminates June 28, so voters will soon have to make some decisions. Here are comments from the GOP contenders for county offices:

Weber County Commission, seat A: Shanna Francis and Gage Froerer, the incumbent, are facing off in the GOP primary for seat A on the commission.

Francis, a member of the Ogden Valley Planning Commission and operator of the Ogden Valley News newspaper, worries that growth in the county, particularly the Ogden Valley, is out of control. Commissioners, she lamented, “have looked the other way” on dealing with what she says is an over-abundance of short-term rentals.

Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

“It’s changing the entire complexion of the valley,” she said, trimming student numbers at area schools, among other things. Many say the influx of visitors to short-term rental properties detracts from the sense of community in the area.

Froerer called himself a “property rights advocate” in addressing growth.

Francis, for her part, noted that existing property owners, who can be impacted by newcomers, also have rights. “Rights are also for community rights and the people who live in a community,” she said. “They have rights also.”

Froerer, a former member of the Utah House, said this will be his last bid for elected office. He focused his message on efforts of commissioners and other county officials to keep county finances, in order to trim costs. Paying off or refinancing county bonds has saved taxpayers more than $2.5 million.

He takes a businessman’s approach in managing the county. “This is a business,” Froerer said.

The GOP victor faces Democrat John Thompson in November.

Weber County Commission, seat B: Sharon Bolos, the former mayor of West Haven, and Bill Olson, a retired entrepreneur and businessman, are facing off for seat B on the commission. Scott Jenkins now holds the post but he’s not seeking reelection.

Olson, seeking office for the first time, indicated he’d take a business-style approach to running the county, viewing county residents “as shareholders or investors in the county” and himself, if elected, as beholden to them. Inflation is the key issue for him, Olson said, noting the potential impact of rising costs on county spending. “We’re headed to some real challenges in the county here,” he said.

Bolos said her top priority “is and always will be public safety.” Water conservation is also important, in light of the ongoing drought, and she said she’d seek out ways to scale back county water usage and prevent water waste.

Housing affordability is also an important issue, Bolos said. While market forces, perhaps, impact housing costs the most, she said she would do what she could to prevent the county from adding onto homebuilding costs.

On growth and development, Olson said property rights are “inalienable.” In addressing potential flaps between developers and the public over their projects, Bolos called for efforts to get the sides communicating so they can sort out their issues.

The winner in the seat B primary faces Libertarian Brian Rowley in November.

Weber County clerk-auditor: Ricky Hatch, seeking election to his fourth term as clerk-auditor, faces a challenge from Toby Mileski. Both put a focus on election security.

Hatch trusts in the balloting process, but said he would also keep pushing for “a higher level” of security. Addressing questions and concerns from the public on the issue to maintain and bolster confidence in the voting process is also a priority.

Mileski, the former mayor of Pleasant View, said he’d aim to make the voting process “bulletproof,” particularly ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

The clerk-auditor’s office oversees elections in the county and also helps prepare the county budget each year.

Only Hatch and Mileski are running for clerk-auditor, so the GOP primary winner has a clear road to office.

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