"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

 

Declaration of Independence

In 1776, 56 men listed their names on a document, laying out their grievences about the conduct of the King of England and his wrong actions by those he governed. By so doing, they were committing treason, the penalty of which was death. Far from fearing those reprocussions, they fearlessly made their marks on the parchment declaration; placing their names before the world in agreement of the wrongs that they felt had been done by their government. They put their lives (life), fortunes (property) and sacred honor (reputation) on the line to stand up and be counted for what they believed. Their courage spilled beyond these shores and for over 200 years have changed the world by the bravery of their actions despite the possibility of "reprisals."

In 2007, a similar document is produced, laying out wrongs and judgements of a public servant by some unnamed "concerned citizens." But rather than step boldly into the light, to allow other citizens to research or the accused to provide a response to one-sided judgements and editorial comments, these authors remove themselves from the tradition of their forefathers and prefer to keep to the shadows. The king had received repeated petitions from the colonists - they had given him ample opportunity to respond to their written grievences time after time - as honor dictated. This group waits until 5 days before the election, never identifying themselves, choosing 6 issues out of hundreds to judge on behalf of the entire city. The 56 men who scribed in ink their names for all to know would hang their heads in shame over the lack of public virtue expressed by their children in what has been seen all-too-often in American and especially in West Jordan politics - smear campaigns.

In the 48 hours before the election, I will respond in public to the claims made by this piece and see what looking at both sides of an issue ("there are two sides to every story") reveals when someone is unafraid to stand up and be counted, for wrong or right, and sign their name boldly as John Hancock, so the king could read his name "without having to put on his spectacles."

"Concerned Citizens," my name is

ROB BENNETT

While you stay in the dark, I step up and answer your charges. Read on -

First, the piece itself. It is in the form of a "report card." I don't know about you, but when I went to school, next to each class and grade I received was the name of my teacher so he or she could explain what was the justification for the grade, the actual assignments turned in, etc. It was not left for mom or dad to take the commented "references" and just accept them - they could demand to see the actual evidence to back up the claim; and most teachers are happy to provide it. But these anonymous "teachers" do not appear willing. I have been graded on a pass/fail system - not on my entire record of service; not considering I am part of a council of 7 people who must agree on anything and cannot claim credit (for or against) anything as an individual (which I have maintained I am but part of a team for this entire campaign) - but on six issues that are incompletely and misleadingly represented, but written convincingly so you won't look up the details yourself.

The issues: First, taxes. Promoted the creation of two NEW taxes. FALSE. The Utah Leauge of Cities and Towns promoted the Cell Phone utility tax the same as all other utility taxes. Look at your cell phone bill. You will see a 1% tax supposedly collected by West Jordan. We don't see one cent of it. The cell phone companies won't account for where it goes. Why? Every other city in the state (200+), with the exception of four, has imposed this tax between 1 and 3%. They are collecting it even though we haven't approved it. Storm Water utility - every surrounding city in this county has implemented this utility for the following reasons: our cities age. The pipes layed when the city was founded are now 60 years old. Some are even older. The sewer pipes have a system we pay into to keep them free of clogs, functioning properly, and replace when they wear out. The storm water system - that system that if it got clogged, broke or overwhelmed when it rains would flood neighborhoods like in 1983, does not get maintained on a regular basis because WE DON'T THINK IT IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH. "We'll never get flooded." "My pipes will never break." "Just because some kid is throwing rocks down that storm water grate, somehow it will all clean itself out." I don't think $1 (that's right, ONE DOLLAR) a month is too much to ask to allow all of us, businesses included, to keep the system in good repair, replace parts when they wear out, and be proactive in scoping and clearing the pipes so when the next big flood hits, OUR CITY won't be one of those sliding down the hillside.

Fair Treatment: do the anonymous authors ever mention that it takes more than one person to approve anything on the city council? No, they imply one person's responsibility. The truth: I have voted to approve low density, medium density, high density, planned community, transit station, agricultural and park and public facilities zoning during my entire tenure on the council, as has every other member. And guess what - it never mattered who was a campaign donor and who wasn't because I WASN'T RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION EXCEPT FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS and no money was ever involved! When any request has been approved - sometimes 7-0, 6-1, 5-2 or 4-3, but never 1-6!, it has been because at least 4 of the council felt it was in the best interest of the city. Do the authors list all of the times I have voted against other proposals, high or low density, if the project itself wasn't condusive to the city's best interests? Of course not!

Problem Solving: blamed the school district, then voted to not work with them. How did the vote go on this? 5-2 (five agreed that now was not the best time to be entering into negotiations with a school district that 3 weeks from then might not even exist. The two who voted to move ahead were the two who had started the negotiations). If I'm guilty, I guess that also means Mayor Newton, Kim Rolfe, Lyle Summers, and Mike Kellermeyer are guilty along with me. But giving me a failing grade for the actions of the majority of the council based on reasoned and good judgement in not putting our cart before the horse with a school district question on the ballot to be answered first, is just additional evidence of the smear nature of this entire piece.

Setting Priorities: voted to spend millions on "pet" projects. Huh? Could I please see a list of the supposed pet projects and the dollar amounts I am supposed to have approved?   . . . without resident approval . . . if anyone can prove that a single action was taken by the city council in a public meeting without allowing for citizen comment on any matter whatsoever, I might even consider this. But I have 4 YEARS worth of city council recordings that demonstrate this is not true.   . . . circumventing the city's prioritization process . . . again, how did "I" do this? Please provide any evidence (not just a general "it happened during this four year period) of how I managed to do this, not only without the public's knowledge, but without the knowledge or support of the other members of the city council, in full view of the press and law enforcement officials??? If this is a report card of the entire city council, not just me, then there might be a basis to even consider these issues, but to single out the actions of a single person that must have the agreement of at least 3 other VERY differently minded people is hard to swallow. That is why we have 7, independent minded people elected to the council - it is AWFULLY hard to get the majority of them to agree on ANYTHING, so it has to really seem right for each of them to vote for it.

Finally, Fiscal Responsibility: voted to make WJ City Manager one of the highest paid public employees in Utah. Individually - FALSE. Collectively - TRUE. You see, when Donna Evans was Mayor, her city council hired Gary and gave him the very high salary that he started with, along with almost every benefit and bonus that he currently has today. The next council, under Bryan Holladay, changed the contract as an incentive to keep our CM here, just as Larry Miller does with Jerry Sloan, but in our case it takes at least 4 Larry Millers to agree it is worth keeping Jerry in Utah. Passed 7-0. Then, I came on the council and another adjustment was considered allowing him to take vacation time (he never took a day for 6 years except for three weeks off to donate a kidney to his daughter) as an incentive for him to finish his career here before retiring soon. Guess what the vote was? 7-0. Every member of this council felt it was worth keeping this public servant around who has done so much to change the face of West Jordan. So, yes, I was part of the decision to keep him here as it has been a conscious decision to keep Jerry Sloan as coach of the Jazz. I think he is worth every penny; after all, Larry knows this guy and what he can do! Same with the 7 council members who are the direct boss and supervisor of this one employee - we know this guy and what he can (and has) do(ne). Again, in my opinion, worth every penny and I have documentation to prove it.

Editorialized "writing sample." Portrayed as a simple question provoking a horrendous and undeserved response that no reasonable person in their right mind would ever do. After all, no one has ever lost their temper, left a nasty note or made a disparaging remark about another person, flipped someone off or cut them off on the freeway when they felt wronged or pushed over the edge, right? Most of us who are basically good people instantly regret it if we do and feel bad that we allowed ourselves to get so upset that we said or did things that are so out of character than we act when people treat us civilly and respect each other. However, since politicians are not human beings, the same does not apply to us; but for the rest of humanity, we understand that sometimes we say or do things we are ashamed we did, seek forgiveness, and try better every day to keep a handle on those things that push you over the edge. It doesn't make you a bad person - it just makes you human. We just have to learn not to lose our temper on a consistant basis!

Most of us lose it at one point or another, but it often takes A LOT to push you over the edge - for some, it takes only a little. I am generally a very good natured person and it takes a long history of pushing and berating to get me riled up. In the public spotlight, some people seem to derive great joy in trying to get you to throw that first punch or make that first lapse in judgement that they can use against you later.

That doesn't excuse a loss of temper, but it doesn't happen in a vacuum either. Heaven help anyone who has ever sent something in print (like in an e-mail exchange that just keeps escalating) when they were really mad, because you never know when someone might just pull it out of a box somewhere saved just for such a purpose to show what a low-down, really rotten person you are who stomps on the flag, throws the apple pie in the garbage, and yells at mother. If you have never done anything you have regretted, here, let me hand you this stone to throw at me.

Did I send a stupid e-mail? Yes, I have to admit it (imagine a politician admitting he did something wrong? Why not deny it like all the others do?). Of course, you aren't shown what was said that led up to it, but it still does not excuse my loss of temper. I have regretted it ever since, apologized to the person who received it, have been assured that she believes I am sincere, and have conscientiously monitored my temper since then to be a better person. Those who serve with me on the council have remarked to me how much I have improved in their associations with me and members of the public, but I am not perfect yet, nor do I expect any of you to be either. We all do our best. The next perfect politican or regular person who steps up to the plate will get my vote too.

The difference between what is written in the flyer and what I have explained isn't just in the details (most of which were left out), but in the manner of the presentation. One seeks to remain anonymous; the other, to admit (warts and all) what is true and what is not. What this flyer does NOT do is remark on the other 400 votes I have cast with the other city council members that have reduced spending; kept a balanced budget; met all conditions for open and public accounting and budget processes - in public, inviting the public to be involved every step of the way; delayed certain projects to pour money into fixing our worst road problems; being accessible to citzens by phone and e-mail day and night; countless hours of supporting committees, community events, promoting the city at the county and state levels; getting a new Library to be built in the city park; widening 78th and 90th after others just talking about it for 10 years; and raising the safety and quality of life for our citizens. If you want to judge me on my record, judge me on my WHOLE record. Not just bits and pieces, spun in your own way, without the courage to step up and stand up for your beliefs and be willing to have them scrutinized as I do when I step forward and volunteer to serve my people with all my heart, mind and strength.