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After a yearlong international search, the Utah Transit Authority Board announced Wednesday that it plans to hire someone close to home as the agency's new president: Jerry Benson, who has been UTA's acting director for a year.

Benson has worked for UTA for 32 years in such roles as chief operating officer, director of human resources and director of corporate communications. He has a doctorate in organizational communication from the University of Utah.

As Benson led the publicly funded organization as acting president, the board essentially "had the luxury of a 365-day interview," said board Chairman H. David Burton. "Jerry has proven in that time that he has the capacity, the energy, the ability to lead this organization that is consistent with the ultimate goals of the board."

The board plans to give the public a week to weigh in on its choice before making Benson's appointment official in a special meeting Wednesday.

"He is the sole candidate at this point," Burton said. Benson originally asked not to be considered for the job, but Burton said the board kept comparing other candidates to him — and none proved to be more qualified.

"As often the case goes, we find the best people are right next door. In a nutshell, that's what has occurred here after a national search, in fact an international search, of probably 120 or 130 candidates, and then a local search for additional candidates," Burton said. "Jerry was heads and shoulders above any others that we could identify."

"I look forward to taking this agency forward," Benson said after the announcement.

He added that he is "proud of the work that UTA has accomplished," and he plans to focus on improving and enhancing service, "implementing good stewardship of the resources we have" and working with communities to meet their goals.

The appointment comes after UTA in recent years enacted numerous reforms aimed at overcoming criticism in state audits about high executive salaries, extensive international travel and sweetheart deals with developers.

Burton told legislators last month that, "There is no question that public confidence is challenge No. 1, by a large measure. It is probably challenge No. 1, 2, 3 through 10." Public mistrust of UTA was blamed for defeat of Proposition 1 to raise sales tax for transportation in Salt Lake and Utah counties, although it passed in three smaller counties.

When Benson asked how he plans to help build trust, he said, "Coming soon is a set of service standards and a pledge to the riders about our service. We'll use that as a basis for planning and designing service going forward."

He also said the budget for next year will demonstrate "a focus on service and good stewardship of our resources."

Benson added, "We will continue to broaden our efforts to engage with, inform and involve the public."

Benson has not been afraid to dive into some controversy during his year as acting president, including attacking The Salt Lake Tribune's coverage of the agency.

During an interview when Burton said the UTA Board had decided to close its committee meetings to the public because it did not like the Tribune's coverage of them, Benson added that the Tribune always finds "a way to give it the worst spin, and concoct — if you have to — whatever facts you can."

The UTA Board later reversed its decision to close committee meetings after public backlash.

Burton said UTA and Benson are still negotiating his salary, but would announce it next week and it would be in line with compensation for leaders of other transit agencies nationally.

The salary of former president and CEO Michael Allegra was controversial. Allegra's total compensation (including pay and benefits) was $402,187 in 2013, which included a $30,000 bonus. Amid criticism, his compensation dropped by $34,579 in 2014 to $367,608 — mostly because Allegra received no bonus.

Benson's total compensation in fiscal 2014 was $292,723, according to Utahsright.com.

George Chapman, a board member of the watchdog Utah Transit Riders Union, which looks out for the rights of transit riders, praised Benson.

"I've dealt with Jerry for almost 10 years, and I think he is the most knowledgeable person about Utah, UTA and mass transit in the country," he said. "I've argued with him at length, but he's always been respectful. He's listened. He's available. I could never argue with Allegra. Allegra refused to argue. Benson does."

Chapman said it could take anyone else "years to come up to speed" on the goals and needs of the individual communities in UTA's six-county district, but says Benson understands them well now.