Lewis E. Johnson, the Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Commissioner Craig Dearden, says he's not interested in ripping into Dearden or the other commissioners.
He just thinks that rural Weber residents, particularly those in the growing Ogden Valley, should have a seat on the commission.
"The issue is just to create a balance, to have rural representation," Johnson said.
Johnson said neighbors angry over soaring property taxes last year - a result of rising property values in the scenic valley - suggested he run for office.
While it may be true that the commission does not control property values, commissioners can do more to ensure the assessor's office is properly staffed so appraisals stay current and to lobby for change at the Legislature.
"You can't just hold your hands and say, 'It's not ours,' " said Johnson. "If nothing else, do a better job educating people so they don't get big surprises."
Johnson said the other controversy in the Ogden Valley, the formation of Powder Mountain town, also fueled his campaign.
He would have required the developers live with the existing zoning, rather than entertain the notion of new zoning to allow vastly more development, he said. "I would have voted 'no' right off the bat and challenged it before it got so far down the track."
Powder Mountain's owners had a rezoning request pending before the county when they instead filed a petition to incorporate as a town last January. That petition came just days before the Legislature convened and rescinded the short-lived law that allowed developers to essentially incorporate as towns.
Dearden said the commission could not legally prevent the formation of Powder Mountain town. But the commission did refuse to seat the town council from a list provided by the developer, prompting a lawsuit from the developer.
"We're just waiting to see what happens in the courtroom," Dearden said.
The commission has taken steps to prevent sudden spikes in property taxes, he said. More resources have been put into the assessor's office, and an independent appraisal agency was hired to ensure the property values are proper, he said.
The county is also looking to go to new software that will help the county assess every piece of property every year so that changes in value are gradual, Dearden said. "Our goal is to away with the spikes."
The commission heard the taxpayers' outcry, he said. Of those who filed appeals last year, 85 percent had their property values reduced and so their taxes were less than originally assessed, he said.
Dearden said he hopes for four more years to continue work on other projects vital to Weber County. One is to secure a regional landfill. Another is to find a location for a new industrial park.
"Salt Lake and Davis counties are filling up," he said. "We want to be able to catch them as they head this way."
He also would like to remain part of the fight for transportation dollars.
Dearden, chairman of the joint highway commission, a statewide group of city and county officials that looks at transportation needs, said there is a need for $500 million in road projects in the next 20 or 30 years."With the economy, it's going to become even more of an issue, trying to fund roads."
