Tyler Andrus has worked for Salt Lake County. Now he wants to represent it.
The Democratic newcomer, who works as a statistical analyst for the county assessor, announced Monday he will run for the Salt Lake County Council seat that Jeff Allen gave up late last year because of personal troubles.
Although an underdog in a largely conservative district, Andrus, 29, insists that he can better represent the mid- and south valley's suburbs than the three Republicans who have filled that seat in the past four years.
For one thing, he lives west of Interstate 15. Only one of the council's nine council members (Republican Michael Jensen) lives on that side of the valley.
But Andrus also believes his political views would resonate with voters -- even when those views might mean higher taxes. For example, he would have supported a higher tab for property owners to help balance the 2010 budget.
"Nobody wants to increase taxes," he said. "But for services to remain at the levels people have gotten used to, we need the money."
Instead, Andrus said the county slashed salaries (and morale), pushed experience out the door through early retirements and hobbled some basic government services by providing inadequate funding.
That said, Andrus doesn't entirely agree with the county's decision to impose a police fee on unincorporated burbs such as Magna, Kearns and Millcreek. While the fee may have been needed, Andrus complained the process wasn't transparent.
If elected, the Democrat said he would push for transportation improvements along the west side, prop up social programs such as Meals on Wheels and support the valley's small-business community.
Andrus, who holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah, also promised a straight-talking approach to policymaking.
The County Council's District 5 seat now is held by Republican Councilman Steve DeBry, who was named by GOP faithful to complete Allen's term. He is expected to run for his own term this fall.
