Republican incumbent Gary Ott has spent much of 2006 scrambling to defend suspect contract deals and allegations of rampant nepotism.
Auditors ruled the behavior was sloppy, not criminal, but the charges still dog Ott.
Meanwhile, his opponent enters the race after a turbulent stint as the state's utility watchdog for the Committee of Consumer Services. Only problem: Democrat Leslie Reberg once lobbied for a utility company.
And there's this: The candidates don't like each other much.
Welcome to the sweepstakes on who gets to protect your property record.
Ott won the seat when Nancy Workman became county mayor in 2001. Soon after Sept. 11, when property records from other areas perished with the twin towers, he began planning a backup storage system in Lindon to secure Salt Lake County's 10 million documents.
But just as the "hot site" with SIRE Technologies launched this year, the no-bid contract for roughly $400,000 came under fire. County Council members cried foul before and after an audit found Ott cut corners with the contract.
"I followed the rules that were in place at the time," says Ott, insisting the attacks were political. "Nothing was hidden."
Few, including Reberg, question the value of the storage service. But Reberg says the lack of transparency is troubling. "I want to establish a selection process that is open and fair," she says, arguing the audit could have gone further. "One thing I can bring is a level of professionalism."
Reberg cut her political teeth inside the county bureaucracy, serving three former commissioners, including four years as Community Services director.
Ott notes two audits - focused on fine arts funding and the county's equestrian center - found problems during Reberg's tenure as director.
Even so, Reberg maintains her 16 years at the county taught her how to manage budgets and people and make government more efficient. "This race is an opportunity to utilize my strengths and administrative skills for the benefit of county taxpayers," she says.
Reberg downplays any controversy tag either at the county complex or on Capitol Hill. She takes issue with the "lobbyist" label at US West - "I was community-relations manager," she says - and notes even the Committee of Consumer Services chairman who opposed her state appointment as director now is a campaign contributor.
If elected, Reberg wants to establish a users group and ensure open bids.
For his part, Ott hopes to network records information with other county offices and complete a countywide geographic information system, or GIS.
djensen@sltrib.com
Salt Lake County recorder candidates
Gary Ott, incumbent
Age: 55
Party: Republican
Family: Single
Education: Bachelor's degree from Utah State University and a chancellor's certificate in public administration from the University of Missouri.
Career: Owned advertising and photography business for 10 years; Department of Agriculture aerial photography field office, two years; Army veteran.
Political: Ran for Democratic Minority Leader Ralph Becker's House seat in 1990s; Salt Lake County recorder since 2001.
Interesting Fact: Guided multiple photo safaris on trips to Africa.
Leslie Reberg
Age: 45
Party: Democrat
Family: Married to Mike Reberg; one daughter
Education: Attended Utah State University
Career: 16 years of public service in Salt Lake County, including four years as Community Services director, 2001-04; 18 months community-relations director for US West; 10 months, director of the Committee of Consumer Services.
Political: Has never run for public office but served on several county advisory committees; husband is state director for Congressman Jim Matheson.
Interesting Fact: Mom won Ogden City Council seat at her age; compulsive knitter.
GARY OTT, incumbent
* AGE: 55
* PARTY: Republican
* FAMILY: Single
* EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree from Utah State University and a chancellor's certificate in public administration from the University of Missouri.
* CAREER: Owned advertising and photography business for 10 years; Department of Agriculture aerial photography field office, two years; Army veteran.
* POLITICAL: Ran for Democratic Minority Leader Ralph Becker's House seat in 1990s; Salt Lake County recorder since 2001.
* INTERESTING FACT: Guided multiple photo safaris on trips to Africa.
LESLIE REBERG
* AGE: 45
* PARTY: Democrat
* FAMILY: Married to Mike Reberg; one daughter
* EDUCATION: Attended Utah State University
* CAREER: 16 years of public service in Salt Lake County, including four years as Community Services director, 2001-04; 18 months community-relations director for US West; 10 months, director of the Committee of Consumer Services.
* POLITICAL: Has never run for public office but served on several county advisory committees; husband is state director for Rep. Jim Matheson.
* INTERESTING FACT: Mom won Ogden City Council seat at her age; compulsive knitter.
S.L. County recorder candidates
