This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The revolving door between Salt Lake City Hall and the County Government Center continued this week with the confirmation of Rick Graham as the county's new executive over suburban townships and metropolitan services.
Graham was Salt Lake City's public services director for the past 19 years, a level of experience that made him quite desirable to both County Mayor Ben McAdams and the County Council.
"Experience is huge," Councilman Steve DeBry said after learning that Graham has 36 years of government service overall, starting at Raging Waters, where he was an assistant manager of the Wild Wave ride.
"The depth and width of the experience he brings to the table," DeBry added, "you can't put a price tag on it."
Graham left city employment when new Mayor Jackie Biskupski, formerly a top assistant to County Sheriff Jim Winder, decided not to retain him.
He was replaced temporarily by April Townsend, who came over from the County Library System and returned to it just weeks later after she decided the new city job required too much time while she tries to finish her doctorate.
Townsend was one of five management-level officials who left Salt Lake County for Salt Lake City after Biskupski's November election, a flow eased by the fact both administrations are Democratic.
Patrick Leary, now Biskupski's chief of staff, previously held the position filled by Graham. Leary's deputy is David Litvack, who had run the county's Criminal Justice Advisory Council.
There's also Mike Reberg, the former county animal services director whose nomination as Biskupski's director of public utilities sparked strong enough objections that he withdrew his name from consideration. Biskupski later made him the city's neighborhood and economic development director.
And Julio Garcia made a move from the county's human resource department to the city's.
The flow of talent reversed late last month, when McAdams hired Karen Hale, who was former Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's community-relations director, to fill a newly created position as the county's associate chief administrative officer.
Like Graham, Hales comes to the county with considerable experience. She served eight years in the state Senate and is on a number of community boards, including those for Primary Children's Hospital, Intermountain Healthcare, Visit Salt Lake, Utah Film Center and KUED.
"She is known for her ability to engage everyone in an effort to solve problems and make progress," McAdams said. "She'll be a strong advocate for effective policy."
Graham, he added, was selected after an extensive search that turned up several highly qualified candidates whose applications were vetted by a group of people involved with public services in unincorporated areas.
"We're lucky to have him here, considering his background," McAdams said, noting Graham ran a department with a $94 million annual budget, nearly 600 employees, four divisions and 14 municipal-service programs.
In the county, he will oversee the creation of five metro townships Jan. 1 and manage the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District, which will provide services such as snow removal, street lighting and animal control to township residents and, potentially, contracting cities.
"I will come in with my eyes open," Graham said, "and feel confident and comfortable I can work through it."