This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I am a resident of Piute County. According to the 2016 election results, the reddest county in Utah. Donald Trump won 87 percent of the vote in Piute County, more than any other county in Utah.
Several days ago I sent emails to Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, and Rep. Chris Stewart. I also sent an email to Utah Rep. Mike Noel. The subject of my email was my opposition to the effort taking place to repeal the designation of the Bears Ears National Monument and shrink the size of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The following day I received a response from Hatch and Stewart. A canned response, but a response nonetheless. Lee's office and Noel's office, however, were silent.
How am I to understand this silence? In Lee's case, I live in the reddest county in Utah. His concern is with residents in counties with more Democratic voters who could cause trouble for him when he comes up for re-election. He doesn't represent me no matter my party affiliation. And what of Noel? It appears that his bid to head the Bureau of Land Management is his top priority, not the concerns of his constituency.
John L. Williams
Marysvale