This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As a Helper resident and longtime supporter of former Mayor Dean Armstrong, I was disappointed to hear he had again been arrested for drunken driving ("Helper mayor resigns following third DUI arrest," Tribune, Feb. 24).
I'm disappointed his previous DUIs weren't resonant enough to prevent another occurrence. But I'm not disappointed to have supported a person who has greatly improved the quality of life in our town.
When a citizen adamantly asked the mayor to step down from office at a City Council meeting last year, no one in that room agreed with his decision to drive while intoxicated. Many believed his issues needed to be addressed somewhere other than the court of public opinion, but we were grateful when he agreed to finish his term and help complete the major, multi-million dollar infrastructure upgrade he had spearheaded.
With his recent offense, it was clearly time for him to end his time in public office. However, he deserves to be known for his many contributions and accomplishments — not just his mistakes.
Melanie Steele
Helper