Some members on the Salt Lake County Council argue that council aide Chad Bennion is robbing taxpayers by pulling a full-time county paycheck while mounting his mayoral campaign for the state's 12th-largest community.
He should consider an unpaid leave of absence, two council Democrats suggested.
Bennion, who was not present during Tuesday's council meeting, is an aide to Republican Marv Hendrickson. The 40-year-old assistant recently announced his candidacy to unseat mayoral incumbent Dan Snarr. And in a tasty election twist, Bennion must also face County Councilman David Wilde, also a Republican and Bennion's former boss.
But Wilde had nothing to do with the proposal to make Bennion bolt before November's election. Instead, the idea was hatched in secret by Democrats Joe Hatch and Jim Bradley.
"Should the county taxpayer be paying him to campaign for a job where they will not be getting the benefit," said Hatch, adding the idea of taking on a county colleague "intrinsically bothered me."
Hendrickson says he did not encourage or discourage Bennion's decision to run. But he insists his aide, who makes just over $50,000, will not be paid for hours spent on the stump.
"If in fact that [becomes a full-time campaign] we'll go on a full unpaid leave of absence," Hendrickson added.
Bradley worries that flexible standards could allow the County Council to become a platform or "political breeding ground."
Yet, he and Hatch praised Bennion for taking an unpaid 45-day leave during the three years he served in the Legislature while working as a council aide. Both say they are not targeting Bennion personally.
Council Republicans showed less zeal in drafting new policy, but agreed exempt employees who decide to run for elected office should have their hours cut to avoid conflict. "It scares me to make policy based on what might happen in the future," said council Chairman Michael Jensen.
Eventually, the council agreed to postpone rewriting the rules until after this year's election. Instead, a member from each GOP and Democratic caucus will huddle in November with the council's fiscal analyst to discuss tightening pay standards.
