The former Republican Utah County commissioner - who had several run-ins with the law toward the end of his 1994-2002 commission stint - pulled out of this year's commission race Tuesday, a mere four days after entering the contest.
Although Gardner filed by Friday's deadline, he did so without party affiliation. State law requires unaffiliated candidates to turn over 300 petitions of support to run, something Gardner did not have.
Neither Gardner nor county election officials caught the mistake until after the deadline. The county decided Monday to give Gardner until today at 4 p.m. to obtain the signatures.
But Gardner said he decided the county should disqualify him because he didn't file on time with the petitions.
“I am willing to accept that consequence,” Gardner said Tuesday. “While the county is willing to make that allowance, statutes are there for a reason. I'm willing to live by the law.”
Utah County Elections Coordinator Sandy Hoffman confirmed Gardner no longer is a candidate.
Incumbent Steve White now faces competition from Republicans Bill Ellis and Shirrel Robinson Young along with Democrat Joseph Brierley.
Gardner made headlines in 1999, when he was accused of driving under the influence. That charge later was dismissed. But, in 2001, he pleaded guilty to a separate DUI count.
The former two-term commissioner said Tuesday a lot of factors influenced his decision to bow out of this year's race. Although Gardner maintains he could have obtained the necessary signatures - he reported having 128 by Tuesday morning - family considerations made him think otherwise.
"Why do I need to put my family through that again?" Gardner said. "When I consider all those things in total, it's just flat not worth it."
He said his mistakes represented lapses in judgment and that he has paid the price for his errors “900 times.”
Still, he argues his past personal problems should remain just that - past and personal.
“There was never a question about me doing my job and doing it well and fulfilling my oath with fidelity,” Gardner said. "Any place but Utah County that wouldn't have amounted to a pile of beans.”
thollingshead@sltrib.com
