I feel as though I lost a good friend — Paul Rolly’s column. “Rolly and Wells” and, later, “Rolly” have long been a mandatory read for those of us interested in Utah politics, government and business.

I first became acquainted with Paul in the 1980s when he regularly reported on Utah utility regulation. I served on the Public Service Commission at that time and was often interviewed by Paul. On Sunday, July 23, 2006, I (along with my colleague Alan Moll and other unsuccessful political candidates) was the grateful subject of his opinion section article, “Political Winners and Losers.”

Paul’s reporting will be greatly missed and I wish him every success in his life after The Salt Lake Tribune. I also hope for a successful continuation of The Tribune — particularly in this age of reliance on electronics. Having an independent, objective local newspaper is imperative to the value of creating an informed community.

Again, my best to Paul and The Tribune.

Brent H. Cameron, Salt Lake City