Dear Senator Romney,
I started with the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee right before you did in January, 1999. You made amazing strides to make the 2002 Olympic Games ethical, solvent and profitable. It was a real win for Utah, especially after the bribery scandal.
A story you shared with the employees during one of your all-hands employee meetings has remained with me ever since, and I’d like to share it as I recall with the readers of The Salt Lake Tribune.
Part of the responsibility of the executives of SLOC was to travel to test events and meetings of other future cities that had won Olympic bids. You told us about how you and your COO, Fraser Bullock, had to travel to Athens, Greece, to attend one of these sessions. You boasted how you had both traveled coach in order to save Delta Airlines sponsor money as that was the right thing to do, and even how you had “made Mr. Bullock walk instead of taking a taxi” to visit one of the historical sites.
You and I would likely not agree politically, but regardless, I’ve shared that story many times over the years with friends and co-workers when they have asked what it was like working under your leadership. My response has always been that you are a good and decent man, who values ethics and understands that perception is often viewed as reality. You did the right thing as a matter of conscience, and encouraged others to do the same, and you did it while no one was watching.
Now, as my senator, I wonder what has happened to you. I saw you on television the other day flouting the rule of law. You are failing to defend our democracy against corruption.
The ethical state of the United States is in shambles. You are allowing horrible things to occur without a fight in the name of the citizens in the state of Utah.
There are children in cages. The president of the United States lies on a daily basis and you do nothing to repudiate it.
Whether your constituents are Republican or Democrat, it doesn’t matter. You were elected to do right by our state, and we are known for our decency.
I once thought you were a man of ethics. I will no longer share my story, as you don’t appear to be the man you were 20 years ago.
Mary Bridwell, Holladay