This is the September 28 - October 11, 1996 update.
October 11, 1996
Contact Vicki Varela, 538-1503
or Paula Ernstrom, 538-1509
Listed below are the highlights of Governor Mike Leavitt's activities over
the past two weeks. Please call if you have any questions.
Issued a memo to his cabinet calling for a new direction in public land management for
the state. "Years of dealing with public land management problems have led me to a key
conclusion: Utahns share a common love of the land," the governor said in the memo.
"There is disagreement on how to protect sensitive lands but a common desire to preserve
them. For decades our efforts have revolved around our conflicts. It is time to build on
what unites us." In the memo, Leavitt called for the wilderness debate to shift to an
incremental approach. "For now, this administration will withdraw from the 'number
game' where the argument centers around acreage figures that are largely symbolic," the
governor said. The efforts of the administration will now focus on finding a contiguous
grouping of Wilderness Study Areas where there is little disagreement. Once such an area
has been identified, Leavitt said a challenge will be issued to all sides of the debate,
"Let's quit arguing and take some beginning steps. Incremental progress is superior to
perpetually deferred perfection. After nineteen years of debate, let's do something. Let's
actually designate wilderness."
The memo also outlines the governor's plan to work with President Clinton and Secretary
Babbitt on the details of the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument. If the president
and the secretary "make good" on their promises, the governor said that the state will not only
come to the table, but will bring resources with it. The governor said, "Done properly, this
monument can become a showcase for environmental management. Done improperly, it could
devastate an area already in severe economic peril." The governor also called for the federal
government to adhere to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and for a quick and fair
exchange of school trust lands. He also sited the Secretary Babbitt's re-inventory of wilderness
in Utah violated the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. "These are actions this
administration cannot ignore and it will be our policy to resist them," the governor said.
Said that if society could make one change that would alter the landscape of the world
and the nature of government and society for the better, that change would be to eliminate
substance abuse. This came during an address to state and community leaders at the
annual Conference on Substance Abuse in Park City. "Law enforcement solutions alone
will not work. We must continue to be vigilant in our efforts but every time we knock
down someone who is responsible for the drugs on our streets, someone else comes along
to take his or her place," the governor said. "We need to focus on changing behaviors, or
we won't make any progress."
Was commended for his efforts in workforce development by the National Alliance of
Business. Utah was recently named State of the Year by the alliance. "With the
implementation of a truly comprehensive education, training and employment system,
Utah has emerged as a national leader in building a quality workforce for America's
future," said Robert T. Jones, president and CEO of the alliance. "Under the leadership of
Governor Michael Leavitt, Utah has developed a big picture vision of workforce
development. This award ought to be a message to any company that Utah is the kind of
place you want to do business." In responding to the award, Governor Leavitt said, "We
are honored to be recognized for our workforce development efforts. One of my primary
goals as governor is to give every citizen the tools for meaningful employment. Our new
department will ensure that job seekers and employers are well served." The alliance has
brought public recognition to exemplary people, companies, states and programs through
its Distinguished Performance Awards program since 1982.
Joined with education leaders from across the state to celebrate the Centennial Schools
program. "I am pleased with the progress our Centennial School program has made over
the past three years. Students all over the state are now receiving more individualized
educations and parents and business are more involved than ever before in education."
The governor said. "Now, we also have Utah's version of charter schools: the Modified
Centennial Schools. This program will provide for even more local control and flexibility
to schools to help students reach their highest level of performance." Representatives
from 64 first-year Centennial Schools and ten new Modified Centennial Schools attended
the celebration. The annual event is sponsored by the Governor's Office, the Centennial
Schools, and the State Office of Education. This year's theme was "Implementing
Change: The Challenge Ahead." Governor Leavitt introduced Centennial Schools at the
beginning of his administration. Centennial Schools are managed from the local level,
with a committee of parents, teachers, school staff, community and business
representatives, as well as school administrators making decisions that are relevant to
each school community. Modified Centennial Schools takes the Centennial School
program an important step forward by providing maximum local control and flexibility to
schools. Modified Centennial Schools may apply for waivers from the state or local
board of education for any rule or policy that prevents or inhibits the school from
achieving performance goals
Attended the dedication of the newly expanded Marriot library on the University of Utah
campus. "This new addition not only will be an added benefit to the students of the
University of Utah, it will also increase the stature of the university," the governor said.
The two-year expansion of the library increased the seating capacity from 1,200 to 3,500
people and more than doubled the shelf space for books. It also features an auditorium
with a 200-seat capacity, instructional-technology classrooms and a computer center with
audio-visual capabilities.
Encouraged Utahns to turn off the violence during YWCA's "Week Without Violence."
Governor Leavitt participated in a "Week Without Violence" event at Washington
Elementary School and thanked the YWCA and Utah Young Lawyers for sponsoring the
week. During his remarks the governor said, "We are all worried and sometimes
frightened, about crime. We are truly saddened by senseless acts of violence that cut
innocent lives short or irreparably damage an innocent life." He went on to outline some
of the things his administration has accomplished including taking the tools of crime out
of the hands of minors and issuing a call to the community for people to become
involved. "We have a shared responsibility to keep our communities safe and to help all
children become productive citizens," the governor said. He thanked the many people
who have taken an active role in preventing crime in their neighborhoods and pointed out
that these people were making a difference. "My hope is that we will end violence on a
more long-term basis. Your efforts here tonight show me that it can happen, one week at
a time," Leavitt said. "We can all begin that long-term goal right now by turning off the
violence."
Thanked the Sloan Foundation for its contribution to the Western Governors University.
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation announced it will award the Western Governors'
Association $500,000 to complete key tasks in the development of the WGU. "Sloan's
experience with other institutions using Asynchronous Learning Networks nationwide
will be invaluable as the WGU proceeds," Leavitt said. "Our goal is to create new
opportunities and new choices for learners throughout the West. While WGU won't
replace the existing system of higher education, it will be an important means of
delivering quality education for all who want it." The Sloan Foundation has awarded $15
million since 1993 to pioneering educational efforts throughout the country that provide
on-demand learning over computer networks, called Asynchronous Learning Networks.
In June, 13 governors signed a memorandum of understanding officially launching the
WGU and agreed to commit $100,000 each to move the project forward. Corporations
are providing additional support.
Urged Utah's Boy Scouts to be keepers of the flame. Governor Leavitt received a warm
response from the 27,000 Boy Scouts and their leaders gathered for the Utah Heritage
Centennial Jamboral. "There is a need in this nation to rekindle basic values, like the
values outlined in the Boy Scout Oath," Leavitt said. "They are a group of behaviors that
when practiced produce a positive result. When they are abandoned, it will produce a
negative result. I charge you to nurture the embers of goodness. It can't be done
collectively. It has to be done individually."
Joined with West Valley City residents to celebrate Utah's second first class city. The
celebration took place at the home of the Warner family who were honored as the family
that put West Valley City over the 100,000 mark.
Appointed Joseph C. Fratto, Jr. as a 3rd District Court Judge. "Joe Fratto is widely
respected in the legal community as a litigator as well as a fair minded, even-tempered
person. He will bring good judgement and leadership to the judicial bench," Governor
Leavitt said. Fratto has been a partner in Fratto & Fratto since 1979, where he specialized
in criminal and domestic law. He previously practiced with the Salt Lake Legal
Defenders Association and was a research analyst for the Department of Public Safety.
He was also a judge pro tempore in the 3rd Circuit Small Claims Court. The new judge
earned his undergraduate and law degrees from University of Utah. He has also taught
paralegal courses at Westminster College and Salt Lake Community College. Fratto
serves on several community boards including the Salt Lake County Children's Justice
Board, the Children's Justice Statewide Advisory Board and the O.C. Tanner Scholarship
Board. He was previously a member of the Pro Bono panel for the Utah State Bar where
he assisted indigent people with domestic relations issues.
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