This is the January 18 - 31, 1997 update.
January 31, 1997
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.
Said Utah is ready for the 21st Century. Governor Leavitt gave his State of the State address and
laid out his plans for the next year. During the speech, Governor Leavitt made the following
major points.
Utah is embarking on a ten year, $3.6 billion, statewide road building program. The
experience is much like a home remodeling project where everyone has to put up with
inconveniences because the final product is worth it. It is essential that the funding
formula be affordable and fair.
Utah's workforce services initiative is offering a dignified path to self-sufficiency for
those who need help. The Legislature needs to move forward on the implementation of
the Workforce Services Department. Like a "wise neighbor" the state needs to help out,
but trust people to make their own decisions.
Four years ago, the state set out to make health insurance accessible for every Utahn.
Each year since then, carefully-planned steps have been taken to achieve this goal and
this will continue this year.
Higher education is being reshaped by enormous changes in technology and market
pressures. Fortunately the technology that drives change is also providing solutions like
the Western Governors' University that will deliver a college education using
technology. The headquarters for the WGU will be in Salt Lake City.
Our education investment is paying big dividends with higher standards, smaller classes
and better teacher pay. Technology is changing the classroom in fundamental ways, but
it cannot replace fine teachers.
Keeping our schools and communities safe is a top priority. Parents have the right to
expect that their children will be safe and that their schools will be gun and drug free. It
does no good to pass laws unless there are jails and juvenile facilities to back them up.
An additional 1,200 slots for juveniles and adults in corrections needs to be created this
year.
The presidential candidates in last year's election were selected without meaningful
participation from Utah and most other Rocky Mountain States. Holding a Rocky
Mountain primary early in the process would force candidates to visit the West and get
to know the issues that face it.
The wilderness issue has divided Utah for decades. Both sides of the wilderness debate
hold Utah's canyons, deserts, and mountains sacred, but for different reasons. It is time
for Utahns to stop fighting and start protecting land as wilderness, starting where there is
substantial agreement.
Full text of the 1997 State of the State address.
Announced the appointment of Craig Dearden as Commissioner of Public Safety. Dearden
replaces D. Douglas Bodrero, who retired December 31. Dearden has been sheriff of Weber
County since 1991. During that time, he has expanded citizen involvement, improved
cooperation among law enforcement agencies within the county, worked to achieve grater
diversity in the sheriff's office and used the tools of technology to improve performance. "Craig
has provided outstanding service to the citizens of Weber County as sheriff and to the state as a
member of several boards. His ability to build consensus and his broad perspective will be a
great asset to the department and to the citizens of Utah," the governor said. He is president of
the Utah Sheriff's Association, and serves on many state boards including the State Crime Lab
Board, the Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Criminal Justice Subcommittee, the POST
Council and the Juvenile Justice Review Committee. He is chairman of the Utah State Crime
Lab Advisory Board. Dearden has broad law enforcement experience. He was previously a
sergeant with Pleasant View Police Department, chief of police in North Ogden and an officer
with Weber State University Police Department. Dearden attended Weber State University,
where he obtained degrees in Police Science and English. He has also attended the National
Sheriff's Institute in Longmont, Colorado and the Executive Development Institute in Salt Lake
City.
Appointed Trisha Beck to the Utah State House of Representatives in District 48. Beck replaces
Representative Kurt Oscarson, who passed away earlier this month. Beck owns and manages a
travel consulting business. She has been a long-time advocate for children with disabilities,
education, health care accessability and human services for disadvantaged individuals. In the
late 1980s, she cofounded two disabilities programs. Parent to Parent of Utah helped families
with developmentally disabled children. Parent to Professional of Utah addressed the needs of
physicians, state personnel and others who work with these families. Her advocacy efforts have
led to appointments to state boards and commissions. She is vice chair of the Comprehensive
Health Insurance Pool board and represents consumers on that board. She represented parental
issues on the Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, where she was awarded a master's
advocacy degree. As a member of the Interagency Coordinating Council for Children with
Developmental Disabilities, she helped to draft federal and state legislation on early intervention.
She has served in a number of other community boards, including the Parent Teacher Association
and the Child Protection Team and Children's Center at Primary Children's Medical Center. She
has been recognized by Woman's World magazine as a Woman of Courage -- Making a
Difference." Beck attended Brigham Young University and University of Utah. She is married
to Ron Beck and they are the parents of six children.
Named Southern Utah University professor David Lee Utah's first State Poet Laureate. Lee
enjoys a national reputation for his many poems, particularly regarding Utah rural life. A native
of Lubbock, Texas, Lee received his doctorate degree from the University of Utah and then
started teaching at SUU. He is currently the chair of the Department of Language and Literature
at SUU. He has published more than seven full-length books of poetry. One of these
collections, My Town, was the winner of the 1995 Western States Book Award for Poetry. As
Utah's first Poet Laureate, Lee will have many duties, including the promotion of literature
through speaking and reading appearances at schools, community centers, and other public sites
throughout the state.
Declared A Day of Remembrance for Dr. Martin Luther King. Governor Leavitt signed a
declaration on Human Rights Day in honor of Dr. King and his legacy. He also congratulated
the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP for their efforts to "keep the dream alive."
Joined with the Utah Sports Authority to open the bob/luge track at the Utah Winter Sports park.
The track opened to the public for the first time on January 25 and Governor Leavitt was on
hand to be one of the first people to ride a bobsled on the track. Built by the Utah Sports
Authority for use during the 2002 Winter Olympics, the track is one of three in North America
and one of a dozen in the World. The track will also be used for training and other international
competition. The public can also ride five or six different types of sleds on the new track on ice
in the winter and on wheeled sleds during the summer.
Encouraged Utahns to use alternate transportation methods to reduce traffic congestion along the
Wasatch Front. Governor Leavitt declared every Wednesday during 1997 to be UTA Rideshare
Day, and asked companies and commuters to participate. UTA Rideshare coordinates carpooling
, vanpooling, bicycle commuting, parking management and a guaranteed ride home program at
no cost to Wasatch Front companies or residents. Commuters can receive a computerized match
list from UTA Rideshare that provides names, phone numbers of people who live and work in
their area, have the same work hours, and are interested in carpooling.
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