ETHICS INITIATIVE IN BRIEF

www.utahethics.org

Because:

* Utah is one of only ten states without an independent ethics commission.

* Utah is one of only five states without campaign contribution limits.

* Utah has been graded F and D- on its disclosure reporting.

* 85% of Utahns want legislative ethical reforms.

The Ethics Initiative:

Bans:

* Gifts by lobbyists and corporations to legislators

* Campaign donations being spent for personal use

* Shifting your donation to other campaigns

* Paid lobbyists from serving as legislators

* Unlimited contributions-places caps on donations

Establishes an Independent Ethics Commission which:

* Applies a strict ethical code for legislators

* Creates ethics training for legislators & staff

* Hears complaints of ethical violations by

legislators and recommends sanctions to the

legislature where merited

If you wish to read the Petition, click here to view in PDF format.

Don't miss this morning's excellent Standard-Examiner editorial, by the way, in which the SE editorial board makes a strong case for a renenergized UEG effort in Weber County to qualify the Citizens' Ethics Initiative for the 2012 ballot:

OUR VIEW: Walk the ethics talk

UPDATE:  Our friends at the Weber County Forum also weigh in on the issue with this.

THERE IS NO DOWNSIDE TO ETHICS REFORM IN UTAH!

Go to Weber County Forum and check out the excellent post entitled Utahns For Ethical Government Update

2nd Annual Brett Earl Family Ski Benefit

Don't miss this great event to help out a Ogden Valley Family

2nd Annual Brett Earl Family Ski Benefit

Friday April 16th

12 noon - 8:00 PM at Powder Mountain

100% of the proceeds from this event will go directly to the Earl family - Darnelle,Riley, Raj, Taj and India.

Powder Mountain will open the Sundown Life and Lodge from 12 noon - 8 PM on Friday 12 April. The fun of skiing and sledding in springtime conditions will be enhanced by live music, a silent auction, snowcat rides and a barbecue. A snowcat will take non-skiers on scenic tours of Lightning Ridge.

A minimum donation of $15 per person will provide participants with either a Sundown lift pass or one ride on the Lightning Ridge snowcat.

Passes are available at www.powdermountain.com or at the Sundown Lodge on the day of the event. For more information or to make a donation for the silent auction, call (801)745-3772 or email info@powdermountain.com.

Donations may also be made to the Brett Earl Family Education and Mission Fund at any Goldenwest Credit Union.

Bischoff Defeated 377 - 126 -- Change is Coming!

Ogden Valley and Weber county residents will see change in 2011 as Weber County Commissioner Bischoff was soundly defeated during Saturday's Weber County GOP convention.  Don't miss these sage comments by "Time for a change" in response to this morning's Weber County Forum report.   

While we assume he has done some good for some in the County, on many occasions over the years, we at the forum have tried to contact Mr. Bischoff via phone and email, and not once has he responded.

We hope our replacement commissioner will remember the citizens whom he or she is supposed to represent.

Don't miss the rest of the comments below the post, then be sure to return here to add your 2 cents.


By Time for a change

What great news for Weber County citizens that Ken Bischoff will no longer be a member of the Weber County Commission after November.

Goodbye and good riddance. He was never a friend of the citizens of Ogden Valley with his rude and boorish behavior while on the Commission.

He was the one Commissioner that seldom responded to e-mails or telephone calls from citizens, and acted like he worked for the developers and real estate people rather than the citizens of Weber County.

There was also a little matter of when he refused to recuse himself from a hearing on a property issue in Ogden Canyon that somehow resulted in a favorable ruling for a family member.

We now have a wide open race for that County Commission seat and we all should support Amy Wicks. It is time for the people of Weber County to stand up and be counted for a needed change in philosophy and attitude with our elected officials.

Amy Wicks For the Weber County Commission

Amy Wicks For the Weber County

Commission

The Ogden Valley Forum supports Amy Wicks for the Weber County Commission. Amy has shown to be a skilled politician and a highly regarded Ogden City Council member.

If you would like to work on her campaign go to www.amywicks.org

If you wish to financially support Amy Wicks in her run, please send your contribution to:

Amy Wicks for Weber County Commissioner

P.O. Box 6131

Ogden, UT 84401