‘Same since day 1’: Washington County swears in elected officials, many for their first official terms

ST. GEORGE — Washington County’s elected officials were sworn into new terms of office on Tuesday with little fanfare. This included the entire County Commission, county clerk/auditor and county attorney.

L-R: Washington County Commissioner Victor Iverson, County Attorney Eric Clarke and Commissioners Adam Snow and Gil Almquist being sworn into office, St. George, Utah, Jan. 3, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

While Commissioners Victor Iverson and Gil Almquist enter into their third and second terms respectively, Adam Snow enters his first official term as a commissioner, having been previously appointed to the position by the Washington County GOP central committee in July 2021 following the retirement and subsequent death of Commissioner Dean Cox due to cancer.

Snow is one of five elected positions in the county’s Republican Parry within the last two years that has necessitated either an appointment or special election to fill an office vacated by an elected official prior to the end of their term.

Each commissioner won their respective races against their Democrat opponents in the general election last year.

In addition to Snow, Washington County Attorney Eric Clarke was appointed by the commission in February 2020 to fill the spot vacated by County Attorney Brock Belnap who resigned his position to take a job with the Washington County Water Conservancy District. Clarke was sworn into the post later that month.

In this file photo, L-R: Former Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher speaking with Washington County Attorney Eric Clarke, St. George, Utah, Nov. 30, 2021 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Unlike other positions that require a special election held within the Republican Party, interim county attorneys can be appointed by the commission directly.

Clarke won his general election race against Libertarian challenger Robert Latham.

At the same time Snow ran in his special election with the party to fill Cox’s seat till the next general election, Susan Lewis was also vying for the position of county clerk/auditor following the pending retirement of then Clerk/Auditor Kim Hafen. She secured the position in the central committee’s special election and, like Snow, went on to win an official term in the general election the following year.

In the general election, Lewis took over 90% of the vote to write-in challenger Patricia Kent.

While not present for the oath of office at the commission meeting, Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby also began his official term as the county’s top law enforcement officer. He was elected to the position by the Washington County Republican Central Committee in December 2021 following the announced retirement of Sheriff Cory Pulsipher.

In this file photo, Washington County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Nate Brooksby speaks to the Washington County Commission about dispersed camping issues, St. George, Utah, Aug. 17, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Washington County/CEC, St. George News

Pulsipher retired soon after, citing cancer as the reason for his stepping down. He died in May 2022 following a 35-plus-year career in law enforcement.

Brooksby was unopposed in the general election.

Also appointed to public office via a special election due to a legislator’s resignation is Rep. Colin Jack, who represents House District 73 (formerly District 62). He was appointed to fill the position left by Rep. Travis Seegmiller last year.

Seegmiller announced his resignation from office in May, noting in his letter to the Utah House Speaker that he and his family had found an opportunity to pursue the farming lifestyle somewhere outside of District 73.

The central committee selected Jack to fill Seegmiller’s seat for the remainder of the year and he was appointed by Gov. Spencer Cox to the House 73 seat soon after.

This was prior to the Republican primary election held last July, which Jack won. He went on to run unopposed in the general election

In this file photo, Colin Jack during a candidate debate for House District 73 had at the Dixie Convention Center, St. George, Utah, May 19, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

In similar cases in the past where a Republican candidate was appointed to state office prior to the general election, opposition candidates have cried foul, saying that it gives the Republican the advantage of incumbency and does not respect the democratic process.

While their introduction to public office may not have come through traditional means, Snow said it doesn’t change much and he and others will continue on as they have since originally being sworn in as interim appointees.

“The job has been the same since day one,” he said. “It’s not like I get more duties or something newly assigned.”

Snow added that he appreciates there being a process in place that allows an empty seat filled in quick fashion so the “work of the people” can continue without much interruption.

The process by which county officials are replaced when a vacancy occurs is outlined by the state.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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