By MEGAN CHRISTOFFERSON
megan@du2.byu.edu
If elected, Richard Mack hopes to lead law enforcement in Utah County in a new direction: away from the complacency and lack of leadership that plague the current administration.
According to Mack, the big issue in this race for Utah County Sheriff is Utah County's high crime rate. He wants voters to break with the status quo because it hasn't been working.
'First of all, I'd attack crime from the grass roots level,' Mack said. 'By bringing different ideas to the table, we will help prepare Utah County to meet the demands of a growing population.'
Mack wants the Sheriff's Office to get closer to the community. He would involve citizens in promoting public safety by working with law enforcement and churches, and in schools and neighborhoods to cut back on crime.
Mack said he also wants to massage the budget to get deputies a decent wage with which to support their families.
'It's time for a change, it's time to stop the complacency that has saturated law enforcement,' Mack said.
Mack thinks that between the candidates, the race has been very clean. However, outside people involved have dirtied the waters quite a bit.
'(In this election) there's been more outside shenanigans and dirt than in any of the other four elections I've run in,' Mack said. 'But, it's been the cleanest between the candidates. I have no complaints against Bateman.'
The latest controversy in Mack's campaign has been his involvement with a company currently under investigation by the FBI.
Mack claims there is no truth to the allegations against him. Concerning the investigation Mack would say to voters: 'If elected, I'll protect them from the same thing. If they do it to me they can do it to you. They brought me into this investigation,(I didn't).'
According to Mack, his campaign has been working hard to improve voter turnout.
'We've been sending out flyers, calling everybody and placing ads in the newspaper. I don't know what else we can do,' Mack said.
Mack cites among his qualifications for the position his work as a city cop and a sheriff and his 11 years with the Provo police department.
'I have the leadership to take a stand instead of going along with the status quo to fit in. I will not hide in the main stream from the duties that are required to get the job done,' Mack said.
Mack also wants to get BYU students involved in safety in Provo.
'I want to get the BYU and college students involved in traffic safety,' Mack said. 'I'd like the university to give students information about problems with traffic safety. I'd like to implement educational programs with students so they know what to do in helping keep this a good place to live and drive.'
Mack is also trying to work out an internship with the BYU sociology department to give students the opportunity to help with juvenile delinquents and dysfunctional families in the area.
Mack is 45 years old and has been a resident of Provo on and off for about 13 or 14 years. He served as a Provo police officer for 11 years and as Sheriff of Graham County, Ariz. from 1988 to 1996. Mack is a BYU graduate in Latin American studies and sociology.