Patrick Saucier wants to see Wasatch County improve. So, he’s running for at-large Seat A on the Wasatch County Council.
Saucier is the only Democrat seeking the seat, while three Republican candidates are hoping to earn their party’s nomination. Seat A is currently occupied by Luke Searle, who is running for Utah House of Representatives District 59 instead.
With experience ranging from the Parks and Recreation Department in Park City to car sales at Karl Malone on Heber City’s Main Street, Saucier said he feels he can be a voice of the people. He currently works in construction and said he is an active member of the Wasatch County community.
“My goal in running for council is really to try and leverage my connections and networking with the community, and get more engaged in the political process in Wasatch County,” Saucier said.
Saucier said he has been attending County Council in recent months and has noticed a theme centered around strengthening Wasatch County’s identity. For him, part of that process involves frequent communication with the public. That’s especially due to rapid growth in the county, which Saucier considers a top issue.
Getting public input, he said, will help shape how Wasatch County handles that growth.
“I think it’s very important that we are up front with the public and say, listen, these plans are out. These projects are happening. We now need you to get involved with the political process so that we can harness this growth and channel it in a way that’s going to benefit both the people developing the land and the people that have been here for generations,” Saucier said.
Saucier said one thing Wasatch County is lacking is more full-time employment opportunities. He said there’s a way to solve that — by bringing more businesses, big and small, to the area. Shying away from “big box” stores, he said, is an “old school mindset” that’s better left behind.
What’s equally important, Saucier said, is ensuring the safety of Wasatch County residents. In August, the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office joined a list of law enforcement agencies across Utah that have agreed to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“I think that is unnecessary, out of line, and needs to be re-looked at,” Saucier said about the agreement.
For Saucier, such a partnership marks “excessive overreach” from the federal government.
“We have an excellent police force in Heber City. We have a phenomenal Sheriff’s department in Wasatch County. I think that they are more than capable of arresting all the criminals that we have in our county,” Saucier said.
Saucier said, if elected, he will work to help Wasatch County grow responsibly from an area with strong agricultural roots to a tourism-oriented county. All that, he said, without losing the county’s roots.
“If you live in Wasatch County and, in the past, you felt like you were unheard, underrepresented or misrepresented, then I will be the first to tell you that I can relate to that, and I will also tell you that we can change,” Saucier said. “It would be an honor to represent Wasatch County.”
Four candidates, including Saucier, are running for at-large Seat A. Saucier is the only Democrat. Republicans Rachel Kahler, William Vance and Steve Farrell are also vying for Seat A. This position is a four-year term. A primary election could be held on June 23 after nominees are chosen at their respective party conventions.