Top Priorities

1. Vote to re-institute control over the County's fiduciary responsibilities
The first order of business when I am elected is to understand completely and fully our County's budget along with actual revenue and expenses and then work to meet the County's fiduciary responsibilities.
My Democrat opponent has voted for a $20 Million bond issue to be placed before the voters when:
a. the County's real estate dealings are under a Utah state full legislative audit, which may cost us millions.
b. the County's Public Health building is currently from $2 million to $3.5 million over budget. How can that happen? Why?
c. Chris Robinson at the 9/15/10 County Council meeting is on record stating to the County Auditor regarding the financial budget numbers he was giving the Council, "..we never had our heads around it.." and "..we would go away pacified..". This from a Council member with a Bachelor's in Accounting and CEO of a company "having extensive dealings in the county"? How, after over 1.5 years, could Chris not have his head around the numbers the County Auditor is producing? Something is wrong.
d. apparently State law requires that counties have at least 5 percent of their general fund revenues available in the unreserved portion of the fund. But the county's 2009 annual financial report showed Summit County with a $1.6 million deficit in the general fund's unrestricted accounts. Pat Parkinson of the Park Record wrote, "Members of the Summit County Council were surprised by the negative balance in the general fund. Councilman Chris Robinson asked if deeper funding cuts were needed to keep County Courthouse budgets balanced. "I see people making more drastic adjustments than what we have made," Robinson said. Thus admitting that the County is not in control of it's fiduciary responsibilities.
e. this Council's spending and lack of oversight on top of the potential sunset of the Bush tax cuts, estate taxes going through the roof, dividends being taxed at a much higher rate, the continued implementation of ObamaCare, etc. makes for some bleak financial prospects for the county citizenry. To help mitigate this, we must get the County's fiduciary responsibilities under control.

2. Vote to roll back Progressive Democrat programs
After a year and a half of Obama's Progressive Democrat like policies at nearly all levels of government, do you believe your personal property rights are more secure, are you better off now then two years ago, are you paying less for government, and do you believe your grandchildren will be better off than you? If your answers are no, then it is time to roll back Progressive Democrat programs and policies.

3. A more open county government.
In researching my opponent's voting history it became clear that the Sire system that the County has adopted for maintaining its records is not easy to use and is time consuming. How are voters in the County going to get the information they need as to a Council member's voting record? Answer: When elected, I will keep an unofficial website which will contain a list of relevant votes of the members along with a brief description of the question voted upon. Additionally, I have started a website entitled, "Tell Shumway" which contains forums for getting County information out to the citizens and for citizens to express their opinions and hold open discussions. We cannot expect to have a more open government when individuals with extensive business dealings in the county are elected to office. Even if the individuals are above reproach, there would always be the insinuations. That, and how can they conduct county business, your business, when they have to recues themselves from various discussions and votes?

Vote Gary Shumway for Summit County Counsel, Seat 'D'