Breaking News:

Meet the candidate: Alan Wessman for Utah County Commissioner

Oct 1, 2024, 6:00 AM

Alan Wessman...

Alan Wessman is running with the United Utah Party to fill a seat on the Utah County Commission. (https://electawessman.com/)

(https://electawessman.com/)

As Election Day draws near, KSL NewsRadio is interviewing candidates to get their stance on today’s issues. Keep an eye on our election coverage as we continue speaking to the 2024 General Election candidates.

SALT LAKE CITY — Transportation, children’s justice and a possible change to the makeup of the Utah County Commission. These are all issues discussed by Alan Wessman, who is running to fill a seat on the Utah County Commission.

According to Ballotpedia, Wessman ran for the Utah House of Representatives in District 64 in 2022. He lost in the general election.

He spoke with KSL at Night hosts Maura Carabello and Adam Gardiner on Sept. 16, 2024.


This interview has been modified for brevity and clarity.

HOST MAURA CARABELLO:  Utah County is exploding, and has been for decades. It has a major university and several other colleges. It has a young age which makes it appealing, and [also] generations of people. You have natural resources, and South Valley is going nuts.

Please introduce yourself to our listeners.

Alan Wessman and the United Utah Party

ALAN WESSMAN: My name is Alan Wessman, and I am running for the [Utah] County Commission seat with the United Utah party. I’m running with United Utah because I want to be independent of a lot of the silly kind of partisan battles that tend to just distract and waste time in government.

I have been a Utah County resident for 30 years and am a software engineer.

I love thinking about big problems, big systems, different factors and influences.

So when we’re dealing with something like Utah County —which has more than doubled its population since 2000 we’ve got over 700,000 residents— I think it’s really important to have somebody in the Utah County Commission who can both work with people and isn’t partisan minded.

[Someone who] can look at these kinds of big issues that we’ve got, transportation, housing, natural resources, air quality, water consumption, all these different things, and think about them in a balancing, rational, data-centric way.

A change to Utah County government?

HOST ADAM GARDINER: Do you like the county commission form of government, or do you want to see a change?

WESSMAN: I like the county commission form of government for small counties. But for Utah County, over 700,000 people? Having three commissioners trying to do the job and represent the entire county, I think it’s just undersized.

I  feel like our county government structure is not well fitted to the current population and growth of Utah County, and I think that we need to change to a council, executive form of government.

CARABELLO: If you win this seat, how long do you want to be there? How long does it take to make an impact? We were just talking about a major issue, changing the form of government.

WESSMAN: If I’m advocating for a change in the form of county government, then essentially, I’m running to put myself out of a job and I don’t mind that.

I think that it would be a beneficial change. My own place in that isn’t as important as the effects it would have on the people. 

Transportation, children’s justice

GARDINER:  What are some other issues that you care about, that deal with county government?

WESSMAN: I would advocate for better transit options, other ways of getting around … alternatives so that people don’t feel like they have to bring their cars onto the roads and clog them up with everyone else.

I [served on a] a jury at the beginning of the year. It was a difficult case involving a child sex abuse, and that experience opened my eyes to the issue of children’s justice.

The county does have involvement with the Children’s Justice Center, and extending that not only to children’s justice, but also mental health needs and other services the county provides, either through the health department or through other related organizations to make sure that people who are in crisis, people who need help, are getting some resources, some support from the county government.


Listen to the entire interview below:

 

Related: Meet the candidate: Skyler Beltran for Utah County Commissioner

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

This week's freezing temperatures followed by lots of moisture and warmer temperatures could cause ...

Britt Johnson

Recent warmer temperatures could lead to high flooding potential

This week's freezing temperatures followed by lots of moisture and warmer temperatures could cause some flooding.

5 hours ago

Gov. Cox signs union bill into law...

Becky Bruce

Gov. Cox signs union bill into law, despite protests

Gov. Spencer Cox signed HB267, also known as the union bill, which would ban collective bargaining agreements for government employees.

6 hours ago

Multiple groups are saying the federal employee layoffs are likely to have impacts on Utah, especia...

Heather Peterson

Federal employee layoffs likely to impact Utah’s national parks

Multiple groups are saying the federal employee layoffs are likely to have impacts on Utah, especially in the state's national parks.

7 hours ago

FILE - Police Chief Mike Brown and Mayor Erin Mendenhall providing an update on the "Crime Preventi...

MICHAEL HOUCK AND BRIAN CARLSON, KSL TV

Mayor Mendenhall says she forced SLCPD Chief Brown to resign

The mayor of Salt Lake City confirmed that it was her decision to make the city’s police chief step down.

9 hours ago

Aftermath of accident near Green River, Wyoming on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025....

Jacob Freeman

Police investigating fatal crash on I-80 near Green River, Wyoming

Police are investigating a fatal crash on westbound Interstate 80 near Green River in Wyoming.

10 hours ago

FILE - Utah Capitol building. Utah lawmakers begin 2025 session. Utah Legislature is again in sessi...

Adam Small

Utah lawmakers opt not to vote on bill that would make it easier for child case workers to obtain warrants

Utah lawmakers opted not to vote on HB83, a bill that would have made it easier for case workers to obtain search warrants.

10 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Filing taxes online using a computer...

The Law Offices of Jordan F. Wilcox

Tax time is approaching. What to do if you have debilitating IRS debt

Is the IRS threatening you with wage garnishment, asset seizure or business closure? Here are some ideas to resolve your tax dilemma.

Full speed through the snow. A man on skis is pulled by his through the snow at full gallop Skijori...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for an unforgettable skijoring adventure in Bear Lake!

“Skijoring the Bear” takes place this year on February 21-22 in Garden City, Utah.

the bedroom in a geodesic dome shows the night sky...

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon

Your front row to an extraordinary cosmos show

As America's first glass dome stargazing resort, Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular places to stay.

2 people huddled up in a blanket and warm clothes sipping hot chocolate...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Bear Lake

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Bear Lake should definitely be on your radar. Read this guide for more!

big crowd of people under holiday lights in an outdoor market...

Western Nut

Our favorite family Christmas activities in Utah

We gathered up a list of our favorite activities, movies, and treats to try this holiday season that the whole family can enjoy.

an IT tech looks at a laptop in front of a server network...

Comcast Business

Tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks

Check out this resource from Comcast Business to learn more about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.

Meet the candidate: Alan Wessman for Utah County Commissioner