Standard-Examiner Guest Op-ed: Old and New Mayors Have Both Accepted Tainted Contributions

If you were Mike Caldwell in this circumstance, what would you do with Gadi Leshem's grubby $3,000 campaign "donation?"

When we questioned Caldwell about accepting the $3,000, he said he did so because he didn't want to send the message that he was unwilling to work with Leshem. As a result, he is sending the message to everyone else in Ogden that you can't "work with" someone in this town unless money changes hands.

Dan Schroeder - Std-Ex Guest Editorial
Old and new mayors have both accepted tainted contributions
January 3, 2012

“There are two things that are important in politics,” Mark Hanna, the great Republican kingmaker of the late 19th century, once said. “The first thing is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.”

David D. Kirkpatrick - New York Times
Does Corporate Money Lead to Political Corruption?
January 23, 2010

Chewy Standard-Examiner guest editorial up on the S-E website this afternoon, by Ogden Ethics Project Director Dan Schroeder, referring to the $10,000 campaign donation which Friend of Matt Godfrey (FOM) Gadi Leshem coughed up to the Matthew Godfrey mayoral campaign in 2007. Professor Schroeder then follows it up by reeling off the litany of inexplicable Godfrey "favors" subsequently heaped by the Godfrey Administyration upon Leshem in the election aftermath.

Professor Schroeder then, indirectly at least, hints at what we consider to be the pregnant question: "Should our newly-inagurated Mike Caldwell return the Gadi Leshem $3,000 donation which was contributed to Mike Caldwell's "campaign" on the day BEFORE (not after) the November 8, 2011 Ogden Municipal election?"

Check Out Dan's full Guest Commentary here:

• Old and new mayors have both accepted tainted contributions

So what about it, Gentle readers? Will the Caldwell Administration be permanently "tainted" by its ill-considered acceptance of this campaign donation bribe "gift?" Is Professor Schroeder the only one who finds it "remarkable that any politician would openly accept money from such a person (as Leshem)?" Does it remain "clear," as Dan Schroeder suggests, that even upon today's inauguration of Mike Caldwell as Ogden City's new Mayor, "... a mere change in administration won't lessen the need for ethical scrutiny?" Cutting to the chase... if you were Mike Caldwell in this circumstance, what would you do with Gadi's grubby $3,000 campaign "donation?"

So many questions... so few answers...

Standard-Examiner: Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell Will Seek a Second Term

Granted, "he's not Godfrey" sets a pretty low standard for approving another term. But still, given a choice between Mayor Log and Mayor Stork, we'd prefer the former

Mayor Mike on His Mountain Bike

Interesting story this morning on the local Ogden City news front, as the Standard's Cathy McKittrick announces the first news development pertaining to the upcoming 2015 Ogden City Municipal election:

• Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell will seek a second term

Our view? It makes perfect sense that Mayor Mike would throw his hat into the ring for a second go-round, inasmuch as recent City Council actions seem to be leaning toward making elected Ogden City offices even more pecuniarily attractive than now.

As for the prospect of Mike Caldwell serving a second Mayoral term of office, we're going to go along with Gentle Reader Bob Becker on this:

So, the question before this body is: does Mayor Mike "Ten Speed" Caldwell deserve another term? He claims in the interview accomplishments that are not his (e.g. the LDS temple redo and open house tours, etc.) But all politicians do that. No harm no foul. And as Ozboy notes, it's been a calm and quiet Caldwell administration compared to his predecessor's. Ten Speed has not, thank whatever gods may be, gone about playing Junior G Man, following the wives of police officers around the mean streets of Ogden to see if their husbands are political opponents. And he has not proposed selling Mt. Ogden Park to real estate developers to build a flatland public money pit gondola to WSU --- again, thanks whatever gods may be.
Granted, "he's not Godfrey" sets a pretty low standard for approving another term. But still, given a choice between Mayor Log and Mayor Stork, I'd prefer the former. [...]

We'll file this story as the first entry within the Weber County Forum topic heading, 2015 Municipal Elections.

Let the games begin!

And what say you, O Gentle Ones?

Beware of Mayoral Candidate Mike Caldwell's Ongoing "Push Poll"

Disappointing campaign conduct from one of our Emerald City mayoral candidates

By Curmudgeon

I am sorry to report that Mayoral candidate Mr. Mike Caldwell apparently has a telephone push poll currently going on. You're asked which of the 8 candidates you would vote for right now, and if you push a number indicating anyone other than Caldwell [as someone in our house did], a string of "candidate specific" questions begins. They take this format: "If you knew Mike Caldwell was president of the Ogden Visitors and Convention Bureau" [or Weber County's], would you be more likely to vote for him or less likely. Push one for more likely. Push two for less likely." There is no "no opinion" or "no difference" option offered. Other alleged "poll questions" go on in the same vein. After a while, our house member hung up and didn't finish out the alleged poll, which the recorded voice promised would take no longer than three minutes.

This is not a poll, I think. It's a campaign robo call evidently designed to parade Mr. Caldwell' s qualifications before those who indicate that at the moment do not intend to vote for him. And as such it's a sleazy business. Candidates with a sound grasp of ethical conduct in re: campaigns should not sink to such tactics.

I am disappointed. Our house is split on candidates for the primary. I'd been, lately, leaning a bit toward Caldwell. The leaning has come to a halt. I'm going to have to reconsider. If you can't campaign straight up, what does that say about the public official you are likely to be if elected?

I am really disappointed.

Standard-Examiner: How Do You Make Ogden a College Town?

The Mike Caldwell administration wants to Know What You Thinks!

In the wake of the Mike Caldwell adminstration's apparent deep-sixing of the short-lived (and ridiculous)  Boss Godfrey-inspired ("family-friendly") "Winterfest", it now appears that what's left of Boss Godfrey's Ogden City Economic Development Department is reverting to a possible Ogden City promotional idea which actually might have some long-term legs:  This morning's S-E headline asks the question:

• How do you make Ogden a college town? 

For those Ogdenites who'd mistakenly believed that Ogden is already a "college town," here are some of the important criteria for top "college towns," according to AIER (The American Institute for Economic Research, hahaha:

• Student Concentration: number of college students per 1,000 population
• Student Diversity: percentage of student body that are non-U.S. residents
• Research Capacity: academic R&D expenditures per capita
• Degree Attainment: percent of the 25-to-34-year-old population with bachelor’s degree or higher 
• Cost of Living: based upon average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment
• Arts and Leisure: number of cultural and entertainment venues per 100,000 population
• City Accessibility: percentage of workers over age 16 who commute on foot or by public transportation or bicycle
• Creative Class: percentage of workforce in the arts, education, knowledge industries, science and engineering, management and other fields
• Earning Potential: income per capita 
• Entrepreneurial Activity: net annual increase in total number of business establishments per 100,000 population
• Brain Gain/Drain: year-over-year ratio of population with B.A. degree (it is only population with B.A degree, not all the college level) living in the area 
• Unemployment rate

Don't forget to tell Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell how to deal with these metrics and issues, People, just so's you can throw in your own 2¢.

Here's the link to the Ogden City survey on this topic, btw, via the ever-awesome Survey Monkey:

• College Town Survey

Don't forget to fully participate, Ogden Peeps!

Surprise of surprises, the Mike Caldwell administration wants to Know What You Thinks!

Final 2011 Ogden City Municipal Election Financial Disclosure Statements

We'll be sitting on the edges of our seats waiting to find out whether Boss Godfrey-style crony capitalism will remain a feature of Ogden City government under Mike Caldwell's new administration

Thanks to a tip from another sharp-eyed and alert Weber County Forum reader, we're reminded that the final 2011 Ogden City Municipal Elections financial disclosure statements were due for filing on December 8, 2011. We've accordingly updated our archives pages to reflect these new filings, which are now available online. You can view these documents here, imbedded within each individual candidate page:

• 2011 Ogden City General Election Candidate Roster

Among these document there is one which we found to be particularly interesting, which reports a total of $3,000 in last minute donations to Mayor-elect Mike Caldwell from two Gadi Leshem-controlled entities in Chatsworth, California, i.e., Riverwalk Company LP and Ogden Riverfront Development Company LP:

• Fourth Set 12/8/11: Mike Caldwell

Although we're aware that Mr. Leshem may have recently fallen upon difficult economic circumstances, it's also apparent that Mr. Leshem recognises that the name of the political game in Ogden City may very well remain "Pay to Play," even upon the departure of Mayor Godfrey.

Will Boss Godfrey-style crony capitalism be a feature of Ogden City government under Mike Caldwell's new administration?

We'll be sitting on the edges of our seats waiting to find out.

Fox 13 News: Mayors Urge Utah Lawmakers to Deal with Dirty Air

Hopefully Mayor Mike will keep the pressure on Governor Herbert and the Utah Legislature to get off their derrieres and do something about Utah's toxic air, which, sadly, is among the worst in the nation

Breathe much?

A hearty Weber County Tip O' the Hat to Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell for joining with Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and going public with a plea to the state legislature to do something about our increasing Wasatch Front air pollution. According to Fox 13 News, "[on] Thursday, the mayors of Salt Lake City and Ogden unveiled a list of proposals to deal with Utah’s air quality, including more emphasis on people to drive less and use more mass transit. The mayors also pushed for legislative and regulatory actions to improve the air":

Here's Mayor Mike's comment on this issue, urging a bi-partison legislative and regulatory approach:

Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell said the air quality is an issue that affects both Republicans and Democrats, and it’s bad for business.
“I’ve certainly heard from a lot of those businesses that have relocated in the outdoor industry and say, ‘Hey this is a real issue. It needs to be given serious attention,’ and that’s the business side,” Caldwell said. “But there’s the regular resident that wants to get around and they may have asthma and breathing problems or they just want to go out and exercise.”

As an added bonus, we embed below yesterday's full Fox News video story:


We'll also delightedly remark in passing that it's great to finally have a mayor in Ogden who's truly worthy of high praise, for the first mayoral term of office during the nearly eight years of Weber County Forum's web publishing existence. Granted, Caldwell's predecessor did set the performance bar at a dismally low level.

Hopefully Mayor Mike will keep the pressure on Governor Herbert and the Utah Legislature to get off their derrieres and do something about Utah's toxic air, which, sadly, is among the worst in the nation. As Mayor Mike sez, bad air is bad for business, especially when we're touting ourselves as an outdoor recreation mecca. Our supposedly business-oriented Utah elected officials should immediately write this down so they don't forget it, no?

Great job, Mayor Caldwell. We're proud of ya's.

Update 2/15/13 4:33 p.m.: More on this story from the Salt Lake Tribune:

• Mayors join chorus seeking cleaner air imperatives from Legislature

Standard-Examiner: Greiner Severance Package Totals $77,300

Sodden Reader Query: Did the concerted acts of both Greiner and Boss Godfrey paint incoming Mayor Mike Caldwell so deeply into a corner that Caldwell has no alternative but to "go along" with what some might characterise as Greiner's Golden parachute?

This morning's Standard-Examiner is running a story this morning which is bound to give fiscally frugal Ogden City taxpayers heartburn, as Scott Schwebke reports that one of the final acts of the Boss Godfrey administration was the awarding of a $77,300 severance package to Chief Greiner, who was "fired from his job last month because of a federal Hatch Act violation." Here's the lede:

OGDEN -- Former Police Chief Jon Greiner, who was fired from his job last month because of a federal Hatch Act violation, will receive a severance package from the city with a gross value of $77,300.
The package stems from a settlement agreement Greiner and former Mayor Matthew Godfrey signed Dec. 30, according to records obtained by the Standard-Examiner.
The payout equals six months of Greiner's salary and accrued health, dental, vacation, vehicle and retirement benefits.
In exchange for the severance package, Greiner has released the city from any future legal claims.
The severance package given to Greiner is standard for all city department directors, Mayor Mike Caldwell said.

Check out the full story here:

• Greiner severance package totals $77,300

At least one of our WCF readers was earlier wondering why Greiner's involuntary termination might entitle him to a severance pay package, inasmuch as he was "fired for cause," i.e., "because of a federal Hatch Act violation."

Being the curious type, and intrigued by our gentle reader's query, we "googled" the underlying rules, of course.

Turning to the Ogden City Code, we find that the provisions governing Ogden City employee "Classification and Pay Plans" are governed by Ogden City Code Section 2-6-9.

The rules for the denial of of severance pay benefits to "involuntarily terminated" Ogden City employee are spelled out in Subsection F.

It does seem to us that there is one provision within that subsection which might operate to prohibit the payment of a severance package to Chief Greiner, although it's a mite thin, in our view:

3. Prohibition: Severance pay shall not be paid to an otherwise eligible employee who:
a. Has been terminated or requested to resign under bona fide charges of nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance in office

The terms nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance are technical "words of art"of course. Click the links below for some commonly-used general definitions:

• Nonfeasance
• Misfeasance
• Malfeasance

So what about it Gentle readers? When you apply the above general definitions and principles of law to the facts of the Greiner Hatch Act problem, can an valid argument be made that Greiner's severence package is prohibited by the Ogden City Code, due to acts of nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance on Greiner's part? In ignoring the demands of the federal Office of Special Council in 2006 to either drop out of his State Senate race, or alternatively to resign his office as Ogden's Chief of Police, did Greiner wilfully or negligently breach a duty owed to his employer, Ogden City, to refrain from a course of action which would jeopardise Ogden City's federal grant funding? Did Greiner's good-faith exercise of what we've called on WCF the Richard Perkins defense (Ogden's Hatch Act Compliance Program) operate as an excuse for his failure to heed the OSC's warnings? Did Ogden City's failure to fire Greiner early on, and instead to cooperatively join with Greiner in his Hatch Act litigation obviate any argument that Greiner acted in a manner which could deny him a severance package? Is Boss Godfrey's eleventh hour agreement to a severance "payout [which] equals six months of Greiner's salary and accrued health, dental, vacation, vehicle and retirement benefits" anything more than the last minute looting of the Ogden City treasury, or did the concerted acts of both Greiner and Boss Godfrey paint incoming Mayor Mike Caldwell so deeply into a corner that Caldwell has no alternative but to "go along" with what some might characterize as Greiner's Golden Parachute? Is Greiner's severance pay award just another example of Godfrey's fast-collapsing "House of Cards," which we wrote about yesterday?

So many questions... so few answers...

Who'll be the first to toss in their own 2¢?

Nothing better than a little mental exercise to clear out the Monday morning mental cobwebs, right?

Standard-Examiner: Ogden's Mayoral Race Heats Up With New Contender

Reached Tuesday by phone, Mayor Caldwell said he welcomes the competition

Sebasian Benitez, Mayoral Challenger

As our 2015 Ogden City municipal election cycle enters the mid-point of its first week, we'll highlight this morning's Cathy McKitrick story, providing an informative thumbnail profile of Sebastian Benitez, who's challenging incumbent Mike Caldwell, for the Ogden City Mayoral seat:  Here's Ms. McKitrick's lede:

OGDEN — A contender has come forward to challenge Mayor Mike Caldwell, a popular incumbent who is seeking a second term this November.
While Caldwell has managed to advance the city with such an even-handed consistency and forward-looking vision that most offer up praise rather than criticism, this political newcomer said he can offer a whole new perspective.
Sebastian Benitez, a 52-year-old immigrant from Paraguay who speaks five languages and owns his own business, said he respects and admires Caldwell but after significant prayer felt compelled to join the race.
“I want to give Ogden residents a different option,” Benitez said Monday evening.

Read up, Peeps:

• Ogden's mayoral race heats up with new contender

There's more...

Reached Tuesday by phone, Caldwell said he welcomes the competition. “I look forward to the dialogue and debate. Its always healthier when you have a free exchange of ideas,” Caldwell said, adding that he “celebrates anyone who is willing to engage in the public process.”

Even though he's playing the Mormon card, Mr. Benitez has his work cut out for him, wethinks.

Stop the Presses: The Standard Endorses Mike Caldwell for Ogden Mayor

The Standard-Examiner goes 3 for 3 in great candidate 2011 Ogden City Municipal Election "picks" this afternoon, with yet another perspicacious candidate recommendation. Read all about it in the full SE Op-ed linked below, wherein our marvellous home town newspaper gives the boot-licking "Godfreyite" Brandon "Sockpuppet" Stephenson the old "Royal heave ho," whilst quite rightly endorsing the extremely popular Ogden City government newcomer mayoral office aspirant, Mike Caldwell:

• OUR VIEW: Caldwell for Ogden mayor

Read up, folks!

"Anybody but Brandon," we'll cheerfully intone:


The Standard's right, wethinks. Ogden City government desperately needs a "fresh new face" up there in the ninth floor Ogden City mayoral "Godfrey-occupied wheelhouse":

To put an even more fine point upon it, we believe that all the last vestiges of Godfrey tyranny must be be eradicated from Ogden City government by someone like Mike Caldwell, before the beleguered lumpencitizens will ever experience any real "political healing," wethinks.

And whatever you do, O Gentle WCF Readers, don't forget to lodge your ever-savvy reader ruminations in our comments section (below):

2011 Ogden Municipal Election: The Aftermath - Updated

A WCF reader invitation to do a post-mortem on the "cleanest" and most uplifting Ogden City Municipal Election during the six years in which Weber County Forum has been covering Ogden election races

I can't tell you how well it went. I can't thank you for all you have done.

Mike Caldwell
Caldwell wins Ogden mayoral race
November 9, 2011

I’m excited to work with a new administration. From my experience working with Mike ... he’s a consensus builder, and that’s a refreshing change. Even if you have the greatest ideas, if you can’t articulate them to the public, it creates problems.

Amy Wicks
Wicks, Hyer secure spots on Ogden City Council
November 9, 2011

I’ve watched the administration and the council barter back and forth for years now, although bartering may not be the right word. Maybe it’s barking. But I think I can bring some unity to city government

Richard Hyer
Wicks, Hyer secure spots on Ogden City Council
November 9, 2011

As we reported last night, the final (unofficial) results are in; and Mike Caldwell, Richard Hyer, Caitlin Gochnour and Amy Wicks emerge as the clear winners from what turned out to be the "cleanest" and most uplifting Ogden City Municipal Election during the six years in which Weber County Forum has been covering Ogden election races. Both the Standard-Examiner and Salt Lake Tribune had reporters working into the wee hours, and we accordingly provide the following post-election stories "bright and early" this morning:

• Caldwell wins Ogden mayoral race
• Wicks, Hyer secure spots on Ogden City Council
• In Ogden, Caldwell becomes first new mayor in more than a decade

The floor's open, Weber County Forum readers. Who'll be the first to offer their own take on the true meaning of all this?

Update 11/9/11 9:52 a.m.: Thanks to a tip from another sharp-eyed and alert WCF reader, we're delighted to link this Jennifer Neil post-election concession statement and thank you note, which just popped up on the Standard-Examiner website:

• Candidate promises to be proactive

Seems to us that there just has to be a place for a smart, talented and community-dedicated Ogden citizen like narrowly-defeated Ogden Council Ward 2 candidate Jennifer J Neil somewhere in Ogden City government. With all due respect for her vote-count prevailing 2011 Ogden Municipal Election opponent, Richard Hyer, it still seems to us that the voters of Ogden's City's Ward 2 seriously missed the boat, in failing to select her for the Ward 2 Council position. Ms. Neil does however mention her understanding that "there will (soon) be an opening (Mr. Hyer's PC seat) on the City Planning Commission ...." We'll consequently be keeping our fingers crossed that Ms. Neil will be submitting her planning commission (or some other similar position of responsibility) application forthwith... Go Jennifer, Go!

Ogden Mayor Visits Taiwan to Attract Cycling Suppliers - Updated

I'd like to see more big players in the cycling world call Ogden home," sez Ogden's "Travelin' Mayor Mike"

Interesting article we stumbled upon yesterday on the Ogden City Business Development Department website, revealing that "Mayor Mike" Caldwell is apparently reviving a recent and "cherished" Ogden mayoral tradition, namely, "globetrotting" to distant points all over the planet on the Ogden taxpayer's dime, ostensibly to gather information and rustle up new international business. An identical companion story on the Ogden City "official" website is datelined March 21, 2013 , so evidently we can fairly conclude that our beloved  Mayor Mike is enjoying the gracious hospitality of Taiwan bicycle factory owners and bike manufacturers, together with the the cheerful camaraderie of other fellow Taipei Cycle Show attendees even as we speak:

• Ogden Mayor Visits Taiwan to Attract Cycling Suppliers

"As an avid cyclist and ambassador for Ogden, I'd like to see more big players in the cycling world call Ogden home," said Mayor Mike Caldwell. "I hope my visit here will convince a few more brands to join our already burgeoning bike industry."

There's even talk of "the possibility of developing a 'sister city' [relationship] with Ogden and establishing it as the North American cycling cluster," the OCBD story additionally reports.

Sister City "sister?"

Hopefully upon "Ogden Ambassador" Mayor Mike's imminent return, the beleaguered Ogden lumpentaxpayers will receive a full and proper briefing on the itinerary and projected results of this trip, along with a complete detailed report on exactly how much we paid for it, of course. (So please be sure to save all your receipts, Mike!)

Sadly, looking back at the outcomes of our previous Ogden mayor's numerous interstate and international travel junkets, those ill-executed trips clearly yielded exactly zero positive results, insofar as we can determine. Perhaps however this trip will produce a more favorable payoff, when we factor in  Mayor Mike's demonstrable enthusiasm and "winning" charm, que no?

Here's an added bonus question which we'll throw out for discussion:  

Under what circumstances (if any at all) is it ethically proper, fiscally prudent or even marginally sensible for any city government to deploy a three-man, taxpayer-funded, expense-paid blue ribbon Mayoral Administration Trade Delegation to travel halfway around the world to increase the supply of bicycles in a place like Ogden, Utah?

Please don't feel bad if you're completely stumped by that last question, folks...

Update 3/12/13 6:02 a.m.:  The Standard-Examiner furnishes additional details on the Mayor Mike's globetrotting adventures this morning, starting out with the startling and heretofore unknown headline revelation that Japan has apparently annexed the Republic of China:

• Ogden mayor in Japan Taiwan, pushing city as premier cycling city

Helpful hint for the S-E weekend skeleton crew: Check out this handy Eastern Pacific map:

Geography 101: Republic of China (Taiwan) v Japan

Oops!!!

Update 3/23/13 11:41 a.m.:  OK, the erroneous S-E headline has now been fixed. Fun though, while it lasted.

Ogden Press Release - Ogden City Police Department Has Concluded Its Investigation Into the Mistaken Identity Incident - Update

Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell: “Officers will also be [henceforth] required to weigh the public safety threat of the wanted person and the risk of serving the warrant during nighttime hours.”

Somewhat encouraging news forwarded to your Weber County Forum blogmeister via one of our All-star political pals.

From: Undisclosed Source
Date: January 22, 2013, 3:46:49 PM MST
Subject: Ogden Press Release - Ogden City Police Department has concluded its investigation into the mistaken identity incident

OGDEN, Utah-The Ogden City Police Department has concluded its investigation into the mistaken identity incident that occurred in Ogden and Ogden City Administration is recommending changes to its arrest-warrant policy.

“Based on the recent police report on the mistaken-identity incident we will make changes to our arrest-warrant policy and procedure, ensuring officers are making use of available resources and verifying addresses on arrest warrants,” said Ogden City Mayor Mike Caldwell. “Officers will also be required to weigh the public safety threat of the wanted person and the risk of serving the warrant during nighttime hours.”

Changes will also include strict guidelines for warrants served after 10 p.m., such as background and address verification checks before officers can make contact at a residence.

“In response to the incident, Ogden police thoroughly reviewed policies from eleven agencies within Utah and seven agencies outside the state,” Mayor Caldwell said. “We found our policies regarding the serving of arrest warrants are consistent with the policies and best practices studied. Nevertheless, we think that policy improvements can be made to increase safety for our citizens and officers.”

On the morning of Dec. 20, Ogden police received a message from the U.S. Army. It contained a felony no-bond arrest warrant for Derek Billmire for being absent without leave. Utah State law and Ogden Police Policy states that felony warrants may be served any time, day or night.

“Officers followed both state law and agency protocol when they arrived at the listed address on the warrant and came in contact with Hill who resembled Billmire,” Mayor Caldwell said. “Once Hill produced identification, the officers explained how they came upon the address, apologized to Hill and his family and then left the residence.”

Caldwell continued, “We are deeply sorry for any fear or unintentional stress the Hill family felt and have offered our sincere apologies. The primary goal of our officers and my administration is to keep the public and our police officers safe. These changes will allow us to continually improve on that goal.”

Billmire was later located in Harrisville, taken into custody and booked into the Weber County Jail and later released to the custody of the U.S. Army to resolve the charges.

The Ogden Police Department has made several attempts to speak with Eric Hill and his wife following the incident, but they are currently refusing to cooperate with the investigation.

The Ogden Police Department’s summary report is attached.

Thanks to one of our bestest Ogden City pals over the years who for unknown reasons wishes to remain unidentified, we now learn that  “Ogden City Police Officers will [henceforth] be required to weigh the public safety threat of the wanted person and the risk of serving the warrant during nighttime hours."  Not a half-bad interim result, for starters... AFAWC...

Here's the referenced "summary," by the way:

• Internal Investigation Summary

Update 1/23/13 8:05 a.m.: Both the Standard-Examiner and Salt Lake Tribune are all over this story this morning too:

• Ogden PD to make policy changes following probe of wrong house raid
• Ogden police making changes after mistaken identity incident

Predictably, all OPD agents in the Hill Family raid have been "exonerated" following the OPD's own investigation.  However we'll be sitting on the edge of our seats awaiting the Hill family's filing of their own inevitable civil suit, the sole procedural avenue where liability issues are likely to be properly revealed and resolved.

Salt Lake Tribune: Ogden Mayor Pledges to Stick to Two Wheels for Daily Commute - Updated

Mayor Mike say's he's "far more afraid of automobiles and people distracted driving than anything the weather  will throw" his way

Interesting local story from the Salt Lake Tribune. Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell (affectionately known around these parts as "Mayor ten-speed") loves bicycling, as everybody knows. This year however he's truly putting his money where his mouth is, bicycle-wise. Here's the lede:

Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell says he’s going to ride his bike to work every day this year come rain, snow, shine or anything the Wasatch Front weather can throw at him.
Caldwell made the commitment in an effort to encourage others to commute on bikes and embrace an active lifestyle. It is also a way to celebrate the nearly $100,000 grant the city received to implement active transportation corridors.
The mayor said by riding his bike to work he is letting his actions speak louder than his words.

Mayor Mike, Riding His Bike!

Read up, folks... perfect story for a wintry Ogden slow news day like today, wethinks:

• Ogden mayor pledges to stick to two wheels for daily commute 

"I think with some good, careful planning and some other things I should be able to make it work in just about any weather condition that confronts us," Calwell told SLTrib reporter Topher Webb. "I’m far more afraid of automobiles and people distracted driving than anything the weather will throw at me."

We'll see... won't we?

Update 1/10/13 4:45 p.m.: Well, looky here who picked up on our morning story... The Standard's Mitch Shaw, of all people:

• Ogden mayor sticks to plan, bikes to work come sun, snow or slush

Better late than never, we suppose.

Check out the extremely cool SE video!



P.S: Mayor Mike readily "admits" he's "crazy," as if we needed his additional testimonial evidence of that obvious fact. [wink].

10/21/11 Ogden Mayoral Candidate Poll #3 Results

Query: Based on the latest WCF polling results, can we now conclude that former Suzie Van Hooser supporters have now moved en masse into the Mike Caldwell camp?

The final tallies are in from our latest 10/21/11 Ogden Mayoral Candidate Poll #3, which was up in our WCF sidebar for the last five days; and here are the final results for our WCF readers' information:


Granted, this is merely an unscientific poll of those who read Weber County Forum. Nevertheless, comparing these results to our previous polling data, we believe that this latest information may reasonably reveal that the largest block of WCF readers, those who might have been heretofore disposed to vote for former mayoral candidate Susie Van Hooser, have now shifted their voter loyalties to Mayoral Candidate Mike Caldwell.

We'll also make note of the fact that the mere 62 participants in this latest poll don't even come close to the 135 or more who avidly responded to our two previous polls, which each garnered tallies in excess of 135 votes.

So we feel compelled to ask: Do these flagging polling numbers signal a similar ebbing interest in the upcoming November election?

Alternatively, based on the latest WCF polling results, can we conclude that former Suzie Van Hooser supporters have now moved en masse into the Mike Caldwell camp?

We guess we'll find out on November 8th, no?

Take it for what it's worth, O Gentle Readers.

Who will be the first to offer their own 2¢?

So who'll be the first to chime in with their own interpretations concerning these latest data?

Standard-Examiner: Caldwell, Stephenson Both Promise to Boost Ogden's Future

Both candidates bravely vow: "We will not (repeat NOT) "reinvent the wheel'"

The Standard-Examiner devotes a generous volume of ink in its latest contribution to the discussion in re the 2011 Ogden Municipal Election Mayoral Race, with this morning's relatively protracted (5919 words) front page story, profiling the heretofore virtually indistinguishable candidates Mike "Tweedle dum" Caldwell and Brandon "Tweedle Dee" Stephenson, and further focusing on their respective experience, platforms and goals. Here's the lede:

OGDEN -- Mayoral candidates Brandon Stephenson and Mike Caldwell are both confident their government, professional and leadership experiences will enable them to lead Ogden along a trajectory as a city on the rise.

Stephenson, 42, concluding his second term on the city council, and Caldwell, 40, Weber County's public information officer and manager of the Weber County Ice Sheet, face each other in the Nov. 8 general election.

Read the full Scott Schwebke story here:

• Caldwell, Stephenson both promise to boost Ogden's future

What's apparent is that at least at this late point in the game, the candidates are now trying to differentiate themselves one from the other, (slightly at least), with Caldwell's emphasis on "tourism" and "neighborhood safety," and Stephenson's continuing focus on Big-government-propelled "economic development."

Nevertheless, their platforms are still so similar that each of them promises not to "reinvent the wheel," (whatever obscure meaning that trite cliche is supposed to convey).

So what about it? Do any of our readers see even "a dime's worth of difference" between these two candidates, in view of this morning's SE story?

Have at it, O Gentle Readers.

And stay tuned, folks, a little birdy tells us that boffo WCF contributor Chester Hop-a-long will be offering a few more choice words on the subject of the 2011 Ogden City Mayoral Race here at Weber County Forum early this afternoon, for your political mirth, merriment and enlightenment.

Sunday Morning Emerald City News Roundup - Updated

A virtual cornucopia of interesting Weber County Forum-topical stuff

To our great delight, we find a virtual cornucopia of interesting Weber County Forum-topical stuff in this morning's Standard-Examiner... just what the doctor ordered to kick off the discussion on the first day of the year 2012, wethinks. Just so's we can squeeze it all onto our morning article page, we'll be brief:

1) Mr. Schwebke provides an excellent Mike Caldwell profile piece, as Caldwell prepares for Tuesday's mayoral induction ceremony:

• New Ogden mayor plans for focus on economic development

We gotta admit that Mayor-elect Caldwell is already scoring major style points with your WCF blogmeister, even though he hasn't even been sworn in yet. First he demonstrates his commitment to pursuing Ogden City's best interests in re: the Jon Greiner Hatch Act Money Pit; and now Standard-Examiner readers learn that our new mayor is even now ready to deep-six yet another crackpot Boss Godfrey scheme:

• Plans for Ogden police blimp canceled

We'll offer at this juncture that we're cautiously optimistic that our new Mayor Mike Caldwell may be able to temper his "economic development focus" with a little old fashioned common sense.

2) Trentelman provides a stunning example of ambivalence this morning with his own weasly-weak-in- the-knees variation on the tried and true "keeps the trains running on time" theme. We've taken liberties with the column headline, we confess.

• Godfrey: Although He's a a complete jerk, I, Charles Trentelman, LOVE Boss Godfrey, nevertheless

Full disclosure here, Mr. Trentelman! No, Weber County Forum doesn't "hate" Boss Godfrey, although we do agree with you, Mr. Trentelman, that Godfrey often behaves like a jerk.

3) Combine an irretrievably Slavish Godfreyite Lemming, a copy of Bartlett's Quotations and a flea-market thesaurus, and here's what you get from one of the most prominent jackasses in Weber County: A lavishly tiresome, tedious and tortuous (and entirely un-ambivalent) Boss Godfrey tilting, SE guest editorial lovefest:

• Mayor Godfrey's 12 years of service

Gotta say we loved this one:

Vicious blogs defame. He who perseveres is called arrogant and is vituperated for failure to listen to obstructionists.

Do you suppose, Gentle Readers, that Steve the Godfrey Lemming may actually be referring to we of Weber County Forum, when he makes reference to "obstructionists" within his above thesaurus-driven and highly indigestible word soup? LOL! And here we'd heretofore thought ourselves to be only mere "naysayers," Dang!

Update 1/1/12 3:50 p.m.: Oops! Here's something we missed earlier, from one of the hands-down funniest folks writing for the internet or print media, or whatever:

• Mark Saul- A little friendly advice for the coming year

Sorry about the inadvertent omission folks. Enjoy!

Breaking News From the Standard-Examiner -- Feds: Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner Must Go

First item of business for Mayor-elect Mike Caldwell, once he takes the oath of office on Jan 3, 2012? Firing Chief Greiner, that's what

Bad News for Boss Godfrey and Jon Greiner, Godfrey's Chief of Police. The Standard-Examiner is now reporting that federal Merit Systems Protection Board has rejected Chief Greiner's Hatch Act appeal. Here's Scott Schwebke's lede:

OGDEN — By a 2 to 1 vote, the federal Merit Systems Protection Board upheld a judge’s 2010 ruling that the city must remove Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner or forfeit about $215,000 in federal grants because of a violation of the Hatch Act.

Read the full story here:

• Feds: Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner must go

Turns out that the Standard-Examiner was right. And Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff was wrong, of course, (as usual). Clearly, Greiner should have been cut loose and given his "walking papers" long ago.

We don't know how much this frivolous appeal has cost Ogden City taxpayers since its filing in 2010, but you can bet the farm that it's a boatload of cash. Upper five figures (at least) would be our educated guess.

First item of business for Mayor-elect Mike Caldwell, once he takes the oath of office on Jan 3, 2012? Firing Chief Greiner, that's what. This Hatch Act litigation nonsense has gone on for WAY too long.

Mayor Caldwell now has an early opportunity to set the tone for his administration by simply doing what's right, and cutting the taxpayers' losses.

We'll obviously be watching closely, folks.

Ogden City Projects Update... Time for a Priorities Reset

Time for a change of tune from the Mike Caldwell Administration?

Here are a coupla Ogden-related items which we'll just post here, if only for archival consistency.

• Ogden hopes to develop businesses on Wall Avenue
• Loans help homeowners spruce up downtown Ogden

Granted, both of these Mayor Caldwell projects involve fairly unambitioous projects, compared to those of the previous Administation. But the public cost of these projects still adds up a little short of $ 1 mil anyway, in truth and fact, right?

Natural followup question: Should the Mike Caldwell Administration (and the Ogden City Council) abandon any further economic development projects altogether, whilst turning their attention to accumulating the necessary cash for the most pressing item of all, i.e., Ogden City water infrastrucure improvements?

In re this question, howbout chiming in with your vote in our new poll?

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com

Don't let the Cat get yer tongues, O Gentle Ones.

Standard-Examiner: Van Hooser Backs Caldwall for Ogden Mayor

Lots to talk about this morning concerning what could amount to an endorsement which could trigger a sea-change in Ogden City mayoral candidate support

There's highly significant news this morning in the 2011 Ogden City Mayoral Election race, wethinks, as Mr. Schwebke breaks the story to its hard-copy readership that Susan Van Hooser, a mayoral candidate who finished a close third (but nevertheless out of the running) in the September 13, 2011 Primary, "announced Saturday she's supporting Mike Caldwell for mayor in the Nov. 8 general election":

• Van Hooser backs Caldwall for Ogden mayor

Ms. Van Hooser's been Brandon Stephenson's council colleague since September of 2006, when the Council appointed Van Hooser to fill Bill Glasmann's vacated At Large "A" Seat. She's been rubbing elbows with Stephensen on and off for most of the time since then. She knows Brandon as well as anyone in government knows Brandon. Yet when it comes time for an endorsement, who does she endorse? She gives her ringing endorsement to the newcomer, Mike Caldwell; that's who.

So what does that tell ya's about Brandon, O Gentle Ones?

That's it for now. Who'll be the first to throw in their own 2¢? Within the group of WCF readers who supported Van Hooser in the primary race, how many of you will follow Van Hooser's lead and jump aboard the Caldwell bandwagon? If not; why not? Lots to talk about this morning concerning what could amount to an endorsement which could trigger a sea-change in Ogden City mayoral candidate support.

Don't let the cat get your tongues.

Thursday Afternoon Weber County Forum News Roundup

Today's very most "weird" and "twisted" latest developments in re Utah politics

In the continuing interest in giving our Weber County Forum readers "Meaty Things" to "chew on," and to rave about the "weirdest" and latest developments in re our sorely "twisted" Utah politics, here a few items we latched upon this morning whilst Googling:

1) Lyin' POS Mike Winder Announces a Run for the Salt Lake County Mayoral Seat.

This is definely too good. This moron, the Mike Winder Guy, who completely made an ass out of himself by hoodwinking the Deseret News over the course of several months under the psuedo "handle" Richard Burwash, now unabashedly announces his candidacy, under the GOP banner, for the Salt Lake County Mayoral Office:

• Winder running for Salt Lake County mayor; GOP boss not thrilled (video)

Sodden query: Does Mike Winder have an even bigger "set" than Boss Godfrey? Were Mike Winder and Boss Godfrey somehow products of the same defective "uterus," who were somehow weirdly separated at birth?"

2) Ousted Utah House Member Craig Frank "Comes Back":

Here's the truly strange story from the SL-Trib:

• Craig Frank to return to House seat he was ousted from a year ago

Meet the new boss... same as the old boss...

Lets all sing along, folks!

3) Ogden Train Car Cafe under new ownership.

In an earlier WCF story we mentioned a missive we'd received from yet another sharp-eyed WCF reader who offered this:

MAYORAL FAVORS: Yesterday I heard a bunch of pissed off people talking about Kym and Pete taking over the welcome wagon. A gal that was running it was wondering why rent is half of what she'd been paying, and why do they get the equipment etc., for "free"?

We've done a little "light sleuthing" on this story by the way. We called the Choo-Choo Cafe on the phone a couple of days ago, and talked to a young feller who informed us that the cafe was still operating, although "under new ownership."

"Pete" (Buttschard) is the new "owner," the young feller said.

We still don't know the terms of the new deal, but we're now considering putting in a GRAMA request.

We also talked to a couple of Ogden City Council people about this, each of whom not-so-subtly indicated (to our great disappointment) that they "didn't want to make waves," so early into the Mike Caldwell mayoral administration.

So has the Caldwell Administration already violated the provisions of Ogden City Code Section section 4-2A-5", which says:

4-2A-5: COMPETITIVE BIDDING:
All purchases of and contracts for obtaining supplies or contractual services shall be made on a competitive basis to the maximum practicable extent. However, when not in conflict with state law, the purchasing agent may waive this competitive bidding requirement when:
1. The cost of the supplies or services is negligible in relation to the costs of purchase by bid;
2. The supplies or services are available from a single source or bidding procedures are otherwise deemed unlikely to produce a competitive bid; or
3. Circumstances indicate that bidding on the supplies or services will not be in the best interest of the city.

If so, will the Ogden City Council, weary of dealing with 12 years of Godfrey shenanigans, turn a blind eye to this possible problem?

We''ll be following up on this and we will definitely get to the meat of it, folks.

We don't want to see the new mayoral administration fall into any Godfrey-style "bad habits," if you know what we mean (and we think you do.)

And no, gentle readers. At this stage of the game at least, we're not charging the administration with doing anything wrong. Not yet, anyway.