Hatch is a candidate for County Council at large A seat, which has a two year term. Hatch is running against Robert Kilmer and Amy Clark for this seat.
Hatch was born in Woods Cross. He attended Brigham Young University, served in the Army, and then graduated from BYU with a degree in Agricultural Economics. Hatch has had a diverse career. He initially worked for Idaho First National Bank where he implemented their first computer automation systems. He next worked for UARCO, and Amalgamated Sugar as credit manager.
He then moved to Convergys where he served as credit manager. Hatch left Convergys to become a business manager and after eight years he went into semi retirement. He and his wife then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Hatch says that “One of my definitions of patriotism is that a person will serve his country in whatever capacity he can for a while and then step aside so someone else can take their turn at it.” He is currently serving as the Chairman if the Morgan County Republican party, but plans to step down from this position whether or not he wins the county council seat.
Below are the answers to questions that will be posed to each of the candidates interviewed who are running for county council seats:
1. Why are you running for county council?
Hatch decided that he would like to be more involved, but from a different perspective than his role as County Republican Chairman.
2. What do you hope to accomplish, if elected?
“My main concern is that we need to figure out how to do government from a different perspective than what we have been doing…We need to learn how to get along better. I would like to see government done truly from the perspective of what is best for the people of the county as a whole and not from the perspective of I am here to do … what I want to see done.”
3. What do you think are the major issues facing the county?
Hatch talked about growth as one of the major issues and sees this as a part of what the county will need to face ongoing. He does not see this as the major issue, however. He sees the major issue as a change in the approach to politics to have the focus on what is best for the county instead of the individual politician. He says, “There is too much emphasis on getting elected and staying in office. Operating as though the most important thing is ‘How do I assure that I am going to be reelected?’ rather than ‘What can I accomplish that is worthwhile, while I am in office?’”
Hatch believes the council has been operating well under Chairman Creager’s leadership. He is concerned that some of the candidates are running on just a single issue and that could create problems if these individuals are elected.
4. What changes would you like to see in the county?
Hatch comments that the citizens of Morgan County are “an independent bunch.” He believes that the county can accomplish anything. He would like to see the residents take action on items that they would like to have happen rather than looking to government.
Hatch used the aquatic center as an example. He believes that if the residents want an aquatic center they should look for private donations and other sources of funding to try to make this happen. He says, “Why does government have to be that involved in it. Why can’t we accomplish something like this ourselves, as private citizens… Morgan County [people]…are well educated and fairly well healed. The median income in Morgan is pretty good. I think if we want an aquatic center that what we can do is get together as private individuals and create an endowment fund.” He comments that an option may be that if the school district has land that perhaps the endowment could then be given to the school district to run the center with the endowment fund.
5. What is your opinion on the county attempting to bring new businesses into the county? How would you attract these businesses?
Hatch indicates that while he would like to see more businesses that he is not in favor of just any businesses. He would not like to see large retail box stores. He would prefer clean manufacturing and other businesses like these. He also sees the County as a good place for businesses to have their headquarters and be based in Morgan.
6. How do you feel about the growth in the county?
Hatch sees growth as inevitable. He would not like to see the hills dotted with homes like in Park City. He sees a balance necessary between government control of development and individual landowner rights. He is supportive of cluster developments and using tax incentives to preserve open spaces.
7. How do you feel about the quality of life in the county. What would you propose to enhance it?
He looks back nostalgically on the county twenty-five years ago. He would like to see gradual growth to assimilate new residents. He does not believe that you can legislate this, but rather should work to persuade individuals to make decisions that support the quality of life in the county in the way they develop.
8. Morgan County Revenues have declined in the past few years. Do you think the county budgets are too generous and need to be trimmed? Do you think the County should raise property taxes? Are there services that should be diminished or cancelled or services that should be expanded?
Hatch believes that Morgan has been austere in a good way. The county has kept spending under control in his view. He says “I hope that the council will always do everything they can do to keep expenses under control and only raise taxes when absolutely necessary.”
He also suggests that there may be economies in government if the city and the county governments were combined. He believes that there would be efficiencies gained from combining to one government. There is an existing approved structure for this type of government and he believes that this is something that should be studied as a way to reduce expenditures.
9. Morgan County is non-partisan. Should it continue this way or change to a partisan system?
Hatch believes that because the Republican party is so dominant in the county that the non-partisan approach is necessary to have good candidates that run against one another for county positions.
10. How do you picture Morgan County in five years from now and twenty years from now?
Hatch has been considering the impact of Ravala building out and Snow Basin building out. He hopes that Morgan does not turn into a resort town. He would like to have year round residents rather than the transient residents in resort towns.
He would like to see an attraction in the county that would draw visitors, perhaps businesses like Cabelas.
11. Where do you stand on the issue of the aquatic center?
See question 4 above.
12. Where do you stand on the issue of a Special Service District?
Hatch is not in favor of another taxing entity. He believes if we were to do this then we should eliminate a taxing entity. He believes that there are alternatives to address the needs without the special service district.
13. Is the Morgan School District giving children the quality of education they should have?
One of the reasons Hatch moved to Morgan was the quality of education. He believes that the schools are doing a good job.
14. In the past citizens have only gotten involved after a decision is made by the council. What would you do to get people involved sooner?
He believes that if the council allowed input on each of the agenda items as they are discussed they would have greater participation by citizens. He also believes that “the council should ask the leaders of the county political parties to help in the effort of getting people to the meetings. The party leaders, at the precinct and county levels, should work at informing the voting public about matters that are going to be discussed at council meetings and get people to go to the meetings and take part in the discussion.”
15. What do you see as positive steps forward the Morgan County government has made?
Hatch is complimentary of the councils work in cleaning up the county code, being fair with people, taking a measured approach to the geologic hazard issue and being sensitive to its impact on people. He compliments the work on Envision Morgan, and actions taken to address the deteriorating roads.
16. Knowing the diversity of issues faced by the council, from legal issues, to land management, to personnel, public works, economic development, etc. What skills do you bring to help the county with these issues?
Hatch believes his broad background will help him in this diversity. He states that he has an open mind and learns something form everyone. He believes that this will serve him well in this role.
17. How would you vote if the majority of the constituents in your district favored one decision, but you personally favored a different decision?
Hatch would explain his position if he believed that he had an understanding of the issue not fully shared by his constituents, but in the end would vote with the consensus.
18. What is you position on the road bond?
Hatch believes the road bond was a good decision to take steps to avoid higher costs by taking action before the roads deteriorated further.
19. Do you have time to serve in this role.
Hatch indicated that in his current role as Republican Chairman that he dedicates thirty to forty hours per week. He would resign form this role and would expect to spend this time dedicated to the council role, if elected. He is willing to do the hours it will take to do the job well.