Sanpete GOP delegates choose interim county commissioner

Jim Cheney of Fairview picked to finish out commissioner Collard’s term

MANTI— In a packed hall at Manti High School, Republican delegates gathered Monday night to choose both an interim Sanpete County commissioner as well as new county party leaders.

After eight rounds of voting that began with 10 hopefuls, Fairview resident James Cheney emerged as the winner. He will serve out the commission term vacated by Scott Collard, who recently stepped down. The term runs until 2026.

Delegates also elected Scott Schulze of Fountain Green as the new county GOP chair, with Shauna Watts of Fairview as vice chair.
But the main focus for the evening was selecting an interim commissioner. The top contenders, narrowed in successive rounds, included Cheney; Kirk Watts of Fairview; Jeri Furhiman, also of Fairview; Paul Peckham of Fountain Green; and Cody Harmer of Spring City. In the early tallies, candidates with the fewest votes were eliminated together if their combined totals did not exceed the next highest candidate’s figure.

Throughout the process, Sanpete County Republican Party Vice Chair Dave Garff reminded delegates to mark only a single name on their ballots. “We don’t want to be here until midnight if we can help it,” he joked, urging the crowd to move swiftly.

Ultimately, Cheney garnered a majority in the final round, with Harmer, who had a consistently large vote base the whole night, falling just behind.

“This is a tremendous honor,” Cheney told the delegates. “I grew up in Fairview and have always loved Sanpete County. I have a deep love for you as citizens. Thank you for being here.
Cheney emphasized his personal ties to the area. He mentioned that his father served as a police officer in Fairview for 31 years, instilling in him a strong respect for law enforcement. He also highlighted his two decades of experience running a business specializing in mental health and rehabilitation services.

“I’ve got 20 years of experience in business here in the county, and that business has been in the mental health field,” Cheney said. “I work a lot with drug and alcohol, with adults and children. That’s my passion.”

Cheney also spoke of the need to handle future development thoughtfully.

“I know it’s going to grow,’ he said, “and you know it’s going to grow. We need to manage that. People want to come here because it’s a beautiful place. And it’s a place that I love. And if I can be a part of helping it grow in a constructive way, meaningful way, a way that makes sense and that helps all of us out to be able to live the life that we continue to enjoy here—that’s what I want to do.”

He also emphasized the importance of transparency in government, saying “Transparency is important, that’s part of being honest. It’s also part of accountability. We need to hold each other accountable; we need to hold our leaders accountable. I expect to be held accountable.”

Several state and local officials took the podium while election judges tallied votes. Sen. Derrin Owens provided an overview of the recent legislative session, noting a “$30.8 billion balanced budget” and $1.4 billion in tax returns to citizens.

He discussed efforts to ensure reliable energy across rural Utah. Referring to his efforts to keep the coal-fired units at the Intermountain Power Project in Delta operating, he said, “We saved 1,900 megawatts of power and reduced unnecessary incentives for wind and solar. We want to keep energy costs low and stable for communities like ours.”

State Auditor Tina Cannon traveled from Salt Lake City to explain her office’s role in overseeing more than 1,800 government agencies throughout Utah. She highlighted the transparency website, transparent.utah.gov, which provides data on government spending and budgets.

“You can find everything there, from fiscal strength evaluations to employee salaries,” Cannon told the delegates. “We post it so taxpayers know exactly where their money goes.”

Outgoing Commissioner Scott Collard reflected on his own tenure, acknowledging the challenges of juggling his daytime job and public office duties.

“I’ve loved serving Sanpete County,” he said. “It’s been one of the best things I’ve done. But life happens, and now it’s time for me to step aside.”

Collard thanked fellow commissioners and county employees for their dedication. “They’re the hardest-working group of people I’ve ever seen,” he added. “We have top-notch law enforcement, and we truly care about our residents.”

Sheriff Jared Buchanan described the county’s success in lowering recidivism rates through programs like RSAT (Residential Substance Abuse Treatment) and a community health worker.

“At one point, we were running near 50 to 60% recidivism,” Buchanan said. “Thanks to these efforts, we’re now in the mid-teens. That’s good for families, and it saves tax dollars.”
Once the commissioner race concluded, delegates turned to party reorganization. Outgoing chairperson LuAnn Greenwell formally welcomed Scott Schulze, Fountain Green, as the new county GOP chair, with Shauna Watts, Fairview, selected as vice chair.

Greenwell, who also ran for commissioner, said she was “delighted to turn the leadership of the county party over to new officials.” 

Cheney will be sworn in soon to serve the remainder of Collard’s term.