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Utah County commissioners postpone decision on prevention training speaker after political concerns
Summary
Commissioners continued consent agenda item 28 for one week after the chair raised concerns about a scheduled prevention-training speaker’s past online statements; Pat Berg of the county’s drug-and-alcohol office said the session is a media-literacy curriculum for prevention workers and will be provided to commissioners for review.
Utah County’s Board of County Commissioners on a 3–0 vote continued a consent agenda item about an alcohol-prevention media training speaker so commissioners could review the presenter’s curriculum.
Chair David opened discussion after asking who “Pat” was in the packet. Pat Berg, identified as representing the Utah County Department of Drug and Alcohol, said the presenter was invited to provide media literacy training for prevention workers and to examine local alcohol advertising and community norms. Berg said the session is not focused on tax policy but on evidence-based media education for youth-prevention efforts.
Chair David said he had looked at the presenter’s past web content and expressed concern that the speaker appeared to be running for governor of New Mexico and might promote tax increases. Berg said she was not aware the presenter was running for office and reiterated the intended focus: breaking down advertising and helping communities assess whether marketing is appropriate for events where youth may be present. Berg offered to provide a detailed breakdown of the presenter’s curriculum and follow up with the commission by email.
A commissioner moved to continue consent agenda item 28 for one week so staff could supply the curriculum and any clarifying information; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
The item will return to the commission agenda next week with the presenter’s curriculum and staff recommendations for commissioners to review before deciding whether to approve the training.
