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Davis County commissioners discuss draft resolution condemning antisemitism, refer it to regional council
Summary
Commissioners reviewed a draft resolution adopting the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and agreed to ask the Wasatch Front Council of Governments to consider the measure at its March 11 meeting; Commissioners did not formally adopt the resolution at the March 3 work session.
Chair John Crofts introduced a draft resolution condemning antisemitism and presented it as a statement that would set a "zero tolerance" standard for Davis County, citing recent regional conversations and state-level actions as context.
The draft, prepared by Chief Deputy Civil Attorney Neal Geddes, would adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) non‑binding working definition of antisemitism and asks law enforcement and county partners to use it in monitoring and training. Crofts referenced state legislation and prior resolutions, noting local leaders including mayors are discussing how to distinguish faith-based protection from foreign-policy debate.
Vice Chair Bob Stevenson asked whether the measure could create unintended consequences and suggested county coordination with the regional Council of Governments (COG) and local mayors. Neal Geddes said the draft language also includes broadly protective language for other protected classes and supported a collaborative approach. Commissioner Lorene Miner Kamalu said she would be comfortable either keeping the draft focused on antisemitism or broadening it and suggested timing the discussion with International Holocaust Remembrance Month in May.
Kent Andersen, Community and Economic Development Director, offered to place the draft resolution on the March 11 COG agenda for regional discussion; all three commissioners in attendance agreed to pursue that coordination. The work session did not include a formal vote to adopt the resolution.
The draft resolution attached to the meeting materials cites FBI hate‑crime data, references House Bill 549 (2025) and a prior Concurrent Resolution (HCR15), and endorses the IHRA working definition as an educational and monitoring tool for local law enforcement and institutions. The Commissioners asked staff to bring the item back after regional discussion.
What happens next: county staff will place the draft on the March 11 COG agenda for regional consideration; the Commission has not yet taken a formal vote to adopt the resolution.
