Commission Seat A: Renstrom says background as civil engineer, patent attorney will benefit county

ST. GEORGE – Zachary Renstrom, 40, is one of five Republicans vying for the party nomination for Washington County Commission Seat A.

Zachary Renstrom with his wife, Alison, daughter Sierra and sons Nicholas and Austin
Zachary Renstrom with his wife, Alison, daughter Sierra and sons Nicholas and Austin, St. George, Utah, Undated | Photo courtesy of Alison Renstrom, St. George News

Renstrom’s experience as a licensed professional civil engineer, and as a licensed patent attorney will bring a lot of expertise to the position, he said.

“As a licensed professional civil engineer I have a good understanding of what companies are looking for and the kind of infrastructure they need to be successful,” Renstrom said.

Renstrom would like to open the door for more advance technological companies to come to Washington County.

I think the main thing we need is to let these technology companies know what great opportunities there are here,” he said.

Renstrom’s neighbor, Wes Jenkins, is supporting him as a candidate.

“He attends all of the caucus meetings and is very politically involved,” Jenkins said. “We need someone like him.”

The Commission and BLM

Trucks belonging to the Bureau of Land Management, a federal agency Cliven Bundy views as unconstitutional and flexing authority he refuses to recognize, at the First Amendment zone created in Bunkerville, Clark County, Nev., April 1, 2014 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Trucks belonging to the Bureau of Land Management,  Bunkerville, Clark County, Nev., April 1, 2014 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News

Renstrom’s experience as a patent attorney will also be an asset.  Regarding the Commission’s role and relationship with issues concerning the Bureau of Land Management, Renstrom expressed concern over protecting First Amendment rights, specifically when looking at the situation between BLM and the Bundy family in Nevada.

When I see people getting arrested for protesting, and when I look at the First Amendment, I recommend strong caution, and I support anybody’s First Amendment right to demonstrate,” he said.

“I think with my background of infrastructure and the understanding of the legal aspects, I can bring a lot to that fight,” he added.

The Lake Powell Pipeline

Renstrom supports the The Lake Powell Pipeline  project, but only if certain questions are answered before the project is started.

lake powell
Lake Powell. | stock.xchng photo

“I’m for the Lake Powell Pipeline with a caveat that we need to know the final price of it. As an engineer I fully recognize the need for having additional water resources in the county,” he said, “but we have a lot of questions to answer, then we need to sit down as a community and decide what needs to be done.”

Family Life

Renstrom is married to Alison and they have three children, Sierra, 12, Nicholas, 10 and Austin, 7.  He’s active with The Boy Scouts of America and is a member of The Rotary Club of St. George.

Renstrom said he has a great support system in his wife.

“He’s vibrant and energetic,” Alison Renstrom said. “He is able to talk legally, he knows engineering and he can talk politically. I think our county is going to benefit.  He has a passion for this.”

Delegates at the upcoming Republican and Democratic conventions will determine whether Renstrom will be elected to Seat A, advance to a primary election vote or lose to one of his opponents, including incumbent James Eardley. 

Republican delegates and party members can learn more about each of the candidates by attending the Washington County Republican Convention on Saturday, at the Gardner Center Ballroom at Dixie State University,  225 South 700 East, in St. George. Registration and electioneering begin at 7 a.m., with the convention officially starting at 8 a.m.

Commission race

Candidates for Commission Seat A

Candidates for Commission Seat B

Resources

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

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