Gene White
Tooele County Commissioner

Gene White was elected to the Tooele County Commission in November 2000. His race against incumbent Commissioner Gary Griffith was viewed by many Tooele residents as a referendum, of sorts, on the issue of nuclear waste storage in the County. Gene White had expressed serious concerns about the County entering into an agreement with Private Fuel Storage, while Griffith had signed the agreement and supported the financial arrangement.

The interview was conducted by program Producer Ken Verdoia in White's Tooele home.

Ken Verdoia: Commissioner, let's go back to square one because you tell a fascinating story of how you even found out that such an agreement between Tooele County and PFS was being considered. Can you tell that story just in the same context?

Gene White: Well, I was attending a regular commission meeting and apparently the item to consider the contract had been added to the agenda, which made the newspaper, but was not on the copy of the agenda that I had received. And it was taken care of at the end of the meeting in kind of a matter of fact notion, and most of the people who would normally attend a commission meeting had dwindled away and went home and so there were very few of us. Only some diehards left at that particular point, and then it was addressed with the group that was left as an item on the agenda to approve this contract.

Verdoia: What was your reaction when you learned that?

White: I thought, "My goodness, what has happened here?" I was just really kind of aghast because I thought such a thing of that nature, done in such a matter of fact way, and such a low key way without having the public's opportunity to really be involved in it was of great concern to me at that point.

Verdoia: We've talked with more then a dozen individuals that say, "I voted for Gene White because he was as concerned about PFS as I am." It may have been in fact a pivotal factor in your election. Do you share that sentiment?

White: Well, that's a possibility with it. I believe that it may have playing into it but I think that the public was concerned about several issues that they felt left out of. And that may have been the straw that said you know, "We've been concerned about some things being done that we didn't feel like we had input into and now they've done this." Maybe was a more significant thing in that way.

Verdoia: Public input. Philosophically, how do you come down this issue of listening to the voice of the public when it comes to a major county undertaking?

White: I think that it's of the utmost importance. I served 12 years on the board of education before I was elected to this position and even though we represented at that point certain precincts, I felt that we did very well at listening to where the needs of the district were and not just the precinct that I represented. And I think that's a critical to any public services to serve the majority of the people in, in the best way that we can.

Verdoia: Once you had an opportunity to review the contract, were your fears put at ease?

White: Well. I was concerned because I felt that there were certain things written into the contract that obligated the county to certain things that may have enhanced PFS to move forward in their licensing that they may have not otherwise been able to do with issues on public safety and public health that needed to be addressed with county officials.

Verdoia:Were some corners cut?

White: Well, that's hard to say. Again, just in looking at the contract and the way it was negotiated, may have helped PFS move forward and they may not otherwise been able to do.

Verdoia: I'm going to phrase this very carefully. You made reference to a clause in that contract, and I'm not asking you to tell me whether that clause is right or wrong, but a clause that restricts the ability of county commissioners to give voice to certain sentiment. Can you tell me what that clause means?

White:Well, the way I interpreted that clause was those commissioners who were signatory to that contract were obligated to not say anything negative towards PFS and their ability to move forward in their licensing procedure.

Verdoia: Literally, once they signed, there could be no more public complaint.

White: There maybe public complaint, but those officials in their capacity as commissioners would not be free to do anything that might restrict or hinder PFS from moving forward in their license with the NRC.

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