Whatever some may think of Michael Cragun, Davis County has lost a dedicated public servant. That's because Cragun won't be running for re-election to the County Commission following his defeat at last weekend's county Republican convention.
In his nearly four years on the commission, he has definitely left his mark. He will serve only until the end of the year after Republican delegates opted to support another Clearfield resident, Alan Hansen, for the commission seat. Those votes narrowly eliminated the need for a primary runoff.
Commission Chairman Dannie McConkie, who possibly knows Cragun best, lamented his loss, calling him "a committed county official, who puts in a huge amount of time and is so dedicated.
"He's been a wonderful resource for the finding of fact and rule of law," the commission chairman added.
Indeed, his thoroughness and attention to detail came out again during Tuesday's commission meeting. As the county commission representative on the Davis Behavioral Health board of directors, he had spent countless hours helping prepare a 180-page plan.
He has never been one to "just show up" at a meeting, unprepared, to add his "two cents worth," and leave.
Cragun tries to become an expert on whatever he is dealing with. As an attorney, he has the mind to sift through details, to unravel the real meaning in legal jargon and other language that is put to paper or used in government.
The Davis County Health Department is another one of his direct responsibilities. That is a large organization, dealing with a wide variety of issues affecting many in the county.
One of the most divisive issues in the county came under the commissioner's watch --fluoridation.
Cragun tried to deftly navigate through all of the contentious debate brought on by that issue -- not to mention familiarizing himself with the technicalities of fluoridation.
But he handled that issue, even with all its headlines, no different than any other. "He's very detail-oriented, reads everything, asks all the searching questions until he is satisfied and understands the issues,"McConkie said.
It was apparently the unpopular tax increase proposed in 2002, supported by all of the commissioners, that was Cragun's undoing at the convention.
Nobody likes taxes, and certainly he was no different than the other commissioners in expressing frustration and angst over having to take that step. But he was willing to step forward and take the heat --at least as far as his political future was concerned.
Cragun is the first attorney on the commission in many years. He was one of the youngest county commissioners in many years, as well, and yet added much to the experience and expertise of commissioners Carol Page and McConkie.
In fact, they all have seemed to complement one another in their different styles and areas of expertise.
"He has my absolute respect. He's such an honorable man, with such integrity. He'll really be missed,"McConkie said.
The Clipper seconds those comments and wishes Michael Cragun well through the rest of his term. We hope that even those who opposed him over the controversial tax hikes of 2002 can appreciate his service on many other key issues.
With Cragun, one thing was always clear: He was always willing to roll up his sleeves and work hard for those he served.