Utah Republicans Debate Drug Crisis, Public Trust Ahead of State Attorney General Primary

Three Republicans vying to become Utah’s attorney general fielded questions on the drug crisis, presidential elections, and public trust in a June 11 debate held to help party members pick a candidate for November.

Derek Brown, Frank Mylar, and Rachel Terry will face off in the GOP primary for Utah’s chief law enforcement officer on June 25. The winner will run on Nov. 5 against Rudy Bautista, who advanced in the Democratic convention for attorney general of Utah on April 27.

In the Republican debate, candidates were asked questions including how they would restore public trust in the office, how they would combat the fentanyl crisis, and who they support for president of the United States and governor of Utah in the Nov. 5 election.

Mr. Brown was a member of Utah’s House of Representatives from 2011 until 2014, representing District 49. He is supported by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).

Mr. Mylar has worked for three state attorneys general, led a private law firm for 24 years, and is an allied attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Ms. Terry is currently the director of the Utah Division of State Risk Management. She previously worked at the Utah Attorney General’s office for civil rights litigation and served two years on the Utah Board of Education.

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Candidates had a chance to explain why voters should choose them over their opponents.

Mr. Mylar leaned on his 12 years at the state attorney general’s office, his experience in criminal prosecution, and his 25 years running a private law firm. He argued that his opponents have been working in the state’s legislative and executive branches “longer than they’ve actually practiced law.”

Ms. Terry also emphasized her seven years of experience at the state attorney general’s office, as well as her work with the state Board of Education.

“This is the work that I love. This is the work that I want to do, and I will focus on you and the work and nothing else,” she said.

Mr. Brown pointed to his endorsements from Mr. Cox and Mr. Lee, his experience as a legal counsel to two U.S. senators, and his previous role as chairman of the Utah Republican Party.

Ms. Terry said she was “concerned” that Mr. Brown “has been lobbying for some of the very corporations being attacked by the government,” including Facebook, “since 2017.”

Mr. Brown said this claim was “inaccurate” and that he does not “still represent” Facebook. He argued that his experience representing companies of this size is an asset, not a “conflict.”

“I did really good legal work for some of the largest companies that operate here in the state of Utah, dealing with one of the most critical issues we have with social media,” he said, adding that the governor and legislators looking to hold Facebook accountable have endorsed him in the race.

Mr. Mylar called his lack of political experience an advantage, noting that he has been an attorney his “entire career.”

“This is not a stepping stone to some other fancy office, either senator or governor and things like that,” he said.

Asked about their support in upcoming elections, all three candidates endorsed former President Donald Trump but were split on the governor. Mr. Brown supports Mr. Cox, who likewise endorsed Mr. Brown for state attorney general.

Mr. Mylar, by contrast, said he supports Mr. Cox’s primary opponent, Phil Lyman, who represents District 69 in Utah’s House of Representatives.

Ms. Terry declined to name a governor candidate, saying it felt “inappropriate” to endorse a candidate for an office she would “work under.”

The candidates were also asked “how would [they] work with federal, state, and local partners” to combat the fentanyl epidemic.

Both Mr. Mylar and Ms. Terry pointed to the border crisis as the genesis of the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, emphasizing the need to work with both county sheriffs and other state attorneys general to address the problem.

Mr. Brown said a leader’s role is to “bring in the best and the brightest to advise” the best results to “stop the flow of these drugs into Utah.”

He also suggested that Utah’s Attorney General should “collaborate with law enforcement, legislative officials, and others who have a vested interest in stopping this flood.”