Short takes on issues | The Salt Lake Tribune

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Speaking up • Rep. Paul Ray, a Clearfield Republican, became the first elected official to call for Attorney General John Swallow to resign, but there is little doubt other legislators are thinking the same thing, and for good reasons. Swallow and his predecessor, Mark Shurtleff, are embroiled in allegations of misconduct and, at the least, unethical dealings with accused and convicted criminals coming from a number of quarters. Investigations by state and federal agencies are on-going and neither has been found guilty of breaking any law. But, considering only what Swallow has admitted to, he is guilty of such poor judgment that he can no longer be effective in his office. Attorneys and others in the AG's office say they are struggling with low morale and poor public perception of their work. Ray is right; it's time for Swallow to leave.

Ignoring reality • Ron Thompson, general manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, wants a pipeline to take water from Lake Powell for development in the St. George area, and he would like all Utahns to pay for it. So he, of course, opposes Gov. Gary Herbert's sensible and even courageous rejection of a bid from Las Vegas water managers to take groundwater from a valley in Utah's west desert, creating a dust bowl. Thompson is afraid of threats made by the Southern Nevada Water Authority director to stonewall the Utah pipeline. But Herbert did the right thing for all of Utah. Thompson should forget both misbegotten pipelines and start enforcing water conservation instead.