Letter: Represent, Gov. Herbert | The Salt Lake Tribune

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The first sentence of Mark Odle's letter to the Public Forum ("Band together, gay marriage opponents," July 2) nails the problem on the head. Gary Herbert is sticking to his beliefs on the gay-marriage issue when his beliefs shouldn't enter into it.

His job is to represent the best interests of the citizens of Utah, and it is not in our interest to continue spending taxpayer funds on a ban that has been time and again ruled unconstitutional. That money could be better spent on other things like funding health care for the working poor since Gov. Herbert's beliefs also prevent him from accepting federal funds to expand Medicaid, or on education since our Legislature can never find it in the budget to adequately fund schools.

If our elected officials would ever learn to separate their personal beliefs from what they have been elected to do, we all would be a lot better off. I'm not holding my breath.

Mary Lehman

Cottonwood Heights