Pleasant Grove may face suits

PLEASANT GROVE — A former candidate for Pleasant Grove City Council says he may file lawsuits against city officials for placing an ad in a local newspaper just before the general election that he says was libelous and cost him the election.

This week, Dan Shaw demanded the two men be disciplined. During a meeting that was closed to the public, however, the City Council voted not to take action on the matter.

"I am going to find some way of chastising the individuals and maybe the city also," said Shaw, who has consulted an attorney. "They've exhibited a power that should be reserved for the electorate, not for paid officials."

City Manager Frank Mills and Public Safety Director Michael Ferre placed the ad in a weekly paper. Shaw placed fourth in the primary election — but fell to fifth place and lost the general election by more than 400 votes.

Prior to Tuesday's vote by the council to sidestep the issue, a handful of angry residents asked the council to punish Mills and Ferre. The half-dozen who spoke at the meeting cited the ad, which discouraged residents from voting for Shaw, saying he was "unworthy" and undeserving of public trust.

"We urge all citizens to be very cautious about voting for Dan Shaw," the ad read. "We have had numerous dealings with Mr. Shaw, in a variety of circumstances and situations . . . We are staking our good reputations and years of community goodwill on this. But we could not stand by silently and do nothing."

Both men say they were acting as private citizens rather than public officials when they placed the ad.

Both men declined to publicly state why they feel Shaw is "unworthy."

Mills said he "has no idea" whether the ad influenced the outcome of the election.

"I doubt it," he said. "People in Pleasant Grove can make their own decisions. I would have hoped that it would have caused people to think."

Ferre said he's sorry Shaw felt hurt but was "happy with how it's turned out."

"I was hoping to influence some people or I wouldn't have paid to put the ad in," said Ferre. "I think it's my right and maybe even my responsibility depending on how I feel about the situation."

Shaw's backers obviously see the ad in a different light.

"The way is wide open for our paid, public employees to tamper at will with future elections, giving rise to the era of blatant cronyism in our city," said resident Brendalee Haug.

Shaw, who lost a bid for mayor two years ago by 26 votes, said he found it difficult to break the "good old boys" network in the city when he moved to Pleasant Grove four years ago.

Shaw said he'll decide his course of action "within the next few weeks."

He said lawyers have told him it may be impossible to sue Mills and Ferre as individuals without also naming the city of Pleasant Grove in the suit.

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E-mail: csheffield@desnews.com

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