Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald file photo
Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich speaks during a meeting at the Utah County Administration Building in Provo on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
After nearly four years as a Utah County commissioner, Tom Sakievich is resigning effective immediately, he announced in a letter Tuesday morning.
His departure comes following a brain cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
“I have been deeply grateful for your kindness, prayers, and support as I have continued serving as your Commissioner while undergoing medical treatment and recovery,” he said in a letter addressed to county employees.
Sakievich said the months after his diagnosis have been difficult for him and his loved ones, and he made the decision to prioritize his health at this time.
“I need to focus my energy on my family, my health, and my recovery,” Sakievich said in the letter.
He resigned from his spot in Seat C on the county commission effective 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Sakievich has been battling health issues since December, landing him in the hospital at the time, according to KSL TV.
An extended absence due to the illness became the catalyst for his fellow commissioners’ calls for Sakievich to resign back in March, the Daily Herald previously reported.
Sakievich, who only served one term, had already announced shortly after the cancer diagnosis that he would not seek reelection this fall.
The now-former commissioner said that next to his wife, Marji, and their family, service had always been a focus in his life.
“My service to my church as a young missionary, our country as a United States Marine, our youth as a commissioner in the Boy Scouts of America, and Utah County as a county commissioner have brought me tremendous joy,” Sakievich stated in the letter.
Utah County Commission Chair Brandon Gordon expressed his gratitude to Sakievich for his service to Utah County.
“Tom is in my thoughts and prayers & I am glad that Tom will be able to focus on his health recovery and be with his family,” Gordon said in an email when reached Tuesday afternoon.
Commissioners Amelia Powers Gardner also shared her sentiments regarding Sakievich’s decision.
“I wish Tom all the best as he and his family endure this grueling fight against cancer,” she said in an emailed statement. “I know resigning before the official end of his term was a difficult decision, but I applaud him for it. We will miss him and I am grateful for all the hard work he has done on behalf of Utah County.”
With Sakievich stepping down, delegates for the Utah County Republican Party will have to vote on a replacement to sit on the commission until the November election.
“In his role as Commissioner, he could always be found with a copy of the constitution in his pocket and heard defending low taxes, with particular concerns for the elderly,” Utah County Republican Party Chair Cristy Henshaw said in a statement on the organization’s website Tuesday morning.
The Utah County Republican Party’s central committee has a meeting set for Sept. 14 at Spanish Fork High School; an interim selection to fill Sakievich’s seat could be made at that time.
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Publish date : 2024-09-03 11:50:00
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