Deseret News, March 5, 2010
Sara Lenz

PROVO — Former American Fork mayor Ted Barratt announced on Friday he is running for the Democratic Party nomination for a Utah County commission seat.

Barratt has served two terms as American Fork mayor and prior to that served one term on the city council.

He said he is running so voters will have a choice on the ballot. But he also said he feels he can unite the cities and the county better and help them to work more as a whole.

He said his biggest platform position is that of protecting the family. Barratt, 62, has five children and four grandchildren and said it is the government's responsibility to protect families and invest in education.

Barratt's profession is realty, but he earlier ran a hardware and business supply store in American Fork. He has lived in Utah most of his life.

He said a number of his associates encouraged him to run. Although it may be tough to win in Republican-dominated Utah County as a Democrat, he said people should look at the man, not the party.

He will be running for Commission Seat B, a position currently held by Steve White, who announced earlier this week he is running for a third term. Leon Frazier of Provo said he also is vying for the spot.