Alvin Thurgood, a Democratic candidate for Weber County Commission Seat A, has highlighted key issues he intends to address if elected, including the future of AI data centers, transparency surrounding the 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the rising cost of housing and rent in Weber County.
Thurgood identifies AI data centers as a significant concern. He notes that 2023 zoning laws were updated to permit data centers under manufacturing and technology zoning. If elected, he states his intention to revisit these zoning laws with the goal of preventing data centers from being built in Weber County.
Regarding the 287(g) agreement with ICE, Thurgood expressed interest in how immigrants are handled within the legal system. He stated that Sheriff Arbon does not participate in a warrant system commonly heard about in other areas. Thurgood indicated he would continue to demand transparency from the Sheriff’s Department regarding their handling of immigrants detained by ICE. He noted that while his original plan was to pressure the Sheriff's department to undo the 287(g) agreement, a personal meeting with Sheriff Arbon revealed the issue to be more complex. His revised approach focuses on ensuring transparency and ethical treatment for those detained by ICE.
The cost of housing and rent is another central issue for Thurgood. He cited that the average house in Weber County is valued at $440,000 USD, with rent averaging $1,300 USD per month. He also pointed to rising property taxes and an upward trend in rents. Thurgood claims that private citizens' property currently subsidizes corporate land tax breaks, which he attributes to a lack of sales data needed to fairly assess corporate land. To address this, his goal is to perform an audit to better determine the actual worth of homes and to investigate corporate land sales data. This, he says, would ensure corporate entities are "paying their fair share" into the tax system, preventing private, working-class landowners from bearing the majority of the tax burden.
Thurgood also intends to improve public accessibility and engagement with the County Commission. He plans to work with commissioners to move the current Tuesday 10:00 AM meeting times to a more accessible period for residents who cannot attend during working hours. He also aims to ensure that the three-minute public speaking limit during meetings is open for any discussion, rather than being restricted solely to agenda items. Additionally, Thurgood stated his desire to send out surveys to the public before making controversial decisions concerning issues such as data centers, property taxes, or county-level programs.
Thurgood describes himself as a working-class citizen who has not owned or rented out property, land, or business space. He volunteers weekly at Weber Fridge, a local food pantry, where he prepares and serves warm meals for individuals experiencing food insecurity. He has also volunteered with local grassroots political activism groups, including Indivisible Ogden, BEAR, 5501, and Weber DEMNUTS. Thurgood identifies as neurodivergent, which he believes provides him with a unique perspective to view problems as challenges and to hyperfixate on solutions until issues are sufficiently addressed.
For those interested in connecting with his campaign, Thurgood can be reached personally on Facebook by searching for his name, "Alvin Thurgood." His public profile is open for viewing, sharing, commenting, or messaging. His campaign website is electalvinthurgood.com, and his campaign email is [email protected].
