Ever since Summit County voters approved a move from the old-style three-person County Commission to the five-person County Council in 2009, there has been one constant on the dais. A steady and thoughtful voice brought vast expertise in water conservation, a sharp eye for land preservation, ope n space, and a steady hand in balancing growth with environmental protection. His folksy demeanor hides a near-savant ability to dissect complex financial documents. When he finds errors, he doesn’t use them to score political points. He quietly partners with staff to get the numbers right and ensure the council is making sound decisions. I met Chris Robinson through a friendship our daughters shared long before he sought public office. When he finally ran in 2008 as a Democrat, I was shocked because during those talks in his living room, I just assumed we shared a party affiliation. Regardless of party, we got lucky. When he ran for the state Legislature in 2012 as a Democrat, the partisan math in a red state kept him from winning. Had he run as a Republican, he would have sailed to victory and probably ended up in Congress. Instead, the political reality of Utah kept him right here on our County Council, and all the better for our community. I’ve had the privilege of observing his work on the council and up close on smaller governing bodies. While I’ve learned a thing or two about complex financial documents over the years, Chris operates at another level entirely. I can honestly say I’ve never worked with a more brilliant financial mind. On complex land and water issues, Chris always played the long game instead of chasing quick headlines. In a town where it’s easy to get your name on the radio or in the paper, he never chased the spotlight. Instead, he quietly did the hard work behind the scenes, serving as a leading voice on the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District’s board and co-chairing the Northern Advisory Council for the Colorado River Authority of Utah. He also chaired the Central Wasatch Commission and the Utah Local Governments Trust. On regional and statewide issues, Chris never cared about partisan borders. He focused on building real trust and consensus between eastern and western Summit County and across the entire region. I am personally grateful for the help he gave me during the purchase of Rocky Point Preserve, helping me understand the complex web of easements and land-use rights associated with a large property. He did more than simply point me to a great legal team. He used his no-nonsense demeanor to assure me that what I was looking at was common for any large land purchase. When I was sitting on the fence about answering the call to help with a contentious local issue, a quick call from Chris instantly settled the issue. I don’t know many people who could say no to Chris. I’ve had the privilege of working with Christie Babalis and observed her keen legal mind and thoughtful, reasoned approach to solving problems, so I have great expectations for her work on council. However, make no mistake, Chris’ beautiful mind and institutional knowledge will be missed.  I’m sure he’ll stay active on land and water issues, and leaders at the state and federal level will keep seeking his counsel. But here at home, every complex financial report and large land deal reviewed by the council will miss his scrutiny and expertise. We didn’t always agree on politics, but Chris Robinson was plain good for this county — and his steady hand on the council will be sorely missed. Ari Ioannides, chair of the Summit County Republicans, is a recovering tech entrepreneur, founder of BootUP PD, and serves on local government and nonprofit boards. He offers a conservative perspective on local politics. He can be reached at [email protected] The post The Porcupine Quill: Summit County well served with steady brilliance appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less