LETTER: Community empowerment

I am writing in regards to Executive Zook. I am saddened to see the amount of negativity surrounding an individual that has been doing the hard work. He has been at community events, volunteering, advocating, creating good change, and listening to the people of Cache County.

The world is divided and people are struggling. I witness daily people on the verge of harming themselves, or using a substance to numb pain. I hear stories of people being assaulted and families crying about not having a home. I hear within our community the pain being felt by a large amount of individuals and families.

Life is hard. Life isn’t fair. But, why are we creating more chaos? We need more support and empowerment.

The negativity surrounding county council is sad to see. I appreciate all council members. But, Executive Zook has helped me in one of the darkest moments of my life. I have been on the verge of giving up. I have been on the verge of throwing up the towel on life.

I have told a lot within our community my wants to create change. I have told a lot my ideas on helping our state; our county. I’m lucky to have support. There are some that do not have support.

Executive Zook is helping to support our community. He has helped me. He is making improvements. He cares, and supports all in the community.

Thank you Executive Zook. Thank you for all your help. I hope that Cache County can come together and empower one another. We are all going through hard times. Why make people’s life more difficult?


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26 Comments

  • Ralph Domingo October 28, 2022 at 8:43 am Reply

    I agree completely. I’ve watched the County Council descend into a pit of incompetent complainers since Zook took office. He obviously rubbed them the. wrong way, which in politics is not a bad thing. I’m tired of it and hope the people of Cache County deliver a strong message to the Council members – which is to stop whining and do your jobs. The writer here is right – Zook puts in the work. I’ve seen him at nearly every event I’ve been to and he genuinely cares about making the County operate better. It’s embarrassing to me that this newspaper seems to side with the childish Council members on every dispute.

    • Sheb October 28, 2022 at 11:08 am Reply

      I am amazed how someone could think that seven unanimous council members are all wrong, and one man is right. The Council has been trying to do its job, but is met with malfeasance at every turn. Zook is a pretender. He is great with appearances but weak on legitimacy. I for one will listen to the unanimous voice of our elected County Council.

      • Channae October 29, 2022 at 8:12 am Reply

        I would come to a county council meeting. I would suggest meeting with representatives. I would suggest on looking at all facts. If someone is doing all that is asked but still being attacked how would that make one feel? I have met with majority of council. I respect all of them. They are all equally amazing. The best is to get all facts first. Have a wonderful day!

  • Jim Jones October 28, 2022 at 10:16 am Reply

    I was on the fence about Zook, until all seven members came out against the current budget. I will not be voting for him this go around. We need to be looking and moving forward with growth in mind. The budget that came out this week does not cut it.

    • Channae October 29, 2022 at 8:13 am Reply

      Tell me what is wrong with the budget?

  • MidasTouch October 28, 2022 at 5:26 pm Reply

    Channae Haller, what has Zook done for you, exactly?

    • Channae October 29, 2022 at 8:08 am Reply

      He listened. He truly listened to my dream and helped encourage it. He helped navigate and provide support. Karina Brown and David Zook have been impeccable to myself, and organization. There are two sides to all stories. There are 4 sometimes as well. The best is to listen to all sides not simply from a news report. I empower when I see people doing good. I have seen him at every community event. I have seen him meet with lots of organizations, businesses, and individuals providing support. I am happy to sit down with anyone and share my personal story. Kindness is what matters in my world.

  • The ex-wife October 28, 2022 at 10:15 pm Reply

    David Zook doesn’t genuinely care about helping others unless it benefits him or makes him look good. I don’t doubt that he’s used your troubling situations to help pad his resume or gain some sort of recognition. David Zook was the cause of my darkest days for 20+ years and was the reason why I attempted to take my life three times.

    If David Zook really cared about mental health issues, he wouldn’t have called my unit-mates at UNI “freaks.” He essentially called me a freak as well. If he really cared about mental health issues, he wouldn’t have told my therapists, social workers, psychiatrist, and me what we wanted to hear but work on his mental health issues as well. He forced my psychiatrist to release me before I was ready to be discharged just because he was “already on his way down to pack me up and take me home.” They didn’t have a care team set up for me here in Cache Valley before his arrival, and I was left to struggle finding them on my own. I wasn’t ready to be discharged because I never had a moment alone to process what I had learned. David was there every minute of visiting hours and the meals attached to them, trying to “prove” he was a loving, doting husband. I continued to feel smothered and controlled while still in the hospital.

    If David Zook really cared about mental health issues he wouldn’t have left me three months after being released from another BHU stay from an adverse reaction to a new prescription, leaving me to not only try to manage keeping my head above water but to also deal with a stressful separation and divorce while he gallivanted off with his girlfriend, Andrea.

    The only good thing David Zook did for my mental health and helping me with escaping my darkest place was to leave me for Andrea (for whom I feel a great deal of pity) because he freed me from the majority of his narcissistic abuse.

    • We are better than this October 29, 2022 at 11:37 am Reply

      This is an inappropriate place to post this, no matter whose side you’re on. This political race has gotten way too personal. It is disgusting. The details of your affairs should be aired to friends, family or a therapist, not the public.

      • Telling it how it is October 29, 2022 at 4:22 pm Reply

        This is what you agree to when running for political office. All of your dirt out in the open for everyone to see. Don’t cheat on your wife if you don’t want people to find out. It will only get worse when you try to run for higher office, Dave. Your chickens have come home to roost. Quit while you’re behind.

      • The ex-wife October 29, 2022 at 4:42 pm Reply

        I’m just highlighting personal examples to show the citizens of Cache County that David Zook isn’t the kind of person he leads people to believe he is. David Zook is so grotesquely self-centered that he makes Narssisus seem like a humbled being.

      • MidasTouch October 30, 2022 at 11:17 am Reply

        My comment is addressed to the moniker We are better than this: what a load of victim-shaming crap to heap on someone!

        It sounds like an ex-wife with over 20 years of experience with Zook actually suffered a mental breakdown at the hands of a narcissist and master manipulator who only cares about himself. Yes. It is disgusting—but not that she was brave enough to share her experience. It is actually disgusting that Zook acted in such a manner, that he had the desire and skill to afflict such an effect on the mother of his children. Want to know what else is disgusting? You defending him still.

        Character witnesses and personal experiences should be worth their weight in gold. They make up for what we can’t see, what takes place behind the scenes. And a few good deeds in the limelight do not make up for Zook’s lifetime of abuse, manipulation, and financial struggles that led to personal bankruptcy. Zook has been given too much power over our tax dollars.

      • MidasTouch October 30, 2022 at 10:51 pm Reply

        To the moniker “We are better than this”–Did you think it was okay to address The Ex-wife’s comments as disgusting? What lurks behind the curtain and out of the limelight can only come into focus with character witnesses. Character witnesses add depth and understanding about an individual’s true character.

        What’s disgusting is your victim shaming.

        Disgusting that you continue defending Zook, who had both the desire and capability of inflicting so much harm on the mother of his five children that she had multiple mental breakdowns. It’s disgusting that he cheated, that he manipulated, and that he continues to do so–obvious his tactics still work with all of the sheeple still defending him.

        What I’m gathering here is that some people love filth, darkness, deceit, and Zook.

        • A call for introspection October 31, 2022 at 9:57 am Reply

          Midas Touch, your lashing out at the comment posted by We are better than this is a bit misplaced and misdirected; they merely stated this forum isn’t the place to air one’s dirty laundry, and was disgusted by how common this type of behavior has become in the political sphere. I agree. We are better than this was not “victim shaming,” they pointed out the obvious, and who can verify these accusations? Just because someone posts comments under a pseudonym doesn’t mean they automatically become what the moniker represents; your choice in using Midas Touch for a username doesn’t make me think you’re King Midas. The ex-wife could be anyone’s ex. Also, where mental health issues are concerned, one individual does not cause another to have a mental breakdown, the individual already has issues coping with their lives and is already susceptible to developing mental health issues, and this assessment is coming from someone who spent many years in psychiatric hospitals. Sometimes, those who are afflicted with mental health issues need someone to be strong with them as people with mental health issues can be just as manipulative, if not more than others. Some people with mental health issues/diagnoses such as Borderline Personality Disorder are more manipulative and attention seeking than anything you could imagine. They usually have not learned how to adopt healthy methods of communicating for their needs with others and instead resort to outrageous behavior in order to get what they want. This forum is not the place to bring up marital disputes regardless of what is now commonplace in politics; we are better than that.

    • Channae October 30, 2022 at 11:56 am Reply

      I’m sorry that you experienced any pain. I wish no one would ever feel pain. I have only seen good from Mr. Zook. I don’t think bringing others into this should be discussed like that. I hope the best. I am a survivor of abuse. I don’t want anyone to feel that ever. Mental health is my priority. I am also independent. I do a lot on my own. I just ask people to hear me, and truly listen. I know if one is truly listening. That is kindness.

    • Concerned citizen November 1, 2022 at 1:16 pm Reply

      Just like the council vs. Zook this ex-wife thing has more sides to the story. As someone who knew their family I know how her own children doesn’t want anything to do with her due to her abusiveness. Highly toxic to kids and Zook he tried to provide and do everything for her including divorce when she demanded it. The ward/neighbors/friends/family tried to stay neutral for kids sake but all saw how hateful she was. Now she is chomping at the bit in this political battle which has nothing to do with her. SMH

      • Say What? November 2, 2022 at 11:53 pm Reply

        Knew them in the Bible sense? Kinky!

  • Bob Parley October 29, 2022 at 9:53 am Reply

    I think you have your wires crossed. Appointing Zook was obviously a mistake and it seems to be plain just about everyone.

    • MidasTouch October 30, 2022 at 11:25 am Reply

      Well said. I wonder, does the GOP sees their mistake at this point, or do they continue to defend the way they were duped into believing Zook was honest and worthy of the Exec position? What a corrupt and sneaky man they delegated.

      • Facts over fiction November 1, 2022 at 7:59 am Reply

        What is sneaky about him? What is wrong with what he is doing? Why are we attacking still? On hearsay not facts. That is not constructive nor is constitutional. I believe in facts. I am a law and ethics psychologist. I like accountability in ethics to law. Give me facts.

      • Facts over fiction November 1, 2022 at 8:01 am Reply

        Also, if you state negative comments on public forums it can be deemed as harassment and can lead to jail time. I advise dirty laundry go to therapist. Stalking injunctions can be filed based on hearsay. I try to help all if anyone needs anything I’m studying law as well.

  • A Call for Introspection November 1, 2022 at 3:59 pm Reply

    Though I agree with you regarding the importance of presenting factual evidence/data over emotionally laden accusations which can’t be substantiated, I completely disagree with you regarding your claim about posting negative comments about others. Personally, I choose to not post ad hominem attacks and instead use factual information to support my position; that being written, we still have a First Amendment right to speak, write, and question anything we want to unless what we write, or speak, is a direct call for violence. Your claim that if people post negative comments can be prosecuted as harassment is 100 percent false. There are a few extenuating circumstances, but if people want to post negative things about others it generally cannot be prosecutable and result in jail time as punishment for doing so. When people verbally attack others and engage in character assassination, it is more of a reflection of their character rather than whomever is being attacked.

    • Innocent until proven November 1, 2022 at 10:15 pm Reply

      Is it really false? You just stated there are a few circumstances. It can not be 100 percent false if there are components that warrant fact. I have fact. I have lots of facts.

      • A Call for Introspection November 1, 2022 at 11:37 pm Reply

        The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. Brandenburg v Ohio, reinforced our right to freedom of speech. Brandenburg v Ohio unanimously overturned a federal court’s ruling which was based on an individual who was in the KKK and advocated to march from Ohio to Washington DC in order to “take out” blacks and Jews who were living in the DC area. The US Supreme Court upheld this individual’s right to say what he did irrespective of how reprehensible it is. In the current political climate in which we live, our government has tried to criminalize our right to free speech if/when individuals are offended. This is unconstitutional and unlawful. Just look at the ridiculous situation that Kanye West is in: because he had the balls to read directly from the coroner’s report regarding George Floyd’s cause of death being from a fentanyl overdose rather than the official narrative parroting that an officer who knelt on his neck caused Floyd’s death, West is now being sued by the late George Floyd’s family because they claimed they were offended by West’s comments. This is completely illegal, yet because of this “wokeness”
        that has permeated our culture, and the criminalization of offense rather than actual harm, here we are.

      • A Call for Introspection November 1, 2022 at 11:55 pm Reply

        You’ve stated you have “facts.” Throw a few out there, enlighten us.

      • A Call for Introspection November 2, 2022 at 12:07 am Reply

        I would also like to pose this question(s) to you, Innocent until Proven Guilty: what common characteristics do you believe our politicians display? Both Republicans and Democrats. What general characteristics do you see, or define our politicians as having?

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