Mike Smith seeks reelection as Utah County sheriff

Mike Smith, the Republican incumbent, is running for reelection as Utah County sheriff in the Nov. 3 general election.

Smith has served as sheriff since 2018, according to BallotReady. He is certified for the ballot. Before taking the sheriff's office, he built a career in law enforcement in Utah County, including years with the Pleasant Grove Police Department.

The Alpine-Highland-Lehi Tribune sent Smith a candidate questionnaire. The policy positions below are drawn from his campaign website and BallotReady profile data.

Candidate information

Party: Republican
Residence: Utah County (born and raised), according to his campaign website
Education: High school diploma, Pleasant Grove High School (1989); associate's degree in criminal justice, Utah Valley University; bachelor's degree in emergency services administration and emergency management, Utah Valley University, according to BallotReady; graduate of the FBI National Academy, 246th Session (2011), according to his campaign website

Experience and public service

Smith began his law enforcement career as an officer with the Pleasant Grove Police Department in 1994, according to BallotReady. He served there until 2012, rising to chief of police, a position he held from 2012 to 2018. He simultaneously served as a reserve deputy with the Utah County Sheriff's Office from 2006 to 2012.

Smith said on his campaign website that he served as team leader and forward operations commander for the Utah County Metro SWAT Team from 1998 to 2016.

Since becoming sheriff, Smith has held several appointed positions, according to his campaign website. He serves as a member of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program Committee, the Utah Federalism Commission, the Utah Sentencing Commission and the Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee. He is president of the Utah Sheriffs' Association, where he previously served as first vice president.

Smith was the featured sheriff on A&E's "60 Days In" Season 9 in 2023, according to A&E.

On the issues

Second Amendment: Smith said on his campaign website that he played a key role in drafting a Utah County resolution affirming Second Amendment protections. He also said he helped draft and secure signatures from all 29 Utah sheriffs on a document pledging to safeguard constitutional rights, including Second Amendment rights.

Office of sheriff: Smith said on his campaign website that he was instrumental in efforts to place the office of sheriff under explicit protection in the Utah Constitution, ensuring a locally elected, accountable sheriff. Utah voters approved that measure, according to his campaign website.