Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera is seeking reelection on Nov. 3 against Republican challenger Shane Manwaring. Rivera, a Democrat, has served as sheriff since 2017. The sheriff's office provides law enforcement services across Salt Lake County, including in Cottonwood Heights and Holladay.

Rivera said public safety is her top priority. She said she is working with the Salt Lake County Council and mayor to expand jail capacity while maintaining zero overcrowding releases.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Office sought: Salt Lake County Sheriff
  • Birthplace: Ogden, Utah; raised in Layton, Utah
  • Notable: First female sheriff elected in the state of Utah, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office website

Experience and public service

Rivera joined the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office as a law enforcement officer in 1993, according to the county website. She served as deputy chief at the Sheriff's Office, according to BallotReady, and as precinct chief in the City of Riverton, according to a University of Utah library exhibit. She was sworn in as sheriff on Aug. 15, 2017.

As sheriff, Rivera oversees approximately 1,100 employees and what the Salt Lake County Democratic Party describes as the largest jail and court security operation in the state. She serves on the Salt Lake County Opioid Task Force, the Salt Lake Area Gang Project Governing Board, the Metro Narcotics Task Force Advisory Board and the Salt Lake County Advisory Board for the Family Justice Center. She is past chair of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee for Salt Lake County and a member of the Council on Criminal Justice.

Rivera has received several awards, including the 2018 Sundance Women in Leadership Award, the 2019 YWCA Outstanding Achievement Award for Public Service and the 2020 Rosa Parks Award, according to the county website.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Rivera's responses on BallotReady and her campaign website.

Criminal justice and public safety

Rivera said she brought medically assisted treatment to the Salt Lake County jail, supporting drug addiction and mental health treatment as alternatives to incarceration. She said a traditional corrections setting is not always the best approach, which is why she has supported alternatives including treatment and supervised release. Those alternatives also help maintain bed space for violent offenders, she said.

Rivera said she is committed to working with advocates who protect victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. She said prevention and enforcement are important to ensuring victims feel safe.

She said she continues to strengthen programs that reduce repeat offenses and improve coordination across the justice system. Rivera said she is also working to expand the Salt Lake Area Gang Project, strengthening enforcement while growing prevention and intervention efforts to reach youth early.

Rivera said adequate training for officers responding to people in crisis is critical and that communities need resources available to help those individuals.

Workforce

Rivera said public safety starts with a strong workforce. She said she prioritizes supporting employees through competitive pay and retention.

Endorsements

The following endorsement was claimed by the endorsing organization, according to BallotReady:

  • Women's Democratic Club of Utah

Candidate positions were drawn from responses submitted through BallotReady and the candidate's campaign website. The Cottonwood Heights-Holladay Times does not endorse candidates.