SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A rural Utah county commissioner who became a cause celebre in the movement challenging federal management of Western public lands when he led an ATV protest ride is running for the state legislature.
Phil Lyman, a San Juan County commissioner, said Tuesday he’ll run for the seat of Rep. Mike Noel, who is retiring after 16 years. Lyman says he hopes to continue Noel’s advocacy for state control of federal public lands so rural southern Utah residents can ranch, log and mine on the lands.
Lyman earned notoriety in 2014 when he led ATV riders through a closed canyon home to Native American cliff dwellings to protest federal management of the lands. He served 10 days in jail after a jury found him guilty of illegal use of ATVs and conspiracy. His appeal was rejected last year.
