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Show Magna TimesWest Valley News, Thursday, October 12, 2000 O " Political Special Edition y r V ..K Many Races are to close,-,- ,, to call in the 2000 election The Political Picture has more drama in the races this year, than it has for the past 25 years. The Democrats have finally gotten-th- e attitude that they could win against some of there well intrenched Republican opponents. All the Democrats are attacking the Republicans on their stands on Healthcare and the high costs of prescription drug for seniors . Orrin Hatch finds himself with a serious opponent in Scott Howell this year. The poles favor Hatch as they have for the past two decades. Howell brings some new energy to the campaign that challenges Hatch from his roots. Howell quotes Hatchs words from 24 years ago when he questioned Senator Frank Moss about his long term in office, Howell asks if Hatchs long tenure in office is now an issue also and whether Hatch has lost his connection with the average Utah constituent It is a race between. In the Second Congressional Race Jim Matheson is ahead in the polls against Derick Smith. . Matheson has the name to help his cause while Smith has to work against the Republican VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE NEARING BY-MA-IL Bush and Gore have shown a iittie life since the debates have finally brought them out The national election seems to be a teaser for the local races. legacy in the seat In the Third Congressional District Donald Dunn is outworking his opponent Chris Cannon and is really making it a race. It seems Cannons strategy is to be low key and absent. His campaign elected not to participate in this issue. Governor Leavitt also should have a tough race with former Congressman Bill Orton but so far the Orton Campaign has seemed very disorganized. Leavitts Press this year has not been the best with the Whirly Disease situation and negative stories on the Olympics and his involvement. Orton is running a short campaign but its October and it should be a lot stronger. Tne Attorney Generals Race pits Salt Lake County Commissioner Mark Shurtleff against a kind of incumbent in the person of Reed Richards the Assistant Attorney General. This looks to be a close race with Shurtleff having a little bit of an edge in name recognition. One of the tightest races in the state is for the Salt Lake County Mayors race. Two very qualified women Karen Crompton and Nancy Workman are deadlocked in the polls. Most of the big names are running for the Salt Lake County Council, former county commissioners Jim Bradley and Randy Horiuchi, former city commissioner Steye Harmsen, former Salt Lake County Surveyor Carl Larsen, former Republican Party leader Richard Snelgrove and former legislator Genevieve Atwood head the list. A number of qualified candidates are running for council. Another big battle ground is the Utah State Senate races because control of the senate is within a handful of seats that are up this election. The disbalance of power at the State level could be changed in this election. Some interesting aspects of this election are: The presidential race is so dose that it should not impact local Utah races as it normally would. It has also been one of the most boring races in history. If Clinton could run today, he would win a race with either of the want-a-b- e presidential dates. It not because he was a great moral leader it was just because the majority of people in this country felt a little better economically under Clinton. The cost of prescriptions for seniors and healthcare have been major themes in this election for many races from the president to the local legislator. Smaller Republican Candidates are running on lean pickings since most outside money that would normally trickle down has gone into the nugor campaigns because of supporters concerns about the U.S. House, U.S. Senate and Governors race. There has been no major mud slinging in this election but it is too soon to tell whether it was on purpose or not. No major male candidate is running for Salt Lake County Mayor and that makes one wonder if some of the good old boys dont feel that the new mayors job maybe a losing proposition for a least the first term. Editorial note: We did our best to reach all candidates most responded in time some did not Salt Lake County Cleric Sheme Swensen, is encouraging Salt Lake County residents to register to vote voter before the October 18th registration deadline. Registering to vote by mail is toe most convenient, accessible way to register, explained Swensen. Alter this deadline, individuals who are not already registered to vote and wish to participate in toe November 7 General Election, will have to register by appearing in person at a Satellite Location on October 21 or 30th. To make voter registration accessivoter ble, Swensen lias placed disregistration forms in counter-to- p play boxes in hundreds of locations throughout Salt Lake County. Citizens who rave moved, changed their name, or who have not voted in the past four years, may obtain a registration form at one of toe locations. Forms are available at public agencies such as pest schools, libraries, offices, high of Utah, Salt Lake University Workforce Community College, Services, and other state agencies. Forms can also be found in Smiths Food & Drag Stores, Harmons Food s, Fust Stores, Fred Meyers, Security Banks, Beehive Credit Unions, Cyprus Credit Unions, Garfield Credit Unions, Granite Credit Unions and Mountain America Credit Unions. A voter registration form is also available on Page 55 of the white pages of the telephone directory. A registration form may be printed off Sherrie Swensen, Salt Lake County Clerks web site at by-ma-il by-m- Wal-Mart- httpwwwcoslc.utuderktotm. To obtain further information regarding voter registration, please contact the Salt Lake County Clerks Office, Election Divirion at 468-342- 7. |