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Show ~ j PAC:E10 , ~ONDAY, NOVIEMBER6, 2000 . AG seat open for elections Unique congress choices ·term. His main contention: Graham has Jost The two leading candidates for state the public's respect for the office. attorney general calf on years 9f experience in faw. Both say they have the backing of Citing Graham's pet-project, the Beagle numerous law enforcement agencies. Both Forum, a counter to Gayle Ruzickia's ultraoppose Initiative B, a ballot measure to conservative Eagle Forum, Shurtleff said restrict asset seizure in criminal drug cases. Graham has taken her job beyond the limits The two differ, however, when it comes to and has polarized the office. interpreting the record of the attorney "\Nhen you take out ads in newspapers bashing on the legislature, you've lost [the general's office. respect],· Shurtleff said. "that's no way to Democratic candidate Reed Richards, who currently serves as the work with the government.· chief deputy attorney general, Richards counters that the number two spot in the Shurtleff is running against office, said they have "made a him, and not Graham. tremendous difference• over the However, he said, their office last four years. has had a "comprehensive His opponent, Salt Lake approach" to the law and has County Commissioner Mark "been very effective.· Shurtleff, a Republican who Richards said they have cut once worked as an assistant crime across the board, have attorney general, rejects that created specialized statement and said "the first prosecution teams for certain step we need to do is get it crimes and addressed child together.· abuse and domestic violence During the race, both problems with new programs. Reed Richards contenders talked with the University Journal about their DRUGS: Both candidates said backgrounds and qualifications to be the they would aggressively attack drug state's chief law enforcement officer. problems striking Utah, but in different ways. Shurtleff said in addition to more education GETTING PERSONAL: Both Richards and for officers, he wants more money invested Shurtleff have been highly involved in in juvenile drug courts to thwart addictions chur!1) and civic positions, and both men are before they become worse. avid teaders with the Boy Scouts of America. Club drugs and date-rape drugs are on the Richards graduated from the University of · top of Richard's hit list. Utah with a bachelor's, master's and juris Calling it an "increasing trend," Richards doctorate and worked as a said he would increase training litigation attorney in Los for law enforcement agencies Angeles before moving back to and offer education for the Utah. There he was elected to public. Weber County Attorney and served two terms. For the last FEDERAUSTATE BATTLES: seven years, Richards has Richards said if elected, and been the chief deputy attorney he feels the federal general. government has overstepped Shurtleff, who currently its bounds, he will use litigation serves as the chair of the Salt to fight for Utah. He used, as Lake County commission, once an example, a major lawsuit worked as an assistant attorney currently being compiled by the general and also as a Judge Attorney General's Office Advocate General officer in the against the federal blocking of U.S. Navy. He received his roads traditionally used by Mark Shurtleff bachelor's degree from Utahns. Brigham Young University and his law Shurtleff contends that the current attorney degree from the University of Utah. general has "sorely missed the boar when it comes to protecting Utah from the federal CURRENT ADMINISTRATION: Shurtleff government. has leveled several attacks this race against "It's the AG's responsibility to do current Attorney General Jan Graham, a something if the federal government breaks Democrat who chose not to run for another the law,· Shurtleff said. No matter who wins this year's race in the 1st House District there will not be a millionaire going to Washington, D.C. Neither, Republican incumbent Rep. Jim Hansen, nor his opponent Democratic challenger Kathleen McConkie Collinwood, have assets near $1 million, making this Congressional race unique in Utah. However, money is not the primary factor in this race, but rather, it hinges Jim Hansen on the old versus the new-and whiGh one is better for the position. Hansen, a tenth-term House member, is vying to keep his seat, he said, because seniority has given him an advantage that can be helpful to Utah. His opponent, though, stresses that Hansen is out of touch with Utah and it is time for change. "Sounds like she should be running for the legislature,· he said. Hansen said on the federal level education funding is doing fine noting that higher education students have opportunities for Federal Pell Grants and student loans. He also said every bank in Utah is part of the student loan program. States and local governments are better qualified to run the education system, Hansen said, "they know what's best for Utah.· TAX CUTS: Collinwood stands by most Democrats in saying that tax cuts are too premature. Instead she wants to use surpluses to bolster Social Security, education, and reduce the national debt. Hansen said tax cuts are needed because Americans are paying too much to Big Brother. "If the projections are right, there is a lot more money than we need to run the government,· he said. "Tax cuts w ill help the economy ... and I have no problem with that.· GETTING PERSONAL: Collinwood is a highprofile Utah attorney and the mother of 10. She has argued cases before the Utah Supreme Court and the Federal Appellate Court in Denver. Hansen has served 20 years in the House _, and crushed his last two opponents in 1996 and 1998 in landslide victories in the 12 Kathleen McConkie county district. Collinwood EDUCATION : Collinwood said there needs to be something done about the education system . She wants more money for students and teachers, and said Utah has been getting passed up on funds. · we haven't had our fair share,· she said. "And the hurt is in education." Hansen quipped Collinwood is running the wrong race, because education is usually dealt with on a state level. GUNS: Hansen said he fully supports the Second Amendment and citizen's rights to own guns, and he opposes federal regulations on rifles. "Last time I looked the Second Amendment was still part of the Bill of Rights,· he said noting that more restrictions on guns would only place honest Americans wading through red-tape. "The criminals would just laugh,· he said. Collinwood, however, said there needs to be a "moderate approach" to gun safety issues but argues that banning assault weapons is just the obvious thing to do. She supports federal background checks on weapons purchases. . Candidates continue to confuse words (continued from page 7) The latter member is the wife of billionaire Jon Huntsman, who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Utah's colleges and universities. In early October, Utah's senior senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah}, who is running for another term , beseeched those attending a Brigham Young University symposium to be observant of other religions. The meetings included representatives of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and other religions from around the world. But the opening prayer at the meeting started with "Our dear Father in heaven· and closed with "In the name of thy son, Jesus Christ.· Stephen Roberds, an assistant professor of political science at SUU , said this is definitely not the first year political gaffes have occurred, but they seem to be more prevalent in this race. · sometimes the mouth j ust works faster than the brain," Roberds said. He also said candidates are often put on a pedestal and expected to know everything. "If someone asks me a question and I don't know the - answer I can just say 'I don't know,'" he said. "But if a candidate is asked and they don't know, the headline would say the candidate is uninformed.· Andrea Brown, also an assistant professor of political science at SUU , said she sees Bush as more "blunderridden." But she asserted no one can compete with the high standards the media places on the candidates. One of history's most blatant blunders came from President John F. Kennedy who, while addressing a crowd at the Berlin Wall during the Cold War, tried to say in German "lch bin Berliner," which means "I am a citizen of Berlin.· · Instead Kennedy declared "lch bin ein Berliner," which directly trarislates into "I am a cream-filled pastry." • The winner of the Utah blunders this election year might possibly go to Becky Richards, a Democrat running for the State House seat from northeastern Utah's Summit County, who held a barbecue and pool party as a fund-raiser for her campaign. An invitation told guests they could come in "casual attire and swimsuits are optional.· 1• |