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Show s Hansen avoiding Davis Coun ty? Why is Congressman Jim Hansen avoiding Davis County? This is a question that many residents are asking as they have attended local "meet the candidate gatherings and Hansen has been conspicuously absent. Although the Congressman has had pressing responsibilities in Washington, D.C. with budget matters, he has been in Utah this week. He missed an opportunity on Thursday to meet Davis County residents face to face at the PTA-sponsored "meet the candidates' night. Hansen chose instead to debate Mrs. Brunsdale in Ogden. The most important issues in this race are Davis County issues. It seems unusual that Hansen would then choose to make a personal appearance in Weber County, not Davis County. The unpopular Wasatch Variation of the Kern RiverWyCal natural gas pipeline has been hotly contested. Hansen has not yet taken the opportunity to discuss the issue with Davis County Coun-ty voters. On recent television and radio broadcasts, Hansen has countered questions about his voting record on the pipeline issue with caustic remarks about his opponent. Hansen has not yet spoken to his Davis County constituents about possible Hill Air Force Base furloughs even though a recent re-cent newspaper article said federal workers had given Hansen a "zero rating on his votes that were important to federal workers. Of nine votes cast in 1990, eight of Hansen's were unfavorable to federal workers and Hansen did not vote on one. He also received a "D" grade from "Money" magazine based on his voting records on capital gains taxes, medicare, child care, minimum wage, the savings and loan bailout, clean air, and civil rights. With all of this negative publicity it seems to make sense for Hansen to address his Davis County constituents and "set the record straight.' Some have surmised that Hansen feels he is a "shoe-in" for re-election, and that fact has kept him from campaigning in Davis County. If that is true, why has the Congressman spent"' r ,,! $ 160,000 campaigning? Others have charged the Congressman J with avoiding controversy by avoiding the issues. They say Hansen's strategy has been to avoid any debate about local issues and in that way he will avoid "losing his temper" when asked to defend his record. Davis County voters have a right to hear "from the horse's mouth' answers to questions they find important in this race. Hansen has a responsibility to the Davis County voters to discuss these questions. The Davis County Clipper does not endorse a congressional candidate; however, we feel it is important for local politicians to be responsive to local voters, and to be available to answer legitimate questions about local issues so the voters can make an "informed" decision when they cast their ballots. |