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Show Reflections Unhappy Republican js scolds local politicos OK, I'll admit it. I'm a Republican. Really. I mean, after all, I have all the characteristics of a good Republican. I live in a conservative conser-vative community, I don't lose much sleep over the plight of the needy (although, as a divorced father in Utah, I am part of that group), and I feel that anyone who doesn't support the death penalty probably ought to receive it. But I'm not a happy Republican these days, not after the events of the last few weeks. First, it was those awful in-party fights in conventions con-ventions around the state, and then, of course, Black Tuesday. And as I've reflected on the events surrounding sur-rounding the elections earlier this month, some poignant truths have become to emerge. Voters have sent a clear message to politicians in this state, and it's a good one: No more business as usual, no more "social clubs ' on Capitol Hill, no more county commissions com-missions or federal junkets that seem more like bishoprics than governmental business boards. Politicians Poli-ticians who feel they can sit on their hearty laurels will be left looking more like Laurel and Hardy. The congressional race in our own district is a perfect example. We had a popular multi-termed congressman, Jim Hansen, being challenged by newcomer Kenley Bmnsdale. No one would have guessed that this race would actually actu-ally be close, but it was. For his part, Bmnsdale showed up early and often at scheduled debates with Hansen, answering question? and displaying a disdain for "business as usual" politics on both sides of the spectrum. He was very informative and interesting when addressing the Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce last month, for example. Unfortunately for Kenley, he could only catch Congressman Hansen once for a face-to-face debate, and that was in Ogden. Hansen was busy in Washington as the federal budget crisis was brewing, brew-ing, and he was fortunate to be. In the one area where the men actually did meet face-to-face, Bmnsdale kicked you-know-what and took names. In this end of the county, Farm-ington Farm-ington was heavily behind Hansen as expected, while North Salt Lake backed Bmnsdale. The rest of the county remained split pretty much, a victory of sorts for the Democrat who benefitted somewhat from a typical "off-year, throw the bums out of office" election. Still, Brunsdale's major issue in this campaign, that damned pipeline, is a very good one. His posture was that, as a member of Congress, Hansen should have had more impact in the decision-making process than he's had. Whether it will really take an act of Congress to stop the pipeline companies from circumcising our hillsides or not, it's clear to all of us that, at least so far, we've not had any act in Congress. Con-gress. Perhaps Utah Republicans, feeling feel-ing on safe ground, have adopted the feeling that if they don't paint the bam, they'll never have to repaint re-paint it. In other words, why make waves by trying to tackle difficult problems. Even those Republicans who came close to losing, including Gentleman Jim, have blown off the election as some sort of off-year election fluke. I hope that's not the case. This Republican feels that politicians on both sides of the aisle had better cowboy-up and listen to their constituents. con-stituents. The fact is that most residents in Davis County, whether their yards, neighborhoods or cities are affected or not by the planned pipeline, don't want the project built here. Why is that so hard for any of our Utah Congressional delegation or even local elected officials to figure out? And as for 1992, well, expect Kenley Bmnsdale to be running again for some office, and probably winning. He's a bright, young 'non-politician' ' politician who hasn't lost sight of his district's constituents. Others currently in office of-fice throughout Utah, and that means mostly Republicans, would do well to contact us about our feelings feel-ings other than just once or twice every two years while they bask away in the Washington limelight that seems to have somehow clouded cloud-ed their visions. |