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Show 4 t Candidates answer Utah House, District 54 Questions: 1. Why have you chosen to seek office? 2. What are the top two issues you would like to address during your term in office? How do you plan to address those issues? 3. Please describe the experiences experi-ences and background you have that will help you address these concerns? 4. F jw will you ensure that the unique concerns of District 54 constituents living in the Uintah Basin are met? 5. Why should voters choose you on Election Day? Democratic Parry Neil Anderton, Heber City Answer to 1 When Rep. Gordon Snow announced he was not running again it became very apparent that District 54 needed someone who would represent the entire district as Rep. Snow has done. Since I was born and raised in Roosevelt I am aware of the many issues the citizens face in the Basin. I still have many ties and family who reside in this area. Being an incumbent on the Wasatch County Council the past six years I am also very aware of what many of the needs are in the district. I feel that I have the experience, experi-ence, time and physical energy to devote to being a state representative. repre-sentative. I will be a strong voice for the entire district. Answer to 2 There are many important issues that need to be addressed. One of the top two would be the energy crisis. The second would be to protect the water rights of the municipalities and counties. Probably a tie for second would be ethics reform of our state Legislature. To address the energy crisis we need to find alternative energy en-ergy resources. The Basin has an untapped resource in the shale oil. Now that the offshore drilling ban has been lifted this will allow the state and local authorities the opportunity to complete an agreement with Bureau of Land Management so that shale oil extraction will become a reality. Local and state elected officials need to be united to facilitate these agreements to take place aftd'lb' cMte arihvirJontrient allowing sh.aleojl, companies to be successful. There are other forms of energy we have only just begun be-gun to tap. Recently, a hydro plant project was completed in Wasatch County under Central Utah Project direction. Other important alternative fuels come from existent projects such as the Tavaputs natural gas wells in Carbon County. Again county and state legislators need to create cre-ate the pathway of success in the form of legislation. Other forms of alternative energy resources such as wind, solar and nuclear power need to be addressed. State and federal government entities can provide grants for companies to do the research and exploration finds in order to allow us to tap into these valuable energy resources. Protecting water rights has probably been a nightmare for many who live in the Roosevelt Meet our Manager Cvnthia Shiner ' - , ' n ... x ; N- ' 1 Hi inr ii ri.miiii imiliHMWi.nniiiiii.iim.ii.nn mmnnirif Cynthia and her staff are small loan service Call Today (435) 789-0812 Loans up to $S00 Loan service in minutes Monthly payments No checking account needed We help establish and rebuild credit Also open on Saturdays to better serve you 1 1 MS i area. The state water board wanted to forfeit the water reserve re-serve rights of Roosevelt City. A state bill was passed in this last legislative session to protect the rights of users who have water in reserve. HB 5 1, 5th Substitute gives the applicants up to seven years before forfeiting their rights. State legislators need to ensure that water users rights are protected. Answer to 3 I am serving on the Wasatch County Council for my second term of office. I also serve on many governing, advisory and executive boards. Presently I serve on the North Village and Twin Creeks Water governing boards. I am on the Wasatch County Fire Governing Govern-ing Board. Additionally, I serve on the Heber Valley Counseling Advisory Board, the Wasatch County Senior Advisory Board, the Wasatch County Personnel Board, the Heber Valley Railroad Governing Boar d, and previously on the Blue Bench Governing Board. I also serve on the Mountain Land Association of Government Council of Aging Advisory Board and the Executive Board. Finally, I have served on the Governor's Meth Task Force during the past two years. I also serve on the Utah Behavioral Health Network Executive Board. Serving on these boards has allowed me to keep abreast of the many issues and challenges we all face on a daily basis. We not only have big challenges with the energy crisis, but also in many other areas that affect each of us on a daily basis. Answer to 4 I will not change my approach in how I currently respond to the citizens in Wasatch County. I make myself accessible and listen to what my constituents have to say. I value what others have to offer. With varied opinions opin-ions many times we can reach better solutions. I will approach my constituents living in the Uintah Basin the same way: be accessible and continue with my motto of listening and utilizing your suggestions to achieve better bet-ter results. Elected officials need to remember that we are elected . because of the people. I can assure you that I will attend council meetings, school board meetings, and other community com-munity meetings on a consistent basis. Being available o listen and work with the people is an important aspect and role;of an elected official. I have been coming to the Uintah Basin nearly every week for the past 13 years, so I am in tune with many things happening happen-ing in the Basin area. Answer to 5 First, I will use my experience at the county level to approach the issues at the district level. I am very familiar with how the legislative process works. This knowledge will help me at the state level to look at the issues from a wide point of view and suggestions from you, the citizens, citi-zens, not just one point of view. This will allow us to enact better laws. Second, I understand the major issues affecting each of us on a daily basis: energy crisis, immigration reform, educational needs, ethics reform and others. oth-ers. I will conduct myself in a responsible manner and serve waiting to give you the best X in the industry! -fa SEE HER TODAY AT STAR LOANS 25 S. Vernal Ave. Vernal, UT Vernal questions concerning 2008 as a trusted state representative, always willing to listen to the people's opinions. Third, I feel that I am better connected to the people living within the district. I believe in the people and want to provide a transparent partnership among . you, my constituents, and state government. I will make a conscientious con-scientious effort to be a state representative who represents the entire district. Republican Party Kraig Powell, North Heber City Answer to 1 There is nothing I enjoy more than the privilege of serving the public and making a difference in our communities. Answer to 2 Legislative Ethics. Utah has some of the weakest laws on legislative ethics in the entire country. I will support a ban on gifts by lobbyists to legislators and seek limits on campaign contributions. To avoid even the appearance of impropriety and lead by example on this issue, I am refusing all contributions by lobbyists, special interest groups and corporations that lobby the Legislature, and am sending their checks back uncashed. Energy Independence. I believe be-lieve that state and federal government gov-ernment need to actively support the development of America's energy potential, including our natural gas and oil resources, rather than send our energy dollars overseas to foreign dictators. dicta-tors. Within the boundaries of this legislative district are vast amounts of oil and gas which we should extract to help us lower energy prices and provide jobs for hard-working citizens. We can then use the economic growth and tax revenue from this drilling to support our local infrastructure and businesses and to fund the development of energy sources for the future. Answer to 3 As an attorney for Midway City and Francis Town and in my private practice, I deal with Utah's laws on a daily basis. I know which laws work well and which ones do not. I also have a Ph.D. in government and teach political science at Utah Valley Val-ley University on the Wasatch campus. n, ' I have served as an intern in the .office of, Sen. Orrin Hatch, and have worked in all three branches of government. I believe be-lieve that my qualifications and background will help me make wise decisions and draft quality legislation in the Utah House of Representatives. Answer to 4 The most important thing I can give to Uintah Basin residents resi-dents is my time. Since I became a candidate for the Utah Legislature Legis-lature in March, I have traveled over 5,000 miles in the Uintah Basin meeting with citizens. I have now attended every city council and town council meeting meet-ing in the Uintah Basin in this legislative district at least once, as well as the Duchesne County School Board and Duchesne County Commission meetings I will continue this type of outreach after I am elected to make sure that the voice of all Uintah Basin citizens is heard in the Utah Legislature. Answer to 5 I have never run for public . office. My only exposure to elections elec-tions has been directing three different school bond campaigns in our area. But those elections have taught me that one person can make a difference if he or she will care enough to learn about the issues and express their opinions through voting and civic participation. That is the philosophy I will follow in representing you in the Utah Legislature. Together, we can make life even better for people in the Uintah Basin. Constitution Party Douglas K. Thompson, Heber City Answer to 1 For the past 12 years, since I read the Constitution for the first time, I have discovered that we as a nation and as a state no longer follow the Constitution in its original intent. Rather, we have polluted what Americanism was and turned it into a now Americanism laced with socialism. social-ism. I hope to change that trend and help restore our government to what it was meant to be. Answer to 2 I hope to strengthen the position po-sition of the state as a state. To help reduce the take over of our government by a super-powerful national government. That is not what our Founders had intended for this nation. Secondly, I plun to reduce the national government's intrusion into education. Namely to move the state of Utah away from the No Child Left Behind intrusion. Education is a state mutter not a national government area of responsibility. Express Answer to 3 I am an intelligent citizen. I have read extensively on what the proper role of American government gov-ernment is meant to be. Today, we are far from that. I know what Americanism is and I know that our current implementation of government is not Americanism. American-ism. Answer to 4 I plan to help educate the population pop-ulation on what correct American government is and that we are not doing that in our country and state today. Government is not to solve people's problems, but rather to remove the things that limit or hinder people's liberties to go about their business and lives. Answer to 5 People have choice in whether they wish to continue the current operation of government methods, meth-ods, or they can choose to return to the government methods that our forefathers implemented and passed down to us. Determining what the proper role of government govern-ment really is provides a metric on just what our current form and implementation of government is. It can also provide a standard with which we can measure our progress toward our Founders' views of just how government should impact our lives: liberty or social programs that stifle liberty. State House of Representatives Represen-tatives District 55 Questions: 1) What actions do you propose in order to protect the county's mineral lease monies from reallocation at the state level? 2) Do you believe that the Seep Ridge road improvement project will help our energy-based energy-based economy? 3) What will you do to improve the county's transportation infrastructure? in-frastructure? 4) The economy of the Uintah Uin-tah Basin has been one of boom and bust, depending upon the energy industry. Once again, we are booming with the energy industry. What type of economic diversification would you suggest to protect this economy? 5) Boom and bust cycles can be coped with if planning is adequate. ad-equate. The effects of the boom must be mitigated so the effects of the bust can be muted or dit 2008 UINTAH COUNTY POLL November General Election to be held on November 4, 2008. Polls Open Precinct Name Poll Location Address Jensen 1 Jensen Water Office 5950 S. 8500 E. Davis East 2 Davis Elementary School 4021 S. 2500 E. Davis West 3 Davis Elementary School 4021 S. 2500 E. Davis North 24 Davis Elementary School 4021 S. 2500 E. Naples 4 Naples City Offices 1420 E. Weatherby South 5 Western Park 300 E. 200 S. Vernal 9 Western Park 300 E. 200 S. Vernal 12 Western Park 300 E. 200 S. Vernal 13 Western Park ' 300 E. 200 S. Vernal 14 Western Park 300 E. 200 S. Ashley East 15 Western Park 300 E. 200 S. Vernal 8 Jr. High School 161 N. 1000 W. Vernal10 Jr. High School 161N.1000W. Vernal 11 Jr. High School , 161N.1000W. Ashley West 22 Jr. High School 161 N. 1000 W. Southwest26 Jr. High School 161N.1000W. Glines South 17 Jr. High School 161N.1000W. MaeserEast6 Maeser Elementary 2670 W. 1000 N. MaeserDry Fork7 Maeser Elementary 2670 W. 1000 N. Maeser West 25 Maeser Elementary 2670 W. 1 000 N. Glines North 23 Maeser Elementary 2670 W. 1000 N. Avalon Willows 16 Avalon Community Bldg. 4622 S. 14500 E. Fort Duchesne 18 , West Jr. High 301N.5750E. Ballard 19 Ballard Town Hall ' 2100E.800S. Whiterocks 20 Lapoint Elementary 10752 E 6900 N. LapointTridell21 Lapoint Elementary 10752 E 6900 N. To Vote in the Nimmber General Election, you must: Be a citizen of the United States. . Have resided in Utah at least 30 days immediately before the election. Be at least 18 years old on or before the election. First time voters must bring valid form of photo ID or proof of residence to the polls. Have registered to vote by October 20, 2008 An Audit, by order of the Lt. Governor, will be conducted on the Accu-Vote TSx voting machines on Friday, November 7, 2008 at 2:00 pm in the South Conference Room In the County Building at 147 East Main Street. The Canvas of Election Results will be conducted on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 2:00 pm in the South Conference Room in the County Building at 147 East Main Street Michael W. Wilkins, Clerk-Auditor, Published in the Vernal Express October 29, 2008. minished. This is one reason why I think placing a portion of all royalties or lease money should be placed into a trust fund. This should happen at all levels of government that receive such funds. 6) Oil shale has been the topic of potential development for 100 years. Do you believe that oil shale has a future in the Uintah Basin? Democrat Party Wayne Y. Hoskisson, Moab Answer to 1 I am not sure about the background back-ground for this question. If this concerns a recent proposal to place some funds from mineral lease money into a trust fund for future needs, I am not sure I would oppose this. I think it would be wise to set aside funds for future use. I would need to see a specific proposal to know what I would decide. When a specific proposal is placed before the legislature I would need to find knowledgeable people to provide information and opinions about the proposal. One set of constituents I will be representing are future generations. gen-erations. I will assess the impacts of legislation on our children and grandchildren. My generation lives pretty well. I would hate to see our future diminished because be-cause of shortsighted policies that benefit a few people right no w but will harm our future potential. Answer to 2 The improvement of the Seep Ridge Road will do little for the economy of House District 55. Corporations have used far-worse roads to make money in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Answer to 3 The future will prove transportation trans-portation a crucial issue. Transportation Trans-portation is key to all aspects of the lives of people in all of House District 55. We are all dependent on a solid transportation system. When I go to the grocery store almost everything I buy came from thousands of miles away. Because of limited shopping opportunities op-portunities I sometimes must' travel hundreds of miles to find items I cannot find locally. I worry most about the transportation infrastructure that allows us to continue living in our rural communities. Answer to 4 ,A11 , rural, . Utah, faces, .the. Wednesday, October 29, 2008 A3 election need for a diversified local economy. The problem itself is fairly simple. Communities need to find ways to import or bring in more money from outside and to find ways to keep money circulating locally as long as possible before it leaves our communities. com-munities. The solution remains elusive for many communities. Increasing the opportunity for higher education locally should be an early and continuing focus. Locating businesses that could relocate to our communities is the second major focus. Each community will vary. Not every community has the capacity to support light industry. Many small businesses can operate from anywhere in the world as long as the communication and transportation infrastructure is adequate. The tourist industry will always remain a staple of Uintah and Grand Counties. Considering the current national economic situation I am not sure if it is feasible or desirable to seek expansion right now of tourism. Attracting retirees is another way to bring money into our communities. Utah has attributes that should attract a wide range of people wanting clean air, clean water and safe communities. Answer to 5 There is also a huge personal responsibility to understand and plan for each bust in the cycle. Someone working in the oil-and-gas industry should understand that the industry is global. The economics of the industry are controlled by global influences and factors beyond their control, beyond the control of Utah and beyond the control of our nation. Answer to 6 Eventually oil shale will play an important role in the Uintah Basin. I think eventually it will play a significant role nationally. I do not know of any commercially commer-cially viable extraction process for getting kerogen out of oil shale and refining it to make usable us-able oil products. The last efforts of a national corporation shut down recently. For the most part I believe this is a technical problem that science will eventually solve. One aspect of using oil shale for fuel is finding sufficient amounts of water and a means of dealing with the resulting contaminated water. People can and eventually will learn to , , SEE ELECTION on A7 LOCATIONS at 7:00 a.m. Close at 8:00 p.m. |