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Show DAILY HERALD U.S. Senate Thursday, November 2, 2006 Orrin Hatch I Party: Republican I 72, Salt Lake City I Occupation: Senator I Education: Juris doctorate I Fun fact: Writes music, has 23 grandchildren i rrin Hatch said he Iwants to stay in office "because he has the ex perience and abilities to help Utahns keep the security and freedoms they enjoy. "I will be chairman of the finance fi-nance committee within just a few years," he said. With first rankings on several committees, commit-tees, Hatch said that he's in a position to "do an awful lot for Utah, as I have in the past." As a smaller state, he said that Utah benefits from having a powerful senator because while California may have ten times the votes, Hatch has the status to represent repre-sent Utah's issues. "I'm known as one that can bring people together on both sides of the aisle." Hatch said he sees the threat of the war in Iraq as real and ' "7 said that America needs to continue its presence there, supporting President Bush's commitment com-mitment to . 1 winning 'ne 4 ; f tA war on ter rorism. "Our very lives are being be-ing threatened threat-ened by al-Qaida and the Islamic fascists," he said. "The stakes for Utah are higher than they have ever been." Hatch said one major success suc-cess he had in the Senate for Utah was saving Hill Air Force Base. "I believe in the people of Utah. I want to make sure that our people have security and enjoy their freedoms," he said. He said he sees several possibilities in creative energy reform, and would like to use the power of Utah's geother-mal geother-mal energy to keep gas prices low in the state. Dave S. Seely I Party: Libertarian 47, St. George I Occupation: Optician, St. George police emergency coordinator manager I Education: Bachelor's in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Brigham Young University I Fun fact: Holds a record at Bonneville Salt Flats for a 1939 Darwin Special race car ave Seely wants to hold senators to the Constitution. "I'm going to be the conscience con-science in the Senate. And I'm going to read from the Constitution Con-stitution to them and remind them what their oaths of office of-fice are," he said. As for the issue of illegal immigration, he believes in secure se-cure borders and foreign aide. "Finally, we have to secure our border. That's called defense. de-fense. What we're doing in Iraq is called offense, and it's offensive," he said. "I think that it's more im- E3 f f portant for us to secure our borders than for us to form democratic regimes around the world," he said. "We should apply whatever pressure we can to that government, govern-ment, namely name-ly Mexico, to give incentive, for those people to stay in their borders." He said he encourages all citizens to have a concealed weapons permit. He believes that if they were more readily available, then recent school shootings would not have happened and the terrorist attacks at-tacks of Sept. 11, 2001 would not have happened. He said that if people would have had . guns on the planes, the terrorists ter-rorists would have known that people would have been armed. Pete Ashdown I Party: Democrat I 39, Salt Lake City I Occupation: President and founder of Internet service provider XMission I Education: Associate degree from Salt Lake Community College I Fun fact: Collects old arcade ar-cade games from the 1970s and 1980s. "It's probably one of the largest collections in the western United States." 3Pe kete Ashdown's three-"point three-"point plan for better government includes democracy with collaboration, accountability and a stronger use of the Constitution. Ashdown sees the primary issue of the race being energy policy. "We need to look for more oil, but we also need to look for all these other forms we have out there," he said, noting not-ing that too much time is wasted trying to fight oil companies com-panies and those who hold the key to oil. "I think we need to reform Tff? and streamline the legal immigration im-migration program," he said, noting that the borders should be secure not just for immigration im-migration purposes, but for security secu-rity reasons as well. Ashdown said that the country should use the same equipment equip-ment on its borders that it does in Iraq, using predator drones to keep people from crossing. Employers should also be held accountable, required to pay minimum wage and identify workers with Social Security numbers. Ashdown also identified health care as a concern. "It's time we take all these alphabet alpha-bet soup programs in America Ameri-ca like CHIP, VA and sweep them up into one program," he said. Roger Price Party: Personal Choice 61, Huntsville I Occupation: Farmer I Education: Bachelor's degree de-gree in political science, Weber We-ber State University I Fun fact: Became interested in politics in high school when he started reading about Thomas Jefferson. oger Price said he is running to make the FUnited States the re public it is supposed to be, not the democracy it has become. He said he has become dissatisfied dis-satisfied with leaders who put themselves above the law. "I can't find anyone else in the whole public arena that will stand up for liberty, truth and justice, and that begs the question, if not me then who?' he said. Price said that he will do this by standing up for the law, but he said he can't do it on his own and will need the help of all citizens. He cited the example of tft '"J how to solve the problem of the U.S. national deficit. "We've got to learn to do it ourselves," he said. "People get what they deserve. Everybody is out buying buy-ing on their credit card. First we've got to stop buying on our credit card. Then we've got to start paying on our deficit." As for immigration, Price said that the borders be closed and the borders also should be closed to people who come to live in the United States and then put their money in foreign for-eign banks. "I'm not a Republican, I'm not a Democrat, I don't belong to a party that tries to control how I believe, think, act. I'm a U.S. citizen and a citizen of Utah first," Price said. Scott Bradley I Party: Constitution I 55, Logan I Occupation: University administrator ad-ministrator at Utah State University I Education: Master's of Public Administration at Brigham Young University I Fun fact: Nurrutes an annual an-nual Constitution pageant that he wrote 15 years ago, "A Day to Remember It." cott Bradley believes ,that virtually every thing in the Constitution needs to be looked at and be re-established. "The things that are wrong with the nation today are wrong because we have strayed with the charter with the nation," he said. He wants to remind those in Congress that they take an oath before God. "Many of them largely set that aside," he said. Bradley said that if Congress Con-gress follows their constitutional constitu-tional oath. problems like the deficit will disappear because the Cor..;t,ition doesn't dip into the red. "The nation na-tion thinks they can go out and buy anything they want," he said. Bradley said the Congress has lost power that is delegated delegat-ed to them in the Constitution. "Congress only has power to do what has been delegated to them but what they're doing do-ing is letting that power go to someone else." he said. "The president on other hand, has been usurping power. The Constitution does not allow anyone to usurp power." Julian Hatch I Party: Desert Green 52, Boulder I Occupation: Western Water Sheds Project t Education: Bachelor's in human ecology, College of Atlantic I Fun fact: Julian Hatch said he is a distunt cousin to U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utuh, that stretches six greatgrandfathers, great-grandfathers, hack to 1638. Pulian Hatch says he is II running to give voters in Utah a choice. However, he doesn't believe he'll win and sees that as a problem. He is calling for election reform in Utah and nationally. "1 think that money and the lobbyists are corrupting our government." he said. He said he'd like to see people limit themselves to $2,000 per donation do-nation from individuals, and limit the amount of donations they take. "I've kept myself to $1,000 on purpose," he said, noting that he's turned away offers PHOTO NOT PROVIDID because he doesn't want to waste money on a futile campaign. Hatch would like to set term limits for senators to two terms. "Why not just coronate coro-nate Orrin senator for life?" he quipped. Julian Hatch said he seeks to represent the people in Utah who don't always vote. He said he believes they don't vote because they don't have the right candidate. "I believe that people need candidates and a variety of parties to encourage them to vote," he said. "The main reason would be to offer the voters in Utah a choice," he said of why he's running. "I'm probably the complete opposite of Orrin Hatch in every way." House District 27 John Dougall I Party: Republican Age: 40, Highland I Occupation: Engineer and businessman I Education: Bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and master's in business and administration I Fun fact: "I liked playing water polo in high school. It's just a nice, fun, physical sport. " tT earning from his expe-jlrience expe-jlrience last term, John bLsJ Dougall wants to continue con-tinue down the path that he has started. "It has been a very educational edu-cational experience," Dougall Dou-gall said, "I have appreci ated working so closely with friends and neighbors." One of the most important issues that needs to be addressed is the critical needs of Utah County, Coun-ty, Dougall said. After assessing the transportation problems for the past two years, Dougall Dou-gall said it is time to put the plan into action. With more funding and providing more options, this Highland resident said he is passionate about getting this problem resolved. There needs to be a long-term funding source allocated to Utah County's transportation needs, he said. Dougall also touts the importance im-portance of public education and the need to make Utah more competitive in the global market. Continuing to pursue tax reform is another must on Dougall's agenda. Although there have been steps made to achieve that while he has been in office, Dougall said he wants to continue moving in the right direction. Elizabeth Rice-MacFarlane I Party: Democrat I Refused to provide age, Highland I Occupation: Teacher of U.S. history at Oak Canyon Junior High I Education: Master's in education edu-cation leadership I Fun fact: " love to golf. My parents golfed and they took me along. I was actually one of the junior PGA winners when I was 9." Wanting to make a difference and believing be-lieving in serving people, Elizabeth Rice-MacFarlane said she is running for office because she is passionate pas-sionate about Utah's education system and having more than one political view for House District 27. "I believe the people in this area deserve a two-party system," she said, adding she believes the public wants a change in office. Wanting to take her experience experi-ence in the education system to the House, Riee-MacFar-lane said there should be more money allocated to Utah's education edu-cation system. M-r '""-"If I "1 believe in public education," educa-tion," she said. "I believe if we put money there, we're going to see it boom." The education system is suffering from a lack of funding, fund-ing, the Highland resident said, which could be remedied by allocating state funds more efficiently and effectively. Not knowing what the perfect per-fect resolution to the state's education funding conundrum is, Rice-MacFarlane said the state funding could be used more efficiently. "Our class sizes should be smaller up through sixth grade at least." she said. Frequently Ashed Questions about the (TfrrMrm (Bijaanni for Utah County. 1. What Is the opinion question tor? Answer: The opinion question asks voters whether they would he in favor of the Utah County Commission Com-mission raising the sales tax in Utah County one quarter of one percent to fund transportation projects. 2. What projects would be tunded with this quarter cent taxP Answer: The majority of the money raised would be used to fund Commuter Rail or a rail fixed guideway system (87). The balance of the money raised would be used for transit projects like a bus rapid transit operation or increased transit service (5) ami significant road projects, either the widening of existing roads or building new roads (8). 3. What will one quarter ot one percent mean to me at the cash register? Answer: It means that for every dollar you spend a quarrer of a penny will be taxed or 25 cents on every ev-ery $100 spent. Utah economists estimate that the average family will pay approximately $96 per year. date commuter rail would be under construction is 201 1, but it is likely that schedule will be accelerated. acceler-ated. Some bus operations improvements would be initiated within a year and the road projects would be initiated as soon as they are cleared through the environmental process. 5. Didn't Salt Lake County already pass this tax? Answer: Yes, Salt Lake, Weber, and Davis Counties passed this additional tax in 2000 and have since begun their commuter rail project that is expected to be operational in late 2007. It will run from Salt Lake City north to Ogden and ending in Pleasant View. 6. Why Is Salt Lake County proposing another tax for this year? Amwer: Salt Lake County would like to advance the construction of some additional TRAX lines and would need to build a section of commuter rail from the downtown Salt Lake station to the Utah County line to connect the rail line that Utah County would build. 4. When will these projects be built? 1- Is Commuter Rail different than TRAX? Answer. Commuter rail is in the middle of an environmental en-vironmental impact analysis and will need to have the engineering and design work done before construction con-struction can begin. It is expected that the latest Answer: Yes, commuter rail is a passenger train that is pulled by a locomotive and can be up to ten cars long. It operates at higher speeds than TRAX, makes fewer stops, and is primarily used for longer commutes. 8. What are the anticipated road proiects to be built with this tax? Answer: Most of the projects being built are in preparation for the reconstruction of I-15, increasing increas-ing capacity on alternative roads rfi.it are regionally significant. They include projects such as ,i new 1000 South in Lehi connecting to Redwood Road, the widening of 400 South in Springville, and the widening or improvement of other such roads. 9. Is there going to be the need to bond for these proiects? A l .l - I I I answer: ies, tne commuter rail would likely require a thirty year bond with the road projects requiring smaller and shorter bonds. 10. How much money will this tax generate? Answer: As the economy grows in Utah County more tax money will be generated. Current growth rates estimate that Utah County will generate about $16 million annually frnm'tlus tax. With a conservative long term growth estimate it is anticipated antici-pated that through 2040 this tax will generate $1.6 billii in. 11. Will the quarter cent sales tax apply to food purchases as well as other purchases? Answer. While this year the legislature passed two bills lowering the state s,ili-s t.ix eollei led on food, tins t.ix is a county tax and does not exempt food, and would apply to all goods and servnes ,i- cur-tetltly cur-tetltly defined by the tax code. 12. It approved when would the tax go into effect and how long would it last? Answer. The tax will go into effect m 2007 and is perpetual from that point forward. It will hi used to pay off long term bonds. After these pr ei:ts aic complcre and paid for, the I Itah County ( .'omuiis-sion .'omuiis-sion could jiiit a reallocation vote to the people lor additional transportation projects .is needed 13. How will the operation and maintenance mainte-nance for commuter rail be paid? Answer: The operation and maintenance would .ill be paid for out of the funds generated hy tin tax. 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