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Show PAGE 4 THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 1988 COOK'S CAMPAIGN ANTICS ARE INSULTING TO VOTERS Excuse the apparent dichotomy on this page. In the 'Letters' section you'll find independent gubernatorial candidate Merrill Cook's justification for petitioning the state to reprint some 70,000 election ballots because of the placement of his name on the form. In this space, you'll read why The Thunderbird finds Cook's actions not only insulting to the Utah electorate but also incongruous with his stance on government waste. Cook maintains that his chances of winning the gubernatorial race were drastically lessened by the placement of his name far from the candidates on paper ballots being used in several Utah counties. Only Cook's loyal supporters, the candidate says, will seek out his name on the ballot, while undecided voters will cast their votes for another candidate for the sake of convenience. This assertion is a slap in the face to Utah voters. The assumption that a substantial portion of the electorate enough to put Cook in office will go to the voting booths and base their decision in this crucial race on convenience rather than on the issues is questionable, indeed. The only gubernatorial candidate supporting the tax initiatives, Cook has based much of his campaign on his intolerance for waste in government. Last week, this strong critic of overspending in the public sector petitioned the Utah courts to reprint ballots in 16 Utah counties at a projected cost of more than $15,000. The Utah Supreme Court denied Cook's request, saying state law requires independent candidates to be listed in a column separate from party contenders. The Cook campaign is marred with irritating instances such as this one. In June, Cook supporters delayed the state Republican Convention for hours by trying to nominate their candidate on the Republican ballot. Cook himself wasn't present and had no chance of receiving the nomination over incumbent Norm Bangerter, but Cook's entourage did receive significant media coverage for its convention coup. The fact that hundreds of state delegates were delayed needlessly was beside the point. Speaking of irritations, who on this campus can forget last month's gubernatorial debate, in which Cook expressed his glee at visiting ''Southern Utah State University"? Recent polls project that Cook will carry about 20 percent of Utah's vote in next week's election. Although Cook says the publicity stemming from the ballot issue offsets his obscure placement on the form, the candidate's defeat appears imminent. Any gains this publicity brings Cook will be negated by the loss of votes his incessant whining has caused. At least now Cook has the ideal scapegoat on which to blame his loss. party-support- FAtft o oV6 j McKay's leadership transcends party lines learned that many times a good TO THE EDITOR: In eight days citizens of Utah elect the next president, governor, senator, and three members of the House. The performance of these leaders will influence our lives well into the 21st century. will have become Recently concerned over comments made by several students concerning their intentions to vote a straight Republican or Democratic ticket. This seems to be blind voting. People need to vote according to their views on current issues, not according to traditional family loyalties. In my three years at SUSC as a have political science major, I tree or political party will produce bad fruit. A classic example of this is the case in the congressional race between Jim Hansen and Gunn McKay. Innumerable times Rep. Hansen has voted along party lines regardless of its effect on the citizens of Utah. Gunn McKay has clearly indicated that if elected again he would vote in a conservative manner. Mr. n conservMcKay, a ative Democrat, is just as suitable in reflecting Utah's conservative sentiments. With the constant threat of tax cuts divorcing our schools from needed financial support and other crises on the horizon, we well-know- need a voice in Congress who will vote for us and not along party lines. Everyone should study the views of all candidates so we can vote for the best individual. Gunn McKay is a man who, while serving in the House, has proven he votes for Utah not the the Democratic or Republican Party. On November 8 we will select leaders who will not only affect our lives, but those of our children as well. It is a small price to pay on our part to learn something about the people running for political office. Your informed vote can and will make a difference. Kenneth Reber Ballot format hinders fair election process TO THE EDITOR: will be able to readily see on the ballot VOLUME 83, NUMBER 6 Editor Nicolo Bonham Associate Editor Lynn Holt Design Editor Dannv Stewart Photo Editor Tvlor Brown L opv Editor Anne UCIoskev Entertainment Editor Gary Ziegler Sports Editor Brent Richey Operations Manager Lynn Dennett Production Manager Raquel Eves Ad Representatives Cathleen Castle Nicole Floyd Faculty Adviser Larry Baker Ihe Thundvrhinl is published each Monday of the academic year by and tor the student lxd ot Southern Utah Slate College and is not attiliated in any wav with the College's department ot ominunu atiorj The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird are the opinions oi the pub Ik at ion's individual w nters and do not necessjoly retlect the views o' the institution, faculty, start or student body in general The unsigned editorial direr tl alnne w the opinion ot Ihe Thunderbird as a single entity tenets to the editor must he t ped and me ludc the name and phone number. Only the name vs ill le printed. Names will not be withheld under an circumstances and the editor reserves editing pm ilcges. etters must lie submitted bv noon Fnda tor me lusion in the following edition. !he liiKinderhiri! editorial and advertising oiiu es m SI 'SC Library 103 Mail at SUSC Box MM J ( edar ( it L'T H4' JU Phone (HU 7758 The people of Utah deserve to have an election for governor where the names of the candidates are all easy to locate and contained within the same vertical column or the same horizontal row so that the choices can be readily seen. The good citizens of the state of Utah deserve no less, and the law of the state of Utah require? no less. It was disappointing and sad to find out that my name is hidden this way on the election ballots in 1 7 of Utah's 29 counties. When votei in the 17 counties go to the polls on November 8 to select their next governor, the the names of Norm Barrgerter, Ted Wilson, Arly Pederson, and Kitty Burton all lined up in the same horizontal row. But, unless the voter goes off the horizontal line for governor and searches deep down into the right-han- d corner, the voter will be unable to find the name of Merrill Cook. have launched the strongest independent campaign for governor anywhere in the United States since Jim Longley won as an independent in Maine in 1974. will firmly believe win, but also believe this will be j very close election. While most of my strong supporters will search out my name (however I I difficult) and vote for me, many of the undecided voters may not make the effort. This has put me at a very serious disadvantage, but more important is the very serious disadvantage the entire Utah electorate suffers in not being able to have an open, honest, and fair election process. did research the law before ran as an independent, and it was dear that, although my name would be last on the ballot, it would still be on the same line as the other gubernatorial candidates, and that the baMnt would give me a reasonable chance to make my candidacy effective. I Merrill Cook |
