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Show PACE 10 THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY NOVEMBER 7, 1988 Tax Initiatives are chief '88 issue Bangerter faces challenge from Wilson, Cook Republican incumbent faces Democratic former Salt Lake mayor and BY KATHLEEN MiDCLEY Republican incumbent Norman Bangerter, Democrat Ted Wilson, and independent candidate Merrill Cook vie for the position of governor in a race that's gaining intensity as election day draws near. Recent polls show Wilson leading in the race, with lead. Bangerter chipping away at Wilson's eight-poiPollsters say Bangerter's support from the Republican Party is increasing. Trailing Wilson by 14 points is Cook, who, with slightly more than 20 percent in the polls, is running a surprisingly strong independent race. Education is the top priority for Bangerter, who said he will continue the "block-grant- " program initiated this year. He said he will expand the principle of giving "the schools back to the people," meaning parents and administrators will have more control. The incumbent also bel eves in putting "the money where the students are." The state spent over $1 billion on education, which funds 50 percent of the budget, said Bangerter. He said he feels students should pay for 20 to 22 percent of their education. "That's about where we are now, and that's about where we ought to stay," he said. Bangerter said he realizes people are tired of tax increases and they won't tolerate additional hikes. He said he will tax-rollbacki- maintain his current economic development plan to reduce government spending and expand the tax base. Lt. Gov. W. Val Oveson is seeking reelection along with Bangerter. The two entered office in 1985. The tax issue is prominent on the Democratic platform as well. Wilson, former mayor of Salt Lake City, said he "hears the cries of Utah tax protestors" and vows to not raise taxes if elected. Wilson said he will reallocate spending to meet essential goals and will support a "serious examination" of Utah's tax structure. Economic growth will come from the expansion of businesses in Utah, said Wilson, through his plan to provide technical and economic assistance to struggling industries. He said he will "work to improve the partnership between government, business, and workers in order to enhance business opportunity in Utah." Education is a key issue in the campaign of Wilson and his running mate Jim Davis. Wilson, who left a position at University of Utah to run for governor, said he will employ innovative strategies such as focusing on student performance; allowing teachers, students, and parents to decide scholastic necessities; and utilizing classroom technology. He said he is "determined, to lead the way in educational reform" by investing in independent ng higher education to preserve Utah's facilities and faculty. Cook agrees that teachers are not at fault for the decline in educational achievement in Utah and blames "sloppy and wasteful administration practices in Utah's educational system" for the system's woes. He said the state can have quality education through budget cuts. 'Teachers need to be paid properly," he said. "The percentage given to overhead and administration needs to fall dramatically." The only gubernatorial candidate supporting the tax limitation initiatives. Cook said his top priority is "getting Utah's economy moving again." He said the state must concentrate on small businesses, which provide 80 percent of Utah's jobs. Cook wants a new set of fiscal policies to stimulate small business activity and feels the rollback will be a good start. "We need to roll back last year's tax hike to stimulate Utah's economy and put dollars back into the hands of the private citizens," said Cook. Lee Allen is the candidate for lieutenant governor in what Cook's campaign literature terms the strongest independent campaign in the nation since 1974. Also running for governor is American candidate Arly H. Pedersen with Robert L. Crawley and Libertarian candidate Kitty K. Burton with Stanley D. Malstrom. Hansen, McKay square off for third time BY NATALIE COOMBS The race for Utah's First Congressional District seat has been a heated one, with Gunn McKay campaigning hard to reclaim the title from incumbent Jim Hansen. Democrat McKay held the position for 10 years, but Republican Hansen defeated him in 1980 as part of that election year's Reagan sweep. Hansen was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 1980 and is now serving his fourth term. The Farmington, Utah, native is basing bid on economic his development programs, support for the state education system, and opposition to government waste. "Jim Hansen is extremely concerned about education," said Campaign Manager Peter Jenks about the congressman's voting record on higher education issues. Jenks said advertisements accusing Hansen of neglecting Utan's educational needs are "completely consistently voted for government grants and student loans and in only one instance voted against a bill that funded education. The reason for that decision, Jenks said. IWI)PHPIW,IMU untrue." Jenks said Hansen has was because of other legislation included with the bill that Hansen opposed. Jenks said that although Hansen's support has undergone a slight I. Iuip jm .mm up mm bihwh whim i " ?r A: ! t fti s L ;( 'fijijSi. BY LYNN dilution in recent polls, the incumbent is still leading the race. The candidate and his supporters, Jenks said, anticipate "a good Republican year." Hansen advocates the reasonable multiple-us- e development of the state's natural resources. The candidate also led the effort in the House to give states the right to raise speed limits to 65 mph on rural interstate highways. Hansen's challenger, McKay, has headed an intense campaign emphasizing the four Es Economic development. Education, programs for the Elderly, and Ethics. Several prominent media and political figures including Utah Sen. Jake Gam have claimed that there is an absence of that final E in McKay's campaign and have publicly criticized the candidate for his jabs at incumbent Hansen. g "Gunn McKay has resorted to in this campaign as a desperate attempt to unseat Congressman Hansen," Jenks said. mud-slingin- (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12) HOLT ASSUSC President Darin Bird urged Utahns to oppose the tax limitation initiatives at a press conference held Friday at the State Capitol. "Passage of Initiatives A, B and C will destroy the opportunity for education for hundreds of Utahns," Bird said in his address Friday. "Instead of flipping hamburgers to help pay for their educations, many students will be flipping hamburgers for the rest of their lives..." Bird, who also presides over the 100,000-membe- r Utah Student Association, said more than 200 college students from throughout the state attended the Salt Lake City gathering, which culminated with the release of 1,000 green balloons on the Capitol steps. A prominent theme in the student campaign against Initiatives A, B and C, the color green signifies growth and life in higher education. Bird noted in his speech that student leaders throughout the state have organized an ambitious campaign, registering more than 22,000 students. The tax rollback is combined of three separate initiatives. Initiative A proposes to reduce by .25 percent state property taxes, a major source of revenue for public education. The state's loss from passage of Initiative A is estimated at $180 million. Initiative B rolls back a number of taxes, including income tax, to their 1986 level. The estimated impact of the proposal is $100 million. Perhaps the least threatening of the proposals. Initiative C would create a tax credit for families who enroll their children in private schools or educate them at home. Combined, the initiatives would cut state iax revenue by more than $300 million. While the precise effects of the initiatives are unknown, proponents say that they would streamline government and education at all levels and spur economic growth in the private sector. Opponents maintain that the cuts would, however, hinder all aspects of the public sector. Should the three initiatives pass, SUSC could expect a budget decrease of $1.2 million to $1.9 million, according to college officials. SUSC President Gerald R. Sherratt has said such a financial blow would require the college to hike tuition, limit enrollment, and cut several programs offered at the campus. Although the initiatives garnered strong support early in the campaign, support for all three initiatives has diminished as the media and ad hoc organizations have informed the public of the drawbacks of the initiatives. Following the press conference. Bird said he anticipates the defeat of all three initiatives on Tuesday. BY RODNEY D. DECKER For at least a decade, assertions have been made that Utah is the most Republican state in the nation. Support for this argument is based on election results that strongly favor Republicans and the appointment of Republicans from Utah to national political offices. The glaring exception to the above assertion involves Utah's chief executives, who from 1965 through 1984 were Democrats. In 1985 the argument that a Democrat controlled the executive branch of office dould no longer be made with the inauguration of Republican Norman H. Bangerter as Utah's 13th governor. With such apparent overwhelming voter support for the Republican party in Utah, the future appeared to be very bright. But in only four years that future has dulled greatly in regard to the Republican governor's chances for What has happened? While Gov. Bangerter's political problems are not entirely of his own doing (he cannot control the weather and make policy decisions on pumping the Great Salt Lake solely on the basis of guessing what the weather will be), he has consistenly demonstrated poor political judgment as well as stubbornly stuck to unrealistic policy decisions on tax issues, economic development, and key political appointments. An assessment of the 1988 gubernatorial election indicates that, while several issues are seemingly important for the Republican incumbent governor, his Democratic opponent Ted Wilson, and independent candidate Merrill Cook, the overriding issue for Utah voters is executive leadership, an important political asset seriously lacking in the Bangerter Administration. For 20 years prior to Bangerter's election Utahns were fortunate to have two exceptional and nationally recognized governors Cal Rampton and Scott Matheson. Both former governors exemplified such qualities of leadership as optimism regardless of the problems, energy and enterprise, intelligence, verbal ability, and creativity and judgment. Utahns expected a continuation of such leadership under Gov. Bangerter, but they havp been very disappointed. And with that disappointment has come a certain amount of disillusionment, cynicism, and callousness toward Utah politics. It is too bad that so many Utahns are stating openly their plans to vote for the lesser of three evils. On a positi e note, the unusual and unacceptable personal attacks and assertions questioning the integrity of the ' b r V f ''V A ASSUSC President Darin Bird held a press conference at the State Capitol Friday to discuss the negative irhpact of Utah's proposed tax initiatives . Hatch shoots for third term Races across nation may show end in polarization BY RACHEL BY JODI REINARD TALBOT In 1976, Republican Orrin Hatch defeated Sen. Frank Moss in Utah's senatorial race. This year, Democratic challenger Brian Moss hopes to claim from Hatch the U.S. Senate seat his father lost 12 years ago. But Hatch is again running an ambitious campaign, designed to respond to what he considers the state's foremoit needs. The incumbent says Utah must adjust to a changing economy, keep its citizens employed in industries with a future, and accommodate the aspirations of minorities, the handicapped and women moving into the workforce. The incumbent's involvement in the field of foreign affairs has grown with his membership in the Select Committee on Intelligence and his appointment to the Senate Select Committee investigating the Iran arms deal. Hatch's Democratic challenger, Brian Moss, contends that incumbent Hatch has lost touch with Utah because of his involvement with "those special interest groups on the extreme right." The tenets of Moss' platform include balancing the budget and supporting education by federal aid and increasing the number of programs for the disadvantaged. A Salt Lake City businessman, Moss also supports economic development by reinvestment with an increase of quality employment opportunities and by fair trade legislation. Harsh legal treatment for all drug pushers and an adequate funding level for the military are also among Moss' priorities. Moss' experience includes his appointment as special assistant to the director of Foreign Disaster Assistance and as executive director of a none profit alcohol- - and prevention program. Other candidates in the race include Robert J. Smith of the American Party and William M. Arth of the Socialist Workers Party. drug-abus- Although Utah faces tough issues and campaign decisions in the '88 election, other states are equally fierce battlegrounds for hotly contested issues and races as well. Neighboring Nevada is hosting one of the nation's most intense senatorial races, with incumbent Republican Chic Hecht lagging behind Democratic Gov. Richard Bryan. A staunch conservative, Hecht has been forced to shift his ideology further toward the political center to prevent a Bryan landslide in the Silver State. Candidates throughout the nation are finding either political extreme to be dangerous ground n in the first election. In light of changing public opinion, several Republican contenders are supporting increased government aid to the underprivileged in America. Liberals are also having to respond to this mixing of ideologies. Democratic Sen. Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio recently revoked his longstanding opposition to the death penalty and voted to support capital punishment for serious drug offenders. Metzenbaum is currently involved in a tight race against Cleveland's Republican mayor, George Voinovich. Other incumbents locked in tight races include senators Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, Utah and Republicans are synonymous, except in governor's chair COMMENTARY is presidential candidates have been lacking in Utah's gubernatorial election. In more than two dozen debates, Bangerter, Wilson, and Cook have provided different views on tax initiatives, education, economic development, government bonding, and environmental issues in a generally responsible and professional manner. But too often campaigning has been based on glittering generalities, name calling, and emphasis on image rather than substance. In recent weeks as the race has become closer, Wilson's attacks on pumping the Great Salt Lake and attacks on Bangerter's support of tax increases have been less than honorable as one views previous supporting statements made Wilson. However, "yo-yo- " economic by allegations against the Bangerter adminstration have some validity, largely due to the poor economic advice that the governor has received from bis staff. And it is terribly disturbing that Cook's main claim to fame in this election has been support of the tax initiatives that would, if approved, be devastating to the future of this state; and his pat answer to a variety of political questions that "I have a plan" that seemingly includes nothing specific. In 64 years, no incumbent governor has been defeated in a card-stacki- bid in Utah. This year that should change; not because of great support for Ted Wilson or the Democratic Party, but because of dissatisfaction with Gov. Bangerter. The election will be closer than expected two months ago and closer than it probably should be, due to Wilson's failure to seize opportunities to demonstrate to Utah's voters his executive leadership qualities, general Republican strength in effect, and Cook's involvement. Utah, Bush's coat-taMy advice to Utah's next governor would be the following. Utah wants a strong governor rather than just a stubborn governor, an appealing and effective leader, a governor who w'ill appoint experienced people to major political positions. Utahns feel that such considerations are more important than mere ideological pureness and political loyalty. Utahns want their governor to enjoy his office. But more importantly, they want Utah to get moving with sound and economic and social programs that utilize the expertise we have in this state. il EDITOR'S NOTE: Rodney Decker, an associate professor of political science and dean of the School of Arts and Letters at SUSC, is a former head of the Iron County Democratic Party. Pete Wilson of California and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. A Lautenberg loss to former Heisman Trophy winner and retired Army general Pete Dawkins would give the Garden State two former illustrious athletes in the senate (former Rhodes Scholar, Princetonian and New York Knick Bill Bradley is currently serving for New Jersey). Former Nebraska Gov. Robert Kerrey, a Democrat, stands a good chance of taking a senate seat, as does former Virginia Gov. Charles Robb. Neither political party should expect to gain more than 10 seats in the 1989 Congress. Another tight race is going on in Georgia between challenger Ben Jones, who played Cooter on The Dukes of Hazzard and incumbent Rep. Pat Swindall. Both candidates appear to have skeletons in their closets, as Jones admits that he has been a drunk and has been arrested on battery charges for pushing his wife in a bar. Swindall has been caught trying to arrange a personal loan with a federal undercover agent, who was posing as y a dealer. Ironically, Jones called for drug testing of the candidates. Observers predict no major power shifts in the 1989 Congress. Neither party, analysts say, should expect to gain more than 10 seats in Washington. Controversy isn't limited to candidates, however; as several issues keep the national media's attention. Maryland's gun control proposition, limiting the manufacture and legal sale of weapons, pits the National Rifle Association against leading Maryland politicians. Last year when the bill was signed into law by Maryland Governor William Schaefer, NRA lobbyists collected the 33,000 signatures necessary to put the bill up for referendum. The bill outlines a plan for an objective board to compose a list of guns that could be sold legally; arms not on the list would be banned. Opponents of the bill say a favorable vote would result in an outright ban of weapons, while defeat of the bill by the NRA would boost its power of as a national lobby group. California's Proposition 102 would require the reporting and tracking of people exposed to the AIDS virus. Passage would mark a shift in California statute, which has traditionally endorsed confidentiality. drug-mone- Utah has its share of crucial races Although a handful of issues has dominated the state political agenda this election year, several other campaigns throughout the state are equally noteworthy. In the shadow of the gubernatorial race, the tax initiative n congressional battle lurk issue, and the other races crucial to Utah's future as well. Running a close race for the position of Utah attorney general are Republican David L. Wilkinson, the incumbent, and Democratic challenger Paul Van Dam, who observers say has aligned himself closely with fellow Democrat and gubernatorial candidate Td W'ilson. Republican incumbent Tom L. Allen and Democrat Art Miller vie for the position of state auditor. Polls show Allen lead in the race. carrying a Democrat Arthur L. Monson and Republican incumbent Edward T. Alter compete in a close race for the position of state treasurer. Additionally, four state senate seats are open, as are 1 3 positions in the Utah House of Representatives. Locally, Republican incumbents R. Haze Hunter and Dixie B. Matheson run unopposed for the positions of state representative and county recorder, respectively. Republican Dixie L. Leavitt runs unopposed for the state senate position left vacant by Sen. Ivan Matheson, who McKay-Hanse- nt chose not to seek Republican Robert L. Gardner competes with Democrat Sonny G. Richardson for Iron County Commissioner. The the position of four-yecurrent commissioner, Dee G. Cowan, is not seeking another term. Republican incumbent James C. Robinson Iron opposes Democrat Wesley E. Blake for the two-year ar County Commissioner position. While the tax initiative debate has remained a hot issue throughout the campaign, Proposition 1, known as the bail amendment, has stirred controversy in legal circles. The amendment would allow bail to be denied to persons charged with a serious crime if the person poses a danger to another person or to the community or is likely to flee the court's jurisdiction if released. The amendment also clarifies language regarding necessary evidence to deny bail. Proposition 2 clarifies the the state Legislature's duty to reapportion the state after each U.S. census into congressional, legislative, and other districts. It also clarifies the number of senators and representatives and clarifies an exemption from a forced sale of property. The proposition also deletes provisions relating to the transfer of property owned by the Utah Territory at statehood, the location of the state fair, and specific reference to certain institutions. |