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Show RAGE THE THUNDERBIRD 12 MONDAY NOVEMBER 7, 1988 Southern Utah senator predicts bright future An optimistic Leavitt returns to office BY KAREN WALLACE Southern Utah's next state senator, Dixie Leavitt, is projecting a bright future for the area he'll be serving over the next four years. Leavitt, who, unopposed in tomorrow's race, will begin his second representing Kane, Washington, Garfield and Iron counties, uses that last county as an example of southern Utah's brightening economic picture. "Although jobs haven't started flowing yet, the discouragement and demeaning attitude towards Iron County by its residents is diminishing," said Leavitt. resident of southern Utah, plans to Leavitt, a do "everything he can" to continue the recent influx of businesses into Iron County. "Pepcon, Goer Manufacturing and the new elder home are only the beginn ng," he said. Leavitt, who is running unopposed in the Nov. 8 general election, said he sees southern Utah residents working together toward economic growth; and Leavitt plans to take part in this expansion. He has already visited the State Capitol and attended a few subcommittee meetings. "I wanted to get a renewed teel of the process and revitalize acquaintances with other elected officials," said Leavitt The Capitol halls are not new to Leavitt, who has a record of service to southern Utah He spent 12 years as a state senator and two years in the Utah House of Representatives While in ottice, Leavitt sponsored and enacted more than 100 items ot legislation Leavitt, who was originally reluctant to run for public oftice again, said he feels his own campaign could not have gone any better He expressed amazement at the "low blow's" being dealt in many of the other races Leavitt's own race for ottice was marked by stratified support that tended to tollow county lines In the primary election, Republican opponent Jim Eardley, a St George businessman, carried a significant portion of the Washington County vote, w'hile the Iron County vote was equally skewed toward Leavitt It w;as Leavitt's win 40-ye- ar Cedar City resident and unopposed senatorial candidate Dixie Leavitt discusses business at corporate headquarters for his insurance compans The candidate welcomes the recent influx of new businesses into southern Utah in kane and Gartield counties that ultimately decided the election Discussing other races, Leavitt said he supports tellow Republican Norm Bangerter, the incumbent in the gubernatorial race "Bangerter has really put forth a good campaign. It has been tough for him, but feel he deserves to be reelected " Leavitt said Bangerter has a good service record with a history of decision-makin- g "for good reasons and not for political expediency." The founder of a successful insurance company. Leavitt is strongly against Initiatives A, B and C and sa,d he anticipates their defeat Leavitt finds the involvement ot citizens in the '88 election particularly pleasing "I am impressed with the way college officials and students are so involved in the upcoming election and fight (against) the tax initiatives," he said Leavitt, who ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination and was defeated narrowly in 1976, said he is relieved this campaign trail is almost at an end. He is also "pleased with the outpouring support" from throughout his district particularly Iron County. Negative campaigning and the voter polls Races for congress add spice to ballot (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9) (CONTINUED FROM is that voters claim they don't like negative methods, yet they seem to be succeeding. Another observer explains it this wa: "Nobody likes carnage on the highways, but everyone looks at a car accident as he drives by." Some are fearful that if Bush wins, all future campaigns will be negative and inevitably stoop to new depths. Evidence of Bush's short-tersuccess at least is reflected in the admission of the Dukakis people that they should have counterattacked sooner and hander. Perhaps there is a more optimistic explanation for the negative campaign style. It is no secret that media consultants play a heavy role in presidential campaigns. They weie no doubt concerned about the public's perception of Bush as a "wimp and the public's desire for a strong and decisive president. suspect that there was a calculated decision that the fear of a wimp image was greater than the fear of a negative campaign. If this is the case, then negative campaigning, it is hoped, will not be a future trend. There may well be one more constraint to future negative campaigning; There could be a price to pay for negative campaigning should Bush win. Unlike Reagan in 1980, Bush may have little, if any, mandate to lead the nation upon becoming president If a plurality of voters are motivated to vote against Dukakis rather than for Bush, it will indeed be difficult to translate political victory into a sense of direction for the nation. If this proves to be the case, negative campaigning is a heavy price to pay for political victory. I EDITOR'S NOTE: Craig Jones is an associate professor of political science in the behavioral and social science department at SUSC. PAGE 10) "It's been very intense," admitted McKay field director and student Nicki Kapos, who said it's the candidate's duty to expose his opponent's congressional record. "We feel absolutely wonderful about the race," Kapos said, noting McKay's recent upward movement in the polls. The McKay camp expects the trend to continue through election day. "We're expecting a wonderful November 8," Kapos said. Most recently employed as a private consultant, McKay has served in several government positions. During his previous congressional terms, McKay served as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and chaired the Military Construction Subcommittee. McKay was elected chairman of the United Democrats of Congress, a coalition of 200 conservative Democratic members of the house. Before going to Washington, McKay served as administrative assistant to Gov. Calvin L. Rampton. Additionally, McKay served two terms in the Utah State Legislature. SUSC SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WAYNE OWENS (DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT) VS. RICHARD SNELGROVE (REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER) The Second Congressional District race finds incumbent Democrat Wayne Owens, the only Democrat in Utah's congressional delegation, campaigning to defeat Republican challenger Richard Snelgrove. list: f A Panguitch native, Owens lists expanding Utah's struggling economy as his main priority. Owens campaigned unsuccessfully for governor in 1984 and ive) congressional term in 1986. began his second Snelgrove, a Salt Lake City businessman, bases his campaign on aggressive economic development without tax increases. The candidate helped lure the Hercules Company to Utah and promises to pay attention to local issues. Polls show Snelgrove trailing Owens by about nine points. The Second Congressional District encompasses a portion of Salt Lake County. (non-succe- ss THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HOWARD C NIELSON (REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT) ROBERT W. STRINCHAM VS. (DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER) In the Third Congressional District race, incumbent Republican Howard C. Nielson is challenged by Democrat Robert W. Stringham. A Richfield native, Nielson served four terms in the Utah Legislature. The candidate supports a strong defense and fiscal restraint and favors the balanced budget amendment. Democratic challenger Stringham supports aggressive economic growth and federal funding for education. The Orem businessman supports environmental issues but also favors a reasonable balance of land use. Also in the race are Ameman Party candidate E. Dean Christensen and Judy Stranahan of the Socialist Workers Part', |