Show I Standard-Examin- ' V ' V V - - Utah er V '4 ' V ‘ ‘ 4 1 Saturday March 18 2000 9A THE UTAH POLITICAL SCENE Hatch faces three GOP foes By RALPH WAKLEY - SALT LAKE CITY- It isn’t the Utah Republican Party’s obligation to screen out candidates or to try to prevent anyone from challenging even Sen Orrin Hatch the state’s leading Republican says COP Chairman Rob t Bishop ' “It’s tire party’s job to provide the forum It’s the delegates who are supposed to sort out who is a legitimate candidate and who is not” said Bishop This year as in 1994 when he last ran Hatch will be facing numerous Republican challengers -this time it’s three opponents — - 1 And the four-ter- m in the Leavitt administration candiStromness is a date whose platform is firearms rights “That’s really the basic issue I’m running on” he said because of Leavitt’s efforts to ban guns from state workplaces including schools and colleges Jim Hansen is seeking an 1 1th term in Congress from Utah’s 1st District and he’s the only GOP candidate for major office who won’t see a Republican challenger Cook has two and 3rd District Congressman Chris Cannon is opposed by fellow Republican Jason Wright a Provo businessman and former teacher Salt Lake County Commissioner Mark Shurtleff and Frank Mylar who has worked in the state Attorney General’s office are seeking the Republican nomination to run for attorney general State Auditor Auston Johnson and state Treasurer Ed Alter both are running for and face no Republican opponents one-iss- Capitol bureau Standant-Examin- senator doesn’t seem to let it worry him “1 think I’ve always had opponents” Hatch said “There’s always been people who want to get into die Senate race and I respect their decisions to run That’s what makes democracy great” Hatch said But Hatch is not the only in- cumbent with a fleet of Republicans after his seat By Friday’s The Legislature ue candidate filing deadline four In the state Senate Rep Dave GOP candidates had filed to take Gladwell Ogden and Ogon Gov Mike Leavitt who is den’s Luen Ferrin and David Franklin seeking the District 19 seat held by running for his third term as are Sen Robert Montgomery Utah’s chief executive Ogden who is not seeking In District 20 former Weber CounAnd Magna resident Dub Richards filed for governor as a ty Commissioner Bruce Anderson of and Scott Jenkins of Plain Democrat Republican and for Hooper City are seeking the GOP nomination every other political party Under to challenge incumbent Serv Joe Hull Utah law however Richards can only represent one party on the general election Democrats like their chances And in District 23 the seat held by outgoing Senate President Lane Beat-ti- e Bountiful four Bountiful residents are seeking the GOP nomination They are: ten Eastman Gill Claude Newby and Lynn Keuhne Ru-la- f In the House Republican incumbents Ben Ferry of Corrine Speaker Marty Stephens of Farr West Joe Murray of Ogden Carl Saunders of South Ogden Gerry Adair of Roy Don Bush of Clearfield Majority -Leader Kevin Gam of Layton Marda Dillree of Kaysville and Sheryl Allen and Richard Siddoway are seeking of Bountiful all However Saunders Bush Gam Allen and Siddoway all face GOP opponents Jeff Powars Elizabeth Carlin and Richard Gabel all are challenging Saunders Cheryl Phipps is running against Bush Gam faces fellow Republican Roger Barrus Allen is opposed by Ernie Cox and Don Guy-mo- n and Siddoway is opposed by Gary Whipple In the three vacant House seats in Northern Utah at least two Republicans are running for each one David Franklin Bruce Dursteler and Glenn Dotmelson all hope to succeed Gladwell in his House seat from District 7 Paul Ray and David Anderson are facing off for the District 13 seat held by retiring Rep Nora SteAnd Richard Clayphens ton Johnev Katich Sherri Einfelat Terry S medley and James McCowan are running for District 15 seat Rep is leaving Blake Chard Miles Robert Virginia Reza and Scott Shupe are seeking the GOP nomination to take on Rep Neil HanWhile Lyle Evertsen sen and Dent Mason face off to see which one will challenge Rep Lu Shurtlif By BOB WARD Standard-Examine- Capitol bureau r SALT LAKE CITY - Utah Democratic Party Chair Meghan Holbrook believes the party has its strongest slate of candidates in at least 20 years and she hopes to loosen the GOP stranglehold on Capitol Hill come November perhaps even gain- tag a majority in the Utah Senate With a Republican governor and a majority in both chambers of the Legislature the GOP all but owns the Utah State Capitol Democrats claim and Utahns suffer as a retwo-thir- ds sult Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Orton gave reporters a taste of the Democratic platform in his campaign announcement Wednesday “The political situation here in Utah has become more and more troubling to me and most Utahns as we have witnessed over the past two decades the total collapse of any semblance y of a system in Utah” said Orton a former US congressman who returned to politics in order to challenge Gov Mike Leavitt For example Democrats say Republican lawmakers have placed the interests of the National Rifle Association ahead of the vast majority of Utahns who want firearms out of schools and churches and back two-part- ground checks to be conducted at gun shows The GOP majority has also placed the interests of utility companies over that of consumers Democrats say bypassing a bill supported by Questar Gas that eliminates the Committee of Consumer Services thus taking away consumers’ only voice in the utility ratesetting proces- s“You shouldn’t have a lobbyist write a bill” Holbrook said this week “You also shouldn’t do away with the people’s one voice The Legislature is sup- posed to represent the people but they’re on the side of big business” “Imagine if the federal government passed a law that said states had to teach evolution in the public schools” Orton told the Standard-Examinthis er week “These (state) legislators would be seceding from the Union” a former Weber Reed Richards County Attorney now running for Attorney General Jan Graham’s post Richards is presently serving as Graham’s chief deputy overseeing criminal prosecutions and representing state agencies in legal matters and he plans to base his campaign on knowledge andexperi-enc- e If elected Richards told the that he’ll focus on prosecuting family violence drug-relate-d crimes and victims’ rights He has special Standard-Examin- er concerns about methamphet-amin- e use in Utah and the meth cleanup of chemical-ridde- n “kitchens” Also he’s worried about the increasing use of the Internet in crimes against children candiy Only one date is running for attorney general Libertarian Andy McCulthird-part- lough of Salt Lake City Graham’s husband Buzz Holbrook hopes that Orton a Hunt a Democrat is challengwell known conservative Democrat will attract unaffiliated ing Republican incumbent Ed Utahns and even some moder- Alter1 for the state treasurer’s ate Republicans to the entire job along with Elliot Hulet a Democratic ticket She said Natural Law Party member from Ogden and Hugh Butler a phones at Democratic Party Salt Lake Libertarian For state been have ringing auditor Democrat Christine Arheadquarters steadily with words of encour- thur and Libertarian James agement from volunteers and both of Salt Lake are runcontributors encouraged by Orning against incumbent Auston ton’s bid Johnson Joining Orton at the head of See DEMS12A the Democratic slate will be El-w- ell ballot One thing Bishop wishes is that all the people filing for office would also become active candidates and actually campaign But that hasn’t always been the case and apparently won’t happen again this year “Lots of times the candidacy is just an opportunity for someone to buy five minutes to speak to the convention” said Spencer Stokes a former Weber County commissioner who recently stepped down as state party executive director “It’s an opportunity for them to speak out on at least one issue’ “Some challengers are very le- gitimate candidates and others are just out there with their own message” said Stokes now a consultant to venture capitalist Jeff Wright who is challenging incumbent Congressman Merrill Cook for ' the Republican nomi- nation And Cook will face another GOP opponent in the 2nd Congressional District Derek Smith founder of an Internet business which provides specialized services to manufacturing compa- INTRODUCING ? I THE NEXT GENERATION nies i Exclusively at Dillard's! In states like Utah where one political party dominates Stokes said Republicans who want to hold office in many cases are forced to run against another Republican who is trying to get reelected to that same office In addition he said the Utah GOP has a number of factions so often times a Republican challenger will run against a Republican incumbent to give voters within the party a philosophical choice or a different approach r fil ' I i j i : f ' j lWi: Mm wP'' i i Jack Nicklaus men’s golf and casual clothes feature the FINEST-QUALITmercerized cotton fabrics colors and styles today at mulligan prices Y The Next Generation Collection features: Solid Twill Shorts: 3500 Solid Pique Knit Shirts: 3500 Fancy Knit Shirts 4000-600- 0 to politics “This isn’t the first time we’ll see Republican incumbents chal- Knit Vests: ! 1 5 5000 lenged” Stokes said “I’m sure g it’s quite for Orrin Hatch and Mike Leavitt They’re probably thinking ’What am I doing wrong to have this many opponents? But it’s really quite typical” Hatch faces a The campaign from Riverton lawyer Greg Hawkins who has been out trying to re- - ’ cruit delegates for nearly a year while Hatch was running for president In addition Weber State Uninave-rackin- ii s 1 ed versity political science professor Frank Guliuzza and Bart Thomas a Salt Lake City retired insurance and real estate executive have entered the race for the GOP Senate nomination However the odds are stacked in favor of Hatch because candidates need only 60 percent of the delegate vote at the May 6 state nominating convection to avoid a primary election And the GOP allows runoff voting if there is no convention winner after the first ballot In a second ballot they eliminate the candidate with the fewest votes and then a second opponent in a third ballot Leavitt also said he welcomes intraparty opponents “It’s a debate that will make the selection a vital process" said Leavitt In addition to Dub Richards Leavitt’s opponents include Pro- jf Sizes available: "i’ c Career OrrorarMras Are Available! “C - Ctwcli DUUrfXeora far great Job or ehadi 7° local D&urft etore tocetfoa o general contractor Timothy Lawson Salt Lake advertising executive Glen Davis and Midway chemical engineer Steve Stromvo ness While Lawson and Davis find a number of issues they oppose M-X- Selection vanes by store ? fry hwr ffrri n t&iiiiLi- - 4000 NEWGATE MALL OGDEN Ph 10-- t and Sunday 12- - at a Dutartf location bt Ogrian: Nawgala IfariL hi SaU Lak CRy: Fashion Ptae and South Toama Carter In Prevoc Ptm Town Canfew W arefcom your Ddytf Credl Card Tfr Amarlcan Expreaa Card Dnere Out) Intemamnal Mastercard: Vaa and Tha Oaooar Card 392-068- 9 Stem MonJufEXurdu |