Show From l Ordinary r ln r to ij 1 extraordinary T I All TM r Ml ln r Aaron Weight Contributing Writer Vote Notes 2004 is a series of articles introducing the candidates and issues facing voters Nov 2 2004 This weeks week's feature interview is with faculty member and South Salt Lake Police Captain Beau Babka Babka a Democrat is running running running run run- ning for the US House of Representatives in the Third District against incumbent Chris Cannon Cannon did not respond to requests for an interview Special note In order to vote in the November General Election voters must submit a registration form to their county clerk no later than 20 days before the election Voter registration forms must be postmarked by Tuesday October 12 in order to vote in inthe inthe inthe the 2004 General Election Voter registration forms can be downloaded and printed from the following http http ons utah go gov v v F Third District Congressional hopeful Beau Babka is running his campaign campaign campaign cam cam- on the notion that ordinary ordinary ordinary nary people can do extraordinary extraordinary extraordinary nary things I dont don't consider myself any better than anyone else Babka said Im not any anymore anymore anymore more important than their local city council person As an adjunct professor at for 10 years Babka has taught students to become involved in politics Running for office Babka said is putting my money where my mouth is and my talk with my walk When the opportunity to torun torun torun run for Congress came Babka simply couldn't pass it 0 up Ive talked about in my classes for years about getting involved getting involved in inthe inthe inthe the political process Babka said Babka began his professional professional professional career in law enforcement enforcement enforcement enforce enforce- ment in 1992 as a patrol officer officer officer for the South Salt Lake Police Department Babka quickly rose through the ranks however and within with with- in three years was promoted first to Sergeant then to Commander and finally to Captain His experiences on the police force Babka hopes will help t thim J him understand national issues such as homeland security Teaching college for the past ten years has also given Babka a t valuable prospective prospective prospective tive that he believes will help him succeed in CongressI Congress I would want IL Beau Babka in Congress because hes he's the kind of nf u u guy that I think a alot alot alot lot of people can identify with Babka said I think that they can see in me the regular person you know because I 1 work two time full-time jobs I 1 do the things that you need to do to have a life And not to take anything away from my opponent I 1 just think that its it's time to see somebody that's not wrapped up in all the things that go into politics Im I'm not a cian I hope to become a statesman I 1 hope to become somebody that will that really really really real real- ly will take the third districts district's feelings and hopes to heart and take that to Congress Babka would like to bring to the third district a sense of them belonging to their congressman congressman congressman con con- gressman and having ownership ownership ownership owner owner- ship in their congressman I 1 think Im I'm a person who can bring people together I want to know what's going on in their district their lives Babka continued This is a diverse district it runs from Salt L Lake Co County nty all the way down to Beaver County And the issues are so vastly different down in Beaver Millard Severe in those areas than they are in Salt Lake County So I think along with those abilities I 1 think I 1 have polished or honed I 1 have an ability to listen listen listen lis lis- ten and to then take that listening listening listening lis lis- lis- lis ear and move it into some type of action If elected Babka would seek to involve constituents by establishing outpost offices throughout his district Once elected Babka said I think its it's very important to remain as visible and as accessible as I 1 possibly can I 1 plan on doing quite a few things to secure that I plan on opening an office in the southern part of this district in Richfield Id I'd like to open an office in Utah county Id I'd like to open an office in Salt Lake County Babka hopes these offices will be a forum for citizens to share ideas and to learn what their Congressman is doing to meet their needs After listening to the debate hearing from constituents constituents constituents con con- and weighing the issues Babka said he will vote with his heart He also said that he would be accountable for his votes By running for and he hopes serving in Congress Babka feels he is living his motto that regular folks can cando cando cando do extraordinary things Special note In order to vote in tire the November General Genera j ii l Election Elec voters voters must submit a registration form to their county clerk no later that than 20 days before the election Voter registration forms must be postmarked by Tuesday October 12 u in ill order to vote in ill the 2004 2001 General Election Voter registration forms can be downloaded and printed from the following following following follow follow- ing http ti Regis 0 n. n |