Comparing Apples to Apples

I was encouraged early on in the campaign to make a clear distinction between my political opponent and myself. Now, this wouldn't be so hard if I could say that my opponent was a dirty, rotten scoundrel -- but he isn't. He is a friendly family man with good relationships with his friends and family, as far as I know. I assume that he wants to give public service and that is why he got involved in politics. My reason for running for office wasn't because I had personal animosity for him; I just think I have different priorities than he does.

When difficult choices are put before public officials, they need to remember that more is not always better. More laws, more micromanaging, more intervention. Sometimes the best public policy is less legislation. In other areas, intervention is necessary. For example, we need health care reform, so that health insurance is more accessible. That is why these priorities are so important.

Since my decision to run for office, I have had the opportunity to meet and visit with many people of the district by going door to door to introduce myself. It has given me added perspective about the impact of government. The economic hard times in Utah will be felt in many ways. We are better off than those in most other states because of tight spending. I do not, however, agree with many of the priorities that the legislature has acted on. Legislation should reflect how it can strengthen families and communities. It should be based on a vision for the future that includes a strong education system, a safe and healthy environment, and efficient and effect transportation.

While funding for public education was the issue that got me to pay attention to the state legislature, I would say that the thing that really moved me to action was the concern over ethics. The legislature lacks clear, specific, and reasonable ethical guidelines. These have become problematic --- especially lately when some votes have been particularly divisive. There have been proposals and sponsored legislation for stricter ethical rules but they have rarely made it out of committee and never passed. It is as if the legislators, look around at each other, smile and say, “We are all nice people; we don’t need these rules.” The rules are needed not only to stop corruption but to protect those who are acting forthrightly. It gives assurance that public officials are trustworthy. And public trust of government is extremely important. While there is no mention of ethics from my opponent, ethics reform is an item of high priority for me.

Another of the places where my political opponent and I differ is on environmental issues. He rejected a bill at first that gave consumers incentives to drive fuel efficient cars. He also voted against the bill that would prohibit school busses from idling on duty. Both of these bills, which passed, help to conserve gasoline and lessen air pollution.

It is difficult to know what he thought of school vouchers because I have found people who told me that he promised them support of vouchers and others who were promised opposition, depending on whether they supported or opposed vouchers themselves. Eventually he voted in favor of vouchers. I opposed the voucher legislation of 2006. I oppose sending tax dollars to private schools, and this particular plan had the potential to send public schools into a downward spiral. A strong public education system that unifies neighborhoods is a priority to me.

This year all of my opponent’s campaign funds have come from special interests, corporations, or other republican party coffers. Mine have come from family, friends, and neighbors in the legislative district. I have received a $1000 line of credit from the UEA, public school’s “union” because they believe me to be a better support of public education than the incumbent. It is a priority to me that campaign funding for representatives be supplied by the people they will represent.

I notice in the blogosphere that there is talk about his poor attendance record at legislative interim committee meetings. I can understand this. He is a young dad with many family responsibilities. While I don’t judge him for how he prioritizes his time, I will commit the time and energy needed to represent the people of this legislative district, both during the legislative session and throughout the year. I think that the people of the district deserve this commitment.

Finally, independence is a priority to me. My opponent is a reliable follower of Republican Party leadership. I find that the Republican Party leadership has so tied up the political process to protect incumbents, that new-comers cannot get past the county convention. This denies candidates a chance for a popular vote, which is at the heart of a democracy. Although I have been a republican all my life, I discovered that the Utah County Platform for the Democratic Party is very moderate—and conservative in the aspects that are important to me. I felt that the Republican Party was not likely to heal itself from the inside and decided to run for the legislature as a democrat. I will not be bullied or threatened by members of my own party or any other. It is essential to have a better-balanced legislature to ensure ethics reform and dialog on important issues.