This is the fourth in a five part series: Monday focused on Salt Lake County Elections, Wednesday concerned itself with the Utah State House of Representatives while Friday was the Utah Senate. Next Tuesday will focus on federal campaigns, and I have decided to talk about a little race going on in California as well.

Here, my fellow readers, is the post where I lose the most friends if only because I speak the truth!

State Treasurer

Prediction – Richard Ellis 59-41%
Endorsement – Dick Clark

This race is notable if only because of the Mark Walker scandal that rocked the Utah State Legislature earlier this year. Ellis will no doubt, slide into victory with no problem as he has an “R” next to his name; this is not to say that Ellis is not qualified, only that people tend not to pay much attention to these sorts of races. If history proves correct, this one will fall along party lines.

Dick Clark (D) – (unknown web site)
Richard Ellis (R) – www.ellisfortreasurer.com

State Auditor

Prediction – Austin Johnson III 59-35-3-3
Endorsement – Clare Collard

Again, I predict that the Republican will win hands down in this race. It is not due to a lack of effort on Collard’s part, however. She has put in as much effort as 2004’s candidate, Carlos Vasquez, in trying to gain the position. Most people, again, simply do not take the time necessary to learn about the candidate, and people will simply vote along party lines.

Clare Collard (D) –www.voteclarecollard.com
Austin Johnson III (R) – (unknown web site)
Richard Proctor (C) – http://proctorforauditor.blogspot.com
Mike Stoddard (L) – (unknown web site)

Attorney General

Prediction – Mark Shurtleff 67-29-4%
Endorsement – None

Now, as many of you know, I was let go from this campaign after a change in campaign managers earlier this year; that being said I will still attempt to offer an unbiased opinion with personal insight. Shurtleff will win for two reasons, one: he has done a good job of batting down any attacks Democrat Jean Welch Hill has put up, and two, the Hill campaign has struggled to get their message out and had too many changes in direction making it difficult to campaign.

Jean Welch Hill (D) – www.jeanwelchhill.org
Mark Shurtleff (R) – www.shurtleff2008.com
W. Andrew McCullough (L) – www.andrewmccullough.org

Governor

Prediction – Jon Huntsman/Gary Herbert 71-23-6
Endorsement – Bob Springmeyer/Josie Valdez

In the biggest blowout in the state, Jon Huntsman will trounce Springmeyer. This should come as no surprise as Huntsman is an extremely popular governor who seems to do no wrong (despite voting for vouchers, the omnibus bill, ReAL, etc.). To exacerbate the problem, the Springmeyer campaign has had a difficult time maintaining staff, thus making it more difficult to go out and properly campaign. It should also be noted that good ol’ “Superdell” Schanze will be on this ticket and, I predict, be the best performing third party candidate in the state, if only because of the novelty of it all.

Bob Springmeyer/Josie Valdez (D) – www.bobforgov.org
Jon Huntsman/Gary Herbert (R) – www.huntsman08.com
Dell Schanze/Joey Hobbs (L) – http://totallyawesome.com