Although some of my fellow bloggers (both right and left) have had a field day (or at least slight chuckle) regarding Representative Craig Frank’s screw up regarding the fact that he does not actually live in his district, few are discussing what these events mean – up to, and including, the fact that incoming House Speaker Becky Lockhart wants to call a special session to redraw maps.

Lets begin with Representative Frank. In reality, there are only three reasons why he just now discovered why he does not actually live in his district – and each sheds light on our politicians and our system.

1) Frank did not know he was not in the district because district boundaries are so mangled and confusing that even the people running for office can not make heads or tails of it. What does this mean? Well it means that our maps were so gerrymandered back in 2001 that even those who are in the know don’t know who they represent. Can we really expect more rational lines to be drawn this year? For the record, this is what I think is the most reasonable scenario.

2) Frank is so isolated from his district that he does not bother to actually walk the streets and talk to the people. I can tell you this, the first time I ran a political campaign of any sort, I memorized every nook and cranny of the district and knew, in some cases, what houses to knock on and what ones not to on the same street. If Frank is so secure in his re-election that he does not even bother to talk to the voters, do we really have a good system?

3) Frank knowingly kept this information close to his chest, but was forced to reveal it after something popped up that he knew would out him.

The second issue I want to bring up is Speaker Lockhart’s desire to hold a special session to quickly redraw the political map to include Franks current home. Lockhart, a strong supporter of Frank, opens a whole new can of worms with this one.

First of all, it shows that Lockhart has no respect for the law, as she clearly feels that she should be able to change it in order to help her friends out. The boundaries drawn as they were, and to change them mid stream sounds suspiciously familiar to what Tom DeLay did to Texas districts. Now DeLay wanted to shift power, Lockhart wants to maintain it, but the mere thought should raise eyebrows.

Second, and because of the first point, it shows how little regard Lockhart has for the redistricting process in particular. She knows she will get what she wants out of here severely gerrymandered districts that it does not really matter if she starts the process early. Yes, this is yet another sign that our redistricting process will be unfair and that the powers that be don’t really care about fair representation, just more power.

Third, it shows how unqualified Lockhart should be as a leader. By suggesting such an idea, she either does not know or does not care about the precedent such a move would make. Furthermore, it shows that Lockhart has no idea of how our process works when it comes to the issue of vacant seats. Less than five days ago Representative Fred Cox was tapped to replace outgoing Representative Ron Bigelow after Bigelow joined Governor Herbert’s staff – meanwhile, yesterday it was reported that Lockhart “need(s) a representative from District 57 in two weeks” and that “the Legislature is willing to consider all options at this point.”

District 57 will have a Representative in two weeks, but it won’t be because Speaker Lockhart willed it – it will be because we have a process in place already to deal with such vacancies. By showing that she prefers her friends over the people despite following the law, she shows that she is not deserving of such a high position, and certainly not a representative of the people.

Finally, and as I alluded to before, this type of hubris does not give me even the slightest confidence that our legislature will produce district maps that will be fair to the people – nor will they even consider the people in making them. I wish I was surprised by this statement, but, sadly, it just appears to be more of the same.

There is no excuse, Speaker Lockhart, for why you are acting the way you are. Shame on you and your utter disregard for the people of the State of Utah.

It is that time again, where less than half the population chooses who will lead everyone for the next two, four, and six years (depending on the election). Here are my predictions based on gut feeling, recent polls, and just a touch of hopeless optimism that people like liberals as much as I do.

Nationally

Demo’s in the Doghouse

It should come as no surprise that Democrats are going to take a thumping this year…though I suspect it is not going to be as bad as everyone is making it out to be. The simple fact of the matter is that people are upset that the economy has not turned around and have failed to see the legitimate accomplishments of the Obama administration. But, not having a job (or being underemployed) is a major stress on people and it is easy to see why they want a solution and they want it fast.

Democrats will loose the House but maintain a majority in the Senate.  In the House, my guess is 204 to 230 – for the Senate 52 t0 48.

The question, of course, is how Obama will have to adapt to the new situation. Odds are we will see something similar to the Clinton years where compromise was key on legislation. Outwardly, things will be much more contentious, however good laws will probably come out of the debate.

Senate

National Budget will be instantly slashed by 40%

Despite a strong showing by Granato, Mike Lee will be the junior senator from Utah. Granato’s problems were twofold: 1) he is running as a Democrat in Utah, 2) he was planning on running against Bob Bennett. Lee’s style was and furor amongst supporters made victory a near impossibility whereas Bennett was predictable and measured – Granato never seemed to be able to adapt to the game-changer despite great attempts to do so. Lee wins 59-35 with the remaining 6 percent going to third party candidates.

House

More of the same:

Bishop is back

In CD 1 Rob Bishop will soundly beat Morgan Bowen, his rival in 2008, and he will do it with a wider margin. Bowen’s fire at the Democratic convention fizzled and Bishop hopped on the Tea Party bus to take advantage of the movement and the extra votes that come with it. Bishop wins 70-25 with the remaining 5 percent going to third party candidates.

Philpot = looser

CD 2 has been one of the more contentious races, but Jim Matheson will hold off Morgan Philpot. Republicans smelled blood in the water early and jumped on the chance to boot the five term Democrat, but Matheson, primed from an inner party challenge, was is campaign mode early on and knew how to get votes. Philpot, on the other hand, never seemed to come out with a coherent message other than “hey, I am a Republican, you should vote for me, look how scary Nancy Pelosi is even though you don’t know what she does.” Matheson wins 54-46 with the remaining 8 percent going to third party candidates.

Chaffetz keeps his cot

CD 3 was an interesting race from a philosophical standpoint: would people in Utah County even listen to a Democrat despite the fact that they were a conservative Democrat who once listed themselves as a Republican? Well, it turns out the answer is no. Karen Hyer might be able to beat Jason Chaffetz in a leg wrestling match, but not much else. A shame, really, as Hyer was a strong candidate with fire in her belly. Chaffetz wins 70-24 with the remaining 6 percent going to third party candidates.

Governor

Two more years of poor leadership

I had said early on that Peter Corroon was the Democrats best chance to take the governors seat away from the Republicans as Herbert was weak and inexperienced.  Sadly, this does not mean that Corroon will be our next governor. Corroon did everything right – choosing a Republican as his running mate, raising funds, campaigning strong, and asking tough questions, but it is simply not enough to put him over the top. I hope Corroon comes back in 2012 with even more fight in him, as his campaign put all Republicans on edge, and made Democrats proud locally. Herbert wins 62-34 with the remaining 4 percent going to thrid party candidates.

Utah State Senate

More of the same

Don’t expect much to happen in the Utah State Senate.  Though some races are tighter than others (Gene Davis vs. Lee Brinton and Wayne Niederhauser vs. Tyler Ayers) I don’t suspect that any incumbents will be booted this year. The real question will be how districts are redrawn during the legislative session and what the 2012 election will look like.

Utah State House

Gerrymandered districts and Dems on Defense

It should come as no surprise that, in Utah’s severely gerrymandered districts, that few faces will change on Capitol Hill. Indeed, the only real change will be the people filling the seats of their fellow party members who either have chosen to step down or were booted at convention. A few races should be interesting, however: Patrice Arent vs. Jason Epps in District 36 features a former lawmaker (Arent) attempting to hold a seat recently won by the Democrats in 2006; District 44 features the very popular Tim Cosgrove against former basketball player Shawn Bradley (who’s only policy position seems to be, in fact, that he is quite tall), will voters on the west side vote for star power alone? Finally House District 48 features a rematch between incumbent Trish Beck and former representative from the district, LaVar Christensen – in the last bout, Beck was victorious by less than 230 votes.

Salt Lake County

The more things change…

The Salt Lake County Council will have some fresh faces on its nine member panel. Republicans are eager to point out that Richard Snelgrove will beat Holly Mullen to win control of the at large seat.  Indeed, I suspect that Mullen peaked too early and could not construct a proper campaign to last her into November; Snelgrove will win 56-42. In County Council District 1, Arlyn Bradshaw will coast past competitor Steve Harmsen in the extremely liberal district 72-28. In County Council District 5, Tyler Andrus, the Democrat, has put up a good fight, but the conservative district will likely not sway and, instead, vote back into office Steve DeBry by a margin of 55-45.

This would split the council 4-4. We now turn our head towards County Council District 3 – a repeat of 2006 where the victor was chosen by just over 900 votes. In the match between the Democrat, Diane Turner, and the Republican David Wilde, the contest would not be more heated.  Turner is out for victory and has worked hard to ensure that she will see victory. I feel that the efforts by Turner and her campaign staff have been nothing less than astonishing, and I feel that it will pay off. Turner will beat Wilde 54-47 and a Democratic majority will remain in the County Council.

On the executive side, Jim Winder and Sherry Swensen will coast to victory. Swensen will have the widest margin of victory due in part to her overall popularity and the childish campaign her opponent has run; Swensen wins 65-35. Winder will also soundly trounce his opponent 62-38.

The one big shake up will be in the District Attorney’s office. Lohra Miller has mismanaged the office and the voters have noticed – at the time of her election it was clear that she was inexperienced, and Sim Gill has used this as his rallying cry in another repeat campaign between the two.  Gill’s message has been clear and they have campaigned effectively. Gill beats Miller 53-47.

If there is one thing in a campaigner I love, it is a fighter, and Diane Turner definitely fits the bill.

When you loose an election by just over 900 votes (as Diane did in 2006 to her opponent this year), a candidate will generally do one of two things – pack up their bags and say “well I tried this election thing, and it didn’t work” or hunker down, learn from their experiences, and fight even harder the second time around to win.

This mentality, I feel, is exactly what we should look for in our public officials. The idea that it is not over until it is over…and even when it is over right now, it does not mean that you can’t come back for a second round.

And Turner is out for blood. Her opponent is a far right ideologue who is long on talking points and short on results.  His one attempt to make his voice heard by cutting $5 million from the counties Human Services budget was met with resounding disapproval.  Indeed this ill thought out, partisan proposal received exactly one vote from the council – his own. Dig a little deeper and this should come as no surprise; his Facebook page is littered with national GOP praise with little reference to what is going on in the county.

Turner, on the other hand, is fiscally responsible and a moderate who wants to focus on programs and projects that encourage growth while maintaining our budget, especially in her own district. She intends to fight to bring business to her district rather than having everything go north or south because of political pressure supported by the incumbent.

Finally a vote for Turner is a vote to support Peter Corroon and his widely popular governance of the county during his last two years. Don’t mistake this as a rubber stamp, but rather another ally to make Salt Lake County cleaner, safer, and more prosperous.

I encourage you to vote for Diane Turner this election!

Robert Moultrie is running as the Constitution Party candidate for House District 2o. His opponents are Becky Edwards (R) the incumbent, and William E. Ward (D).

His website is moultrieforhouse20.blogspot.com. At the time of publication no Facebook or Twitter account was provided. He can be reached via email at moultrieforhouse20@gmail.com.

Here are Robert’s answers to my absurd questions:

1)      How long have you lived in your district and what made you move there in the first place? 12 Years – I got married and needed a place to live.

2)      What does your family look like (married; kids; pets)? Married, Wife, 4 Kids and a dog.

3)     What do you drive? What is your dream vehicle? SUV, SUV

4)      What was the last book you finished? The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross

5)      What is your favorite store and/or restaurant in your district? Heh, the pet store

6)      Turn your head to the right, what do you see? Another computer monitor

7)      In 25 words or less, explain why you are part of the Constitution party. I despaired of the Republican Party ever really following their platform

8)      Who would win if a bear and a shark fought each other (feel free to explain)? Ha! It all depends on the medium they are in. The Shark get the nod in water, the bear on land.

9)      In 50 words or less, explain why you want to be a public servant. Because I think we are getting to socialistic and loosing individual freedoms, I want to reverse that — otherwise I hate politics.

10)  What was the last cultural event you went to? Movie

11)  What are the three things you plan to fight for when elected? Lower Property Tax, Leaner School system, reestablish private property rights.

12)  Do you know what OMGWTFBBQ stands for? Not before reading this, but I looked at it and guessed? Then went out on the internet and looked it up and my guess was right. I wonder what this says about me?

13)  What is the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights? 1st.

14)  What is your favorite band? Don’t really have one anymore. When I was younger it was Rush, but as I got older I’ve become and old fuddy duddy.

15)  If you could change one thing about your district, what would it be? Once again, lower property taxes and a greater assurance of property rights.

***

To see other responses in the Meet the Candidates series, click here.

*Disclaimer – The opinions expressed in candidate responses are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Blue in Red Zion or its author. Every candidate with a working email address has received these same questions and are welcome to respond. If you are a candidate and did not receive these questions, please email curtis.haring@gmail.com in order to provide your own answers. The publication of a candidate’s questions should in no way be interpreted as an endorsement of said candidate.

Please note that readers are welcome to use the comment section to express their own opinion. As per the disclaimer on the right, comments will only be deleted if they can be widely viewed as offensive or not germane – though the final decision will be made by the administrator.

Sim Gill is exactly what you should look for in a DA: Hard-nosed yet sympathetic, detail oriented yet able to see the larger picture, and passionate yet steady at the helm.

Gill also possesses the experience necessary to jump into the job. Gill is Salt Lake City’s Chief City Prosecutor and has more than 15 years of experience prosecuting criminals.

But Gill is not just interested in locking up the bad guys and throwing away the keys; Gill possess the foresight to see that criminals will not change their behavior if they don’t have the tools necessary to change. In that vein Gill has helped to create and implement programs such as Mental Health Court, Domestic Violence Court, the Family Justice Center, and misdemeanor Drug Court. I have also heard him speak about his desire to set up a more comprehensive youth court that focuses on restorative justice and stopping youth crime before it starts.

But I would not be remiss if I did not mention the concerns I have about the current DA’s ability to run the office.  Serious questions have been raised about how tallent is leaving the DA’s office due to a lack of leadership, inflating crime statistics to increase the DA’s budget, using stimulus money to hire recently fired employees from her husbands frim. These actions point to a DA’s office that is mismanaged or lacks a fundamental understanding of how to maintain the public trust…perhaps that’s why she authorized the use of taxpayer dollars to hire a PR director.

Please do not mistake this as an endorsement against the current DA, however, I am a solid supporter of Gill. I encourage you to vote for him this election.

Paul Recanzone is running as the Democratic candidate for House District 51. His opponent is Greg Hughes (R) who is the incumbent.

His website is www.recanzone.org, Facebook page can be found by clicking here but no Twitter account was provided at the time of publication. He can also be reached via email at paul@recanzone.org.

Here are Paul’s answers to my absurd questions:

1)      How long have you lived in your district and what made you move there in the first place? I have lived in the southern part of Sandy for just about nine years. We came back to Utah after spending time in the Army and in the Washington DC area and were drawn to the southeast portion of the valley.

2)      What does your family look like (married; kids; pets)? I am married to Steffanie and we have three children – Erin, Ryan, and Sera.

3)      What do you drive? What is your dream vehicle? I drive a Hyundai Elantra but I have my eye on the new Chevrolet Volt.

4)      What was the last book you finished? “Digital Crossroads: American Telecommunications Policy in the Internet Age” – But I am really not that much of a nerd (well, maybe…). Reading is a great way to expand your understanding of the world and to see that other people may think differently than you do.  Check out my reading list at goodreads.com.

5)      What is your favorite store and/or restaurant in your district? Pirate O’s is my favorite store. We like Hagermann’s but we are always on the lookout for good locally owned and operated restaurants – have you got any suggestions?

6)      Turn your head to the right, what do you see? The window to 72nd South.

7)      In 25 words or less, explain why you are a Democrat. In difficult times, conservatives circle the wagons and attempt to control the situation. Progressives strike out across the plains and work for a better world.

8)      Who would win if a bear and a shark fought each other (feel free to explain)? Unless the bear is a really good swimmer, the shark is going to win.

9)      In 50 words or less, explain why you want to be a public servant. We each owe a little piece of ourselves to a cause bigger than we are.

10)  What was the last cultural event you went to? Steffanie and I did a double header of Tarazan and Cats at Tuachan. We are excited about Pioneer Theater Company’s upcoming season (kicking off with Hamlet in September).

11)  What are the three things you plan to fight for when elected? Freedom – Opportunity – Security.

12)  Do you know what OMGWTFBBQ stands for? In a nod to “Better Off Ted”, it is going to revolutionize the way we do business.

13)  What is the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights? There is not a “most” important amendment in the Bill of Rights.  The Bill of Rights establishes a precedent that “in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” we must protect the rights of individuals to think differently than we do and to own different things than we own.

14)  What is your favorite band? Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band.

15)  If you could change one thing about your district, what would it be? We need to ensure local and state laws are in place so people are free from job and housing discrimination because of their race, gender, or sexual preference. We need to revitalize our commitment to public education so that our children have the opportunity of a better quality of life than we enjoy. We need to grow Utah’s economy so homeowners can be secure in their homes. Just some examples of what I mean by the answer to number eleven.

***

To see other responses in the Meet the Candidates series, click here.

*Disclaimer – The opinions expressed in candidate responses are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Blue in Red Zion or its author. Every candidate with a working email address has received these same questions and are welcome to respond. If you are a candidate and did not receive these questions, please email curtis.haring@gmail.com in order to provide your own answers. The publication of a candidate’s questions should in no way be interpreted as an endorsement of said candidate.

Please note that readers are welcome to use the comment section to express their own opinion. As per the disclaimer on the right, comments will only be deleted if they can be widely viewed as offensive or not germane – though the final decision will be made by the administrator.

What is the price of education worth to you? Can you do without that hilarious iPhone app that makes fart noises for another month? How about missing out on supersizing your fries twice? Perhaps you get regular gas for one fill-up.

Well that is exactly what Proposition 1 is asking you to pony up a whopping $2.40 a year for the next 15 years to do just that.

The Utah Museum of Natural History, Utah’s flagship museum for all things anthropological, archaeological, and geological is asking voters for a final $15 million to complete its new museum currently under construction at the base of Red Butte Gardens.

The project itself will modernize the UMNH to better house its collections, construct a safer building, decrease the carbon footprint of the museum, and, most importantly, modernize exhibits to improve learning.

To the museums credit, they have already secured some 85 to 90 percent of their funding for the new building without having to ask county tax payers for a check. As the “For Prop 1” website puts it:

The timing of the bond is based on the strong belief of the Museum that asking County citizens for money should be the last place to go, and not the first. We are very proud to have raised $86.4 million of the total project prior to going to the voters. The Museum has come to the County, only AFTER going to all other sources.

Furthermore, this proposition has been backed by Senator Howard Stephenson (R-Draper), president of the very fiscally conservative Utah Taxpayers Association by saying that “We need this. Our children need it. Our economy needs it.” Now, if the most conservitive senator in Utah says that it is a good tax, odds are good that it is.

The timing on this is terrible, and it is difficult to ask the taxpayers for a little bit more, but if Proposition 1 does not pass this go around, we simply will not have the Utah Museum of Natural History until the remaining $15 million can be found. You see, UMNH has to move, it simply has run out of space, the remaining funds will allow the facility to open to the public.  We, as a community, can not afford to let this valuable resource sit idle as children and adults alike lose valuable learning opportunities.

Vote yes for Proposition 1, it is a small price to pay for a more educated public.

Ben Pales is running as the Democratic candidate for House District 6. His opponent  is Brad J. Galvez (R). This is an open seat.

His website is benpales.weberdemocrats.org. At the time of publication no Facebook or Twitter account was provided. He can be reached via email at benpales2010@gmail.com.

Here are Ben’s answers to my absurd questions:

1)      How long have you lived in your district and what made you move there in the first place?I have lived im my District for a little longer than 3 years.  We moved here because of the rural atmosphere and the quality of people that live in District 6.

2)      What does your family look like (married; kids; pets)?I am married with 2 daughters, ages 9 and 13; we also have a dog, an English Mastiff named ButterCup.  She is named after Princess Buttercup from the Princess Bride.  Between my wife, daughters and the dog, I am surrounded by Estrogen, who could ask for anything else?

3)      What do you drive?What is your dream vehicle?I drive a Ford Focus for our commuter and run the kids around vehicle, I also have a Ford F350 Truck.  My dream car would have to be a 69 Camaro, Jet Black!

4)      What was the last book you finished? The last 2 books I just finished. Team of Rivals, the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln; Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.  Both were awesome!

5)      What is your favorite store and/or restaurant in your district?My favorite store in my district is Sav-On Sports

6)      Turn your head to the right, what do you see?My Seattle Seahawks Football Helmet!  Go Hawks!!

7)      In 25 words or less, explain why you are a Democrat. I am a Utah Democrat because I actually like my neighbors and my community. The Democratic Party in Utah espouses the same values that I have.

8)      Who would win if a bear and a shark fought each other (feel free to explain)?A bear and a shark fight is a no brainer.  If you take away the water, the bear wins every time.  The shark with those little sissy flippers could never defend against a bear paw onslaught.

9)      In 50 words or less, explain why you want to be a public servant. I’ll admit that I have an alterior motive for running.  My kids.  Why I am running is because I see Utah at a precipice.  We can begin to fund education properly, or it will flounder. We can start to get Healthcare costs under control, or not many will be able to afford it soon. We can clean up the air along the Wasatch Front now, or watch our unique way of life dwindle. I want to help confront and overcome these issues.

10)  What was the last cultural event you went to? My daughters 7th grade choir concert.

11)  What are the three things you plan to fight for when elected? See question 9.

12)  Do you know what OMGWTFBBQ stands for? I got it all but the BBQ?

13)  What is the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights? I honestly can’t pick one as the most important. If you took out any of them America would cease to exist.

14)  What is your favorite band?Drop Kick Murphys and Metallica.

15)  If you could change one thing about your district, what would it be? I would like to introduce a little more open mindedness into the Republicans

***

To see other responses in the Meet the Candidates series, click here.

*Disclaimer – The opinions expressed in candidate responses are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Blue in Red Zion or its author. Every candidate with a working email address has received these same questions and are welcome to respond. If you are a candidate and did not receive these questions, please email curtis.haring@gmail.com in order to provide your own answers. The publication of a candidate’s questions should in no way be interpreted as an endorsement of said candidate.

Please note that readers are welcome to use the comment section to express their own opinion. As per the disclaimer on the right, comments will only be deleted if they can be widely viewed as offensive or not germane – though the final decision will be made by the administrator.

There are two things I know for a fact when it comes to Sheriff Winder 1) if you value your hand, be careful shaking his and 2) (if you will pardon the pun) he is a straight shooter.

Jim Winder is not a politician, he is a law man, and a damn fine one at that too. His priority since day one has been to protect the people of Salt Lake County and has worked tirelessly to get criminals off the streets.

But Winder walks the line of hard nosed Sheriff and wise public servant. In one of the leanest years fiscally, Sheriff Winder was able to successfully reopen the Oxbow Jail and alleviating pressure on other jails and freeing up beds to ensure that criminals are not prematurely released due to overcrowding. Furthermore, his strong push to create the Unified Police Force shows that Winder possesses the wisdom to see that the law enforcement needs of the county have changed drastically since the days when Salt Lake County was a dusty stopping point along the Pony Express. The old system was created to catch cattle rustlers, the UPF is suited to catch internet predators.  His vision will ensure that Salt Lake County will have a premiere police force for years to come.

Winder is also not afraid to make tough decisions. Much has been ballyhooed about the modest tax county residents have to pay for a quality police service, but what most people fail to mention is that Winder slashed $14 million from his own budget in an attmpt to trim the fat while still keeping public safety at the forefront.

Furthermore, Winder has solid reasons for wanting to stay in office and continue his efforts to improve Salt Lake County. His opponent, on the other hand, seems to be running due to a personal vendita against Winder – going so far as to drop is loyalties to his party to do so. His opponent offers no new ideas and only lists pleasantries such as “protecting the Constitution” as a reason to vote for him – as if Winder doesn’t?

Winder is a good man and a good Sheriff. I encourage you all to vote for Jim Winder for Salt Lake County Sheriff.

Randall Hinton is the Constitution Party candidate for U.S. House District 2. His opponents are Dave Glissmeyer (U), Wayne Hill (U), Jim Matheson (D)(incumbent), and Morgan Philpot (R).

His website is www.randallhinton.com, Facebook page can be found by clicking here, and you can follow him on Twitter at @randallhinton. He can be reached via email at contact@randallhinton.com

Here are Randall’s answers to my absurd questions:

1)      How long have you lived in your district and what made you move there in the first place? For about 25 years, I was born and raised in Hurricane, Utah so family has kept me close to this area.

2)      What does your family look like (married; kids; pets)? I have been happily married for 11 years to my wife Becky, I have 5 beautiful children Lavar, Bethany, Lizzy, Scott, and Lillian and we have some chickens which I don’t know that you would classify as “pets”, along with some new additions in a pair of hermit crabs.

3)      What do you drive? What is your dream vehicle? I currently drive the consummate mid sized family vehicle, a mini van (Plymouth Voyager). As far as a dream car, I have long been a fan of Subaru, and have owned many, it would probably have to be the less practical but much more interesting Subaru WRX.
 

4)      What was the last book you finished? The last book I finished was “The Blessings of Abraham – Becoming a Zion People” by E. Douglas Clark, which had an amazing narrative about Abrahams life pulled from a myriad of different sources.

5)      What is your favorite store and/or restaurant in your district? My favorite store would probably be the Apple Store at the Gateway in Salt Lake City, and my favorite restaurant is IN-n-OUT.

6)      Turn your head to the right, what do you see? A stack of campaign signs.

7)      In 25 words or less, explain why you are part of the Constitution party. Both major parties are responsible for the status quo, The people are looking to the Constitution as the principled solution to those problems.

8)      Who would win if a bear and a shark fought each other (feel free to explain)? Both, it would be entirely based on the location, a bear fighting a shark in the middle of the ocean would probably have a 99+% chance of becoming dinner, and the same would be true of a shark fighting a bear in the middle of a forest. it is all about perspective.

9)      In 50 words or less, explain why you want to be a public servant. I have five children that like all other children share a burden which they have had no say in. With over $40K in public debt and up to $353K in unfunded liabilities there future is looking increasingly bleak. I want to give a voice to these children in congress.

10)  What was the last cultural event you went to? Would the Washington County Fair be considered a cultural event?

11)  What are the three things you plan to fight for when elected? Reducing the size of government and it’s programs, representatives upholding their fiduciary responsibility to their constituents, and unifying efforts in the House of Representatives behind the principles we all esteem and follow, enshrined in the Constitution.

12)  Do you know what OMGWTFBBQ stands for? I can think of a few but we will just say “Over My Grave Water The Flowers & Bless Betty’s Quiche”

13)  What is the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights? The first amendment secures the core of all other rights, The freedom to think, do, and be whomever and whatever one wishes, without those rights secured, the others bear little weight.

14)  What is your favorite band? I don’t know that I have “A” favorite band, a few that I particularly like would be Journey, Rush, Coldplay, They Might Be Giants, OkGo, Glenn Miller, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsallis, The Carpenters and Abba to name a few (Not in any particular order), My tastes are varied, it depends on what mood I’m in.

15)  If you could change one thing about your district, what would it be? I would make it just a little smaller, it becomes very hard to get around to every area of the district simply because of the size of the district.

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