News Highlights

The Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret Morning News detail last-day candidate activities in their lead stories today. The Tribune also has an interesting story on how changing property tax formulas may result in a surprise tax on Utah homes. Governors in the West want a western presidential primary, according to an Associated Press story.

Is it Time for Golf?

Lots of experienced candidates swear that the most effective election day campaign activity is to go play golf. Forget about politics. Maybe do an early honk-and-wave, then let the staff worry about get-out-the-vote.

Aside from the fact that golf is basically a sissy game, and boring to boot, there are better things for a candidate to do on election day, like personally working the phones, motivating phone bank volunteers, and working the phones some more. And if you're way ahead or way behind, with no worries, at least spend the day doing something productive—like fly fishing.

Tribune Endorsement

On Sunday, The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board endorsed Jon Huntsman, Jr., in the gubernatorial primary, although it seemed to hold its nose as bit in doing so, endorsing Huntsman for the curious reason that the general election campaign “would be more stirring” with Huntsman as the GOP nominee. The editorial preserved plenty of wriggle room to switch the paper's endorsement to Scott Matheson, Jr., in the general election.

Meanwhile, the Tribune apparently couldn't bring itself, even holding its nose, to endorse any Republican candidate in the 2nd and 3rd congressional district primaries. That's a tragedy because so many Republican voters were waiting for guidance from the state's largest paper. How will they possibly know how to vote?

Automated Calls Abound

Many voters will receive recorded telephone calls from candidates today reminding them to get out and vote. Davis County Clerk-Auditor Steve Rawlings even sent out a recorded call Monday evening encouraging Davis residents to vote and call his office with any questions.

The automated call technology has become so simple and easy to use that candidates can program, record and broadcast calls in just a few minutes right from their offices using any Internet connection with just a few clicks of the mouse. The cost is low compared to printing and postage. Calls can also be interactive, with recipients responding to questions by touching phone buttons.

Automated calls will become even more popular in the future as more campaigns learn innovative ways to use them. But they are just one tool of many that should be used in a campaign, and they have their limitations. Automated calls don't replace other communications channels.

Agenda Utah is a service of
Utah Policy.com

Publisher: LaVarr Webb
Editor: Bart Barker
News: Golden Webb
Calendar and Subscriptions:
Paul Hollingshead

Denver Post
- In search of a primary role

Associated Press
- Governors seek primary in West
- Utah lawyer nominated for appeals court has no state law license
- Ill. lawmakers push stem-cell research

City Weekly
- Borderline bigotry

KSL
- Poll shows Huntsman with strong lead on GOP primary eve
- Editorial: Primary election day

St. George Spectrum
- Republican primaries approach 11th hour
- Bridgewater, Swallow fight for Congress
- Editorial: Common sense wins in court case

Daily Herald
- Signs for campaigns damaged
- Commission to vote on tax for transportation
- Editorial: Voting system needs tweaking to increase turnout

Standard-Examiner
- Leaders warn of 'cheesy politics'
- Candidate not UDA co-founder
- Tax rate changes offer windfalls for Davis County cities
- Editorial: Lawmakers cleaning up their sales-tax mess

Deseret Morning News
- Big day for Utah's GOP
- Griffith's court nomination suffers a blow
- Tax hike would fund roads
- Some Utah County budgets to rise
- Davis issues warning on windfall
- Marjorie Cortez: Latinos can send a message by voting today

Salt Lake Tribune
- Down to the wire
- Surprise tax hike may be in store
- Utahns in Congress work to save jet made in state
- D.C. court nominee lacks Utah law license
- Church to break silence on downtown
- Senators to vote on Korologos nomination today
- Editorial: Flying right

Please submit calendar items to AgendaUtah@UtahPolicy.com

- June 22: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12:00 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
- June 24: Legislative Golf Tournament, Thanksgiving Point. 533-9777.
- June 26: Republican Central Committee Meeting.
- June 26: "Meet and Greet" Green Party candidate for Salt Lake County Mayor, Diana Lee Hirschi, 11 am at The One World Café, 41 S. 300 E. Salt Lake City.
- June 27: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12:00 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
- June 28: Gubernatorial debate between Democrat Scott Matheson and the Republican nominee, sponsored by the Utah Association of Energy Users. Table of 8, $400; Single, $50. Social hour, 6 p.m., followed by dinner. Call to reserve table, 355-4374.
- July 7: Utah Stonewall Democrats, 5:30 pm, State Democratic Headquaters third floor conference room, 455 So 300 East, SLC.
- July 10: Davis County Democrats No-Host Breakfast, 8:30 am to 10:00 am, Joanie s Restaurant, 286 North 400 West, Kaysville. Contact Richard Watson (801) 292-6772.
- July 19-23: National Conference of State Legislatures, Salt Lake City.
- August 3: Utah Log Cabin Republicans Monthly Meeting, 7:30 pm, Room N4010, Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 South State Street, SLC.
- August 5: Progressive Democratic Caucus Meeting, 6:30-8:00 pm, 455 South 300 East, Suite 102, SLC. Contact Craig Axford (801) 918-6017.
- August 14: Davis County Democrats No-Host Breakfast, 8:30-10:00 am, Joanie s Restaurant, 286 North 400 West, Kaysville. Contact Richard Watson (801) 292-6772.
- August 24: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12:00 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East just past 2100 South, SLC. Contact 486-2558.

- See the entire calendar