News Highlights

The Republicans might be having fun in New York City, but it's gloom and doom in Utah as Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman faces possible criminal charges. The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News both have extensive coverage (see headline links to the right). In New York, Mitt Romney addresses the convention (Morning News and Tribune). Utah GOP National Committeeman Winston Wilkinson discusses African-Americans and the Republican Party (Tribune). Daily Herald editorial says Jon Huntsman campaign benefiting too much from LDS Church ties. Huntsman campaign has raised $2.4 million to date (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"They've long had a saying in the computer business: garbage in, garbage out. The conclusion of the panel can only be as valid as the input its members received."

-Nancy Workman in a news release responding to a report by four prosecutors (Morning Deseret News).

Convention Odds & Ends

The President of Utah

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney took his place in the convention spotlight Wednesday evening. National Journal's Convention Daily earlier wrote an article about him, his presidential ambitions, and his fans among the Utah delegation entitled, “The President of Utah.”

Delegate Notes

The Utah delegates loved Zell Miller, who delivered the hardest-hitting rhetoric of the convention to date. He was electric, just fantastic," said alternate delegate Jessica Christopher of the Democratic senator s fire and brimstone  speech.

Delegate and State Rep. LaVar Christensen said the convention has built in intensity from first day. We re ready for President Bush on Thursday. The caliber and quality of our president compared to John Kerry is like night and day.  Christensen said the convention has been a reaffirmation of his conservative ideals. I ve really felt a surge of patriotism and love for my country.  The first day s focus on the heroes and victims of 9-11 was especially poignant for Christensen. My 33rd floor hotel room looks right over Ground Zero. I contemplate what happened there every day. 

Conservative author and frequent talk show participant Ann Coulter sat with the delegation Wednesday. Christensen said lots of Utah politics is being discussed  among delegates.

Utah's Most Conservative Big County

We usually think of Utah County as the state's most conservative and Republican large county. But don't discount Davis County. A Dan Jones & Associates survey done for The Exoro Group shows that by a number of measurements Davis County is right up there with Utah County. In party registration, for example, 64% of poll respondents in both Davis and Utah counties said there are registered Republicans (compared to 36% in Salt Lake County). Asked general party affiliation, Davis County actually had more Republicans on a percentage basis than Utah County. In political ideology, Davis and Utah counties are almost identical, with mean scores of 7.13 (Davis) and 7.14 (Utah) on a 1-10 scale with 1 being very liberal and 10 being very conservative. In support for Republican candidates, the two counties are almost identical. President Bush, for example, has a 79% job approval rating in both counties.

Tip 4: Defer major decisions and courses of action until you feel you have a good grasp of the facts. When bad things happen, never, never make quick, rash, emotional decisions. Admittedly, this is easier said than done. Sometimes the crisis is so clear-cut and the course of action so obvious that you can move quickly. Often, however, facts need to be gathered and options considered. You should, of course, immediately acknowledge the situation, but you don't have to immediately announce a course of action such as firing someone or resigning. It is important to take reasonably quick action, but not before you know what really happened and understand all the ramifications. Take time to dig out the facts, but not too long. People understand that a little time is necessary to grasp the nuances of a crisis situation. But don't take longer than a couple of news cycles.

Sen. Carlene M. Walker, District 8, September 2
Rep. Chad E. Bennion, District 44, September 6
Rep. Kory M. Holdaway, District 34, September 8

Entire Birthday List

Agenda Utah is a service
of Utah Policy.com

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

National Journal
- The President of Utah

Salt Lake City Weekly
- The steep road to Senate

Deseret Morning news
- Workman may face felony counts
- Mayor trails badly in poll
- Bush is formally nominated
- Leavitt defends record of EPA
- Utah's 2003-04 budget surplus hits $53 million
- Candidate Swallow chokes on part of the GOP platform
- Ex-foes donating to Huntsman campaign
- Utah Republicans ring Big Board bell
- Group flays gay nuptials proposal
- Romney stokes GOP flames
- Editorial: Good land-use process

Standard-Examiner
- Tax hike approved

Daily Herald
- Don't mix church and politics

Salt Lake Tribune
- W. Jordan council gags midlevel staff
- Huntsman hauls in $300,000
- 'Workman lied'
- Excerpts from a statementWednesday from Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman
- Excerpts from the cover letter from the panel of county prosecutorsinvestigating Mayor Nancy Workman
- Workman: The report, her response; What if?
- Mayor-council system has had bumpy start
- Challengers Corroon and Cook could benefit from troubles of the incumbent
- Wilkinson fears a backlash with GOP's pitch to blacks
- Romney talks of Games, flag, 'breath from above'

Please submit calendar items to AgendaUtah@UtahPolicy.com

- Aug 30-Sept 2: Republican National Convention, New York City.
- Sept 2: Washington County Republican Women “Party for the President”, 11:30 am, Bloomington Country Club, St. George, $10, RSVP 435-688-0777.
- Sept 2: Professional Republican Women monthly meeting, 11:45 am, Panini's restaurant, Wells Fargo Building, 299 S Main , SLC, $20 RSVP call 801-270-0802.
- Sept 2: Progressive Democratic Caucus Meeting, 6:30 pm to 8 pm, 455 South 300 East, Suite 102, Salt Lake City. Contact: Craig Axford (801) 918-6017.
- Sept 3: Huntsman campaign at Midway Swiss Days.
- Sept 4: Swiss Days Parade, 9:30 am, 100 N between 2-300 East, Midway
- Sept 3-4: Hispanic Fiesta Days celebration at the Gallivan Center, 200 S 50 E, 4-8 pm Friday and 12-8 pm Saturday. Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly will have booths with representatives from Huntsman, Cannon, Bennett, and other Utah Republican candidates. URHA volunteers are needed to staff the booths. For more information: thesantanas@msn.com
- Sept 4: Jon Huntsman at Hispanic Fiesta Days, 3 pm, Gallivan Center, SLC.
- Sept 4: Libertarian Party meet/greet/eat fundraiser, 11am-10 pm, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, 911 East Fort Union Blvd, Midvale. 15% of purchase donated to Libertarian Party if you identify yourself as a Libertarian.
- Sept 3-4: Huntsman campaign at Iron County Fair, Cedar City.
- Sept 7: Utah Log Cabin Republicans Monthly Meeting, 7:30 pm, Room N4010, Salt Lake County Building, 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake.
- Sept 9: Huntsman Campaign at United Way Day of Caring Breakfast, 7:30 am, Lavell Edwards Stadium, BYU; Logan Rotary Club, 12:30pm, Coppermill Restaurant, Logan; also at Vietnam Veterans meet the candidates night, 7 pm, Salt Lake City Library, 4th floor, 210 E 400 S.
- Sept 9: Eleanor Roosevelt Luncheon featuring Kerry Campaign Chair Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, 11:30-1 pm, Marriott Hotel 75 S W Temple, SLC, $50.
- Sept 9: Sutherland Institute seminar "The Rules of the Game-Applications in Boundaries and Procedures," 8:30-11:30 am, 6th Floor 150 E Social Hall Ave, SLC. Register: 801-355-1272.
- Sept 9-19: Utah State Fair, 10 am – 10 pm, Utah State Fairgrounds, SLC, UT
- Sept 10: Weber County Democrats Sawbuck Reception, 7 pm, $100, contact Erica Anderson 801-479-8927.
- Sept 11: Davis County Democrats No-Host Breakfast, 8:30 am to 10 am, Joanie's Restaurant, 286 North 400 West, Kaysville. Contact: Richard Watson 801-292-6772.
- Sept 11: Diana Lee Hirschi for SL County Mayor meet the candidate fundraiser, 11- 2 pm, One World Café, Downtown SLC.
- Sept 15: Attorney General Mark Shurtleff’s annual "Wasatch Challenge." Trap, skeet and target shooting, Western entertainment and down-home cooking. Call 801-746-3030 or email info@markshurtleff.com for more details.
- Sept 15: Jon Huntsman at National Assisted Living Week luncheon, noon, Legacy Retirement Residence, South Jordan.
- Sep 15: Voice for Moderation meeting, Gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr., County Mayor candidates Nancy Workman and Peter Corroon, 6 pm, Anderson/Foothill Library, 1135 S 2100 E, SLC.
- Sept 15-17: Utah League of Cities and Towns Annual Convention, register: www.ulct.org
- Sept 16: Jon Huntsman at the Salt Lake Women's Republican Club Meet and Mingle Night, 6:30 pm, Bicentennial Park, Sandy.
- Sept 17: Jon Huntsman at Salt Lake County Republican BBQ, 6 pm, Murray Park.
- Sept 17: Utah League of Cities and Towns gubernatorial debate, 9 am, Sheraton Hotel, 150 W 500 S, SLC.
- Sept 17: Jon Huntsman at Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, noon, 750 W Heritage Park Blvd, Layton.
- Sept 17: Salt Lake County Republican Party’s Constitution Day Picnic, 6 pm, Murray City Park, 5125 S State St, donations welcome. Come meet the candidates! Call 801-718-4882 for more info.

- See the entire calendar