News Highlights

Jim Matheson backs Amendment 3 (Deseret Morning News), while Gayle Ruzicka defends it against critics (Morning News).

The Standard-Examiner editorializes in support of Amendment 1, KSL TV/Radio supports Amendment 2.

Initiative 1 has the support of both governor candidates, but not the governor herself (St. George Spectrum).

The Cato Institute says Utah is failing at welfare reform (Salt Lake Tribune and Morning News).

Quote of the Day

Q: Do you support tuition tax credits or vouchers?

Jon Huntsman: "Can you wave a magic wand and get vouchers overnight? I don't think so. But you can test the underlying economic assumptions. The Carson Smith Special Needs legislation is the right place to start."

Scott Matheson : "I don't think it fits the context of Utah education, where 97 percent of our children are in the public system. There was legislation this year, an 'across the street' tuition tax credit bill. Mr. Huntsman has indicated he would have signed that bill."

- Salt Lake Tribune reporting on the first major televised gubernatorial debate, co-sponsored by the Tribune and KUTV 2

Last Chance to Fine-Tune Tactics

This week, the second to the last week of the election campaign, is a fascinating and crucial week for the major Utah candidates. Campaign ads are in full swing. The major TV debates are underway. Everyone is on pins and needles. This week is really the last chance to make significant course corrections. The major campaigns, if they are wise, are doing daily tracking polls to measure how well their messages are getting through, how well they are staying ahead or catching up to opponents. The tracking can measure, for example, how well an opponent's new ad is doing and what countermeasures need to be taken to stop any slippage or make gains.

Armed with intelligence from tracking, it's not too late at this point to create new TV and radio spots for the final week to address weaknesses and shore up strengths. There is still time, but it is rapidly passing, to tweak advertising buys, change ads. It's pretty amazing these days what good media firms can do at seemingly the last second to alter messages and boost or change advertising buys. This is the week to make certain everything is just right going into the final week of the campaign.

2nd District Slugfest

The 2nd Congressional District race between John Swallow and Jim Matheson is definitely going to tighten these last two weeks as Republican voters come home. The race comes down to the two candidates slugging it out with campaign spots critical of each other, and how well each side gets out the vote. Swallow started far down in the polls, but has a shot to make a race of it as voters turn more partisan in the final days. As reported by Congress Daily, based on FEC fundraising reports filed late last week, Matheson raised $383,000 in the last filing period and had $501,000 on hand, while Swallow raised $388,000 and had available $378,000. That's enough for a lot of advertising the last two weeks by both campaigns.

Blog Generates Lively Political Dialogue

The Utah Policymaker blog is starting to generate some interesting political dialogue. We've had five different policymakers post comments and more are expected in the next few days. The bloggers include Rep. Steve Mascaro , with comments on education funding and the Jones-Mascaro legislation; Tooele Mayor Charlie Roberts, on the Salt Lake Tribune's endorsement policy; Todd Weiler, Davis County GOP chair, on the SL County mayoral race; Thad Van Ry, Woods Cross City Council, on Nancy Workman and political disabilities; and Wilf Sommerkorn, Davis County economic development director, on education and economic development.

The danger with group blogs is that one or two people may write a lot and tend to dominate. The blog will be pretty well self-regulating if a lot of people participate. If someone writes something really off base, others will usually correct the viewpoint. It's really up to the community of bloggers to self-police. While, as the blog creators, we don't want to inject ourselves into the discussion, we will intervene if any blogger gets too outrageous.

KSL Radio Blog

KSL Radio has a blog to which reporters post comments about their experiences covering the news and other items. It's sort of an inside look at a radio news operation. Check it out; it's interesting.

Free Speech

"Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage." - Winston Churchill (Source: Federalist Patriot)

Reader response

“I love this newletter, but man you can sure tell where LaVar Webb's opinions are and who is paying him.” (Name withheld by request.)

Meet Candidates & Learn Issues

Voice for Moderation is sponsoring a voter information meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at Anderson/Foothill Library. Agenda: 6 to 6:30 p.m., discussion of Initiative 1, the conservation initiative, with Dave Livermore of The Nature Conservancy speaking in favor, and Mike Jerman of the Utah Taxpayers Association speaking against. 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., discussion of Amendment 3, the marriage amendment, with Frank Mylar of "Yes for Marriage" speaking in favor and Scott McCoy of "Don't Amend Alliance" speaking against. 7 to 7:30 p.m., presentations for Salt Lake County Council, District 4, Dina Blaes, Democrat, and Mark Crockett, Republican.

Political Trivia

Take a little political trivia test at Campaigns & Elections web site (I didn't do very well).

Rep. Douglas C. Aagard, District 15, October 19
U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, October 20
Sen. Mike Dmitrich, District 27, October 23
Rep. James R. Gowans, District 21, October 25
Rep. R. Curt Webb, District 5, October 25
Sen. Peter Knudson, District 17, October 26

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

Deseret Morning News
- Sorensen, Workman go before judges
- Ivory not yet on ballot
- Details of decision about Ellis Ivory
- Commissioner asks for probe of Bryson
- Welfare reform failing?
- ACLU protests linkage on porn
- Marriage measure defended
- Jim Matheson backing Utah's Amendment 3
- Cannon organizes 'Fahrenhype' shows
- Editorial: The looming election crisis

Standard-Examiner
- Layton seeks theater from RAP tax
- Dispatch tax possible for Weber-Morgan area
- Matheson puts forth his education strategy
- Editorial: Utahns should vote 'yes' on Amendment 1

KSL
- Editorial: Approve Amendment 2

St. George Spectrum
- Politicians, groups debate Initiative 1

Salt Lake Tribune
- Ivory needs a new vote to get GOP nomination
- Panel urges no hotter waste at Envirocare
- Utah happy to 'fail' at welfare reform?
- Citizen's arrest of Herbert thwarted
- Legislators: Grouse listing won't fly
- Workman arraigned on two felony counts
- Swallow on the attack in new campaign ads
- Apologetic Sorensen sentenced
- Guv debate: Yes, there are differences
- Editorial: Wilson for council

Please submit calendar items to AgendaUtah@UtahPolicy.com

- Oct 19: Hinkley Institute of Politics "The New Government Perspective on Homeless", 10 am, KUER-FM 90.1, a discussion with Mark Johnston, Deputy Director, HUD and Nan Roman, National Coalition for the Homeless.
- Oct 19: Gubernatorial Debate at Salt Lake Rotary Club, 12 noon, Marriott Hotel 75 S W Temple, SLC.
- Oct 19: First District Candidates Rob Bishop and Steve Thompson debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct. 20: Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore speaks at UVSC
- Oct 20: Jon Huntsman visits Ogden Rotary Club, Tooele Chamber of Commerce Meet the Candidate Luncheon, noon, Ivy Garden; Box Elder Meet the Candidates Night, 6:15 pm, Brigham City Community Center; and Weber PTA Meet the Candidate Night, 7:45 pm, Weber High.
- Oct 20: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam debate, 6 pm, KTVX Channel 4.
- Oct 20: Salt Lake Chamber’s Business Friendly Legislators Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Little America
- Oct 20: Attorney General Candidates debate, 12:30 pm, Sutherland Moot Court Room, S.J. Quinney College of Law, Univ. of Utah.
- Oct 20: Mark Shurtleff attends Kearns PTA Meet the Candidate Night, 6 pm.
- Oct 20: Public Interest Law Organization debate on same-sex marriage, moderated by Phil Riesen, 7 pm, Sutherland Moot Courtroom.
- Oct 20: Peter Corroon at the Utah Grizzlies game vs. Manchester Monarchs, 7 pm, The “E” Center, West Valley.
- Oct 21: Radio West "Vote 2004: The Race for Utah Governor", 11 am, KUER-FM 90.1, featuring Jon Huntsman.
- Oct 21: Hinckley Institute of Politics, "Vote 2004: The Race for House District 25", 1 pm, KUER-FM 90.1, featuring Ross Romero and Martine Smith.
- Oct 21: Mark Shurtleff attends Midvale Senior Center Meet the Candidate, 10:45 am; Chamber West Meet the Candidate, 11:45 am; PTA Legislative Forum, 1 pm.
- Oct 21: Jon Huntsman Interview on Radio West, 11 am, KUER FM 90. Oct 21: 3rd Congressional District featured on Bruce Lindsay's Conversation with the Candidates, 6:10 pm, KSL TV.
- Oct 21: Gubernatorial Debate, On the Record with ABC 4 News Reporter Chris Vanocur, 7 pm.
- Oct 22: Radio West "Vote 2004: The Race for Utah's 2nd Congressional District", 11 am, KUER-FM 90.1, with Jim Matheson and John Swallow.
- Oct 22: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate at South Jordan Senior Center, 11 am.
- Oct 23: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate in Lehi, 6 pm.
- Oct 23: Jim Matheson at the U of U Football Rally.
- Oct 23: Peter Corroon at Utah Football game vs. UNLV pre-game activities, 3:30 – 5:00 pm, Rice-Eccles Stadium, SLC.
- Oct 24: Civic Dialogue presents Salt Lake County Mayoral Race Debate, 5:30 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 24: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam debate, 5:30 pm, KUTV Channel 2.
- Oct 24: Third District Candidates Chris Cannon and Beau Babka debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 25: Utah Foundation & Hinckley Institute of Politics lecture on Education-The Debate Over School Choice and Tuition Tax Credits, Noon, U of U Spencer Hall Rm 255. Free to Public. Also broadcast on KUER-FM 90.1.
- Oct 25: Attorney General Debate, 3 pm, KBYU.
- Oct 25: Gubernatorial Debate, KSL-TV, KSL Radio and the Deseret Morning News, Rose Wagner Theatre, 7 pm.
- Oct 25: Meet the State and National Candidates Night, 7-9 pm, Whittier Community Center, 290 N. 400 E, Logan. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the PTA.
- Oct 26: Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors, 7:30 a.m., Chamber Board Room, featuring candidates Jon Huntsman, Nancy Workman, Mark Shurtleff.
- Oct 26: Hinckley Institute of Politics presents "Iraq" a talk by: Jim Mayfield, Professor Emeritus, Political Science Department, U of U, 9:10 am, KUER-FM 90.1.
- Oct 26: Radio West presents "Open Space", 11 am, KUER-FM 90.1
- Oct 26: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate events: Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce at 7:30 am, Mt. Olympus Senior Center at 11:30 am.
- Oct 26: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam debate, Noon, Salt Lake Rotary Club, Downtown Marriott, 75 S. West Temple.
- Oct 26: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, Noon, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
- Oct 26: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam debate, 2:30 pm, KBYU Studios Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University.
- Oct 26: Utah Attorney General Candidates debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 27: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate events: Taylorsville Senior Center at 11 am, Weber County PTA at 7 pm.
- Oct 27: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam debate, 5:30 pm, KSL 5.
- Oct 28: Radio West "Vote 2004: The Race for Utah State Senator", 11 am, KUER-FM 90.1, featuring Robert Bennett and Paul Van Dam.
- Oct 28: Hinckley Institute of Politics presents "Vote 2004: The Race for Salt Lake County Council", 1 pm, Steve Harmsen and Jenny Wilson featured.
- Oct 28: Second District Candidates Jim Matheson and John Swallow debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 28-29: UEA Convention.
- Oct 29: Gubernatorial Debate, KUED Studios, 7 pm, U of U, airs Nov. 1.
- Oct 29: Peter Corroon at the Utah Grizzlies game vs. Milwaukee Admirals, 7 pm, The E Center, West Valley.
- Oct 30: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam debate, 6 pm, KUED Eccles Broadcasting Center.
- Oct 31: Civic Dialogue presents a moderated debate on the Utah Constitutional Revision of Marriage, 5 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 31: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam scheduled to debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Nov 1: Utah Candidates for Governor scheduled to debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Nov 2: General Election, 7 am to 8 pm.

- See the entire calendar