News Highlights

Lots of political news over the weekend. Check out all the links to the right.

National newspapers bewail the Bush administration's Colorado Plateau environmental policies (Los Angeles Times and New York Times).

The Associated Press looks at the mixed political fortunes of America's nine female governors -- including Utah's Olene Walker.

The Deseret Morning News profiles John Swallow and Jim Matheson.

Salt Lake Tribune introduces readers to Robyn Matheson and Mary Kaye Huntsman.

Ellis Ivory's critics raise questions about his developer background (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

“Bringing people together to talk about education highlighted how groups, and individuals, mostly talk among themselves but seldom talk to others who may have a different viewpoint. In the meantime, the world passes us by and we keep telling ourselves it's the other side that needs to change, because we have the right answer.”

-- Columnist John Florez, writing about a panel discussion on education (Deseret Morning News).

The Week Ahead

One week to go. This is the week when the million little things a campaign does over many months come together to produce a win. All the organizing and communicating pay off with a big final push.

Tonight: Jon Huntsman - Scott Matheson live televised debate, 7 pm , KSL Channel 5 . Co-sponsored by Deseret Morning News . See calendar for all the events.

No Foolin! The Tribune Endorses Bush and Huntsman

Big surprise Sunday morning to open the Salt Lake Tribune and see endorsements for Jon Huntsman and George Bush . The paper is going to be lambasted by its liberal readers who will consider the endorsements a sellout. The Bush endorsement used as much space criticizing him as praising him, but concluded he's better than John Kerry .

The Huntsman endorsement has to be a big disappointment for Scott Matheson . Huntsman and Matheson are both very good candidates and it would have been an easy and expected call for the Tribune to endorse Matheson. Tribune critics will say Publisher Dean Singleton wanted to get back in the good graces of Utah 's most powerful family after creating enormous anger and ill-will by publishing a package of stories about the Huntsman chemical operations in Texas. As you might recall, Peter Huntsman purchased full-page advertisements blasting the Tribune and its stories.

Tribune Reader Advocate Connie Coyne wrote Saturday that she received 43 calls and e-mails complaining about the Tribune's endorsement of Ellis Ivory. She will probably get a few hundred more criticizing the latest endorsements. I have no idea what went through the heads of Tribune editorial board members in making these endorsements, but I think they made a couple of good calls.

It's One Pregnant Lady After Another

Some people will do anything to get out of a tough political fight. Amanda Smith has been in the middle of the Initiative 1 battle, serving as spokesperson for the proponents and squaring off in debates against opponents of the conservation initiative. But she abruptly dropped out of the campaign last Friday with a reasonably good excuse – to have a baby. Amanda delivered 7 lb. 9 oz. baby Madelyn, her second child, Friday morning, a few days past her due date. She worked on the campaign almost right up to the hour of delivery.

But if Initiative 1 opponents thought going up against a pregnant lady was tough, it doesn't get any easier. Amanda has been replaced as spokesperson by Maura Carabello and, guess what? She's seven months pregnant.

Is 2nd District Race Tightening?

While I haven't seen any recent poll numbers, activities of the national players suggest the 2 nd Congressional District race between John Swallow and Jim Matheson is competitive. Both sides are pouring in money for hard-hitting TV ads and they might be sending in troops to work the get-out-the-vote effort over the last weekend. I've also heard that the RNCC is putting the squeeze on Washington lobbyists and industry groups to give to the Swallow campaign. While the race is undoubtedly getting tighter, there's a very real possibility that Utah voters are turned off by the negativity of some of the ads.

Teens Vote for Bush

Channel One, seen by millions of students in schools across the country, held a mock election last week and George Bush won by a landslide, with 393 electoral votes to John Kerry's 145. More than 1.4 million teenagers voted nationwide. See results. In the two previous presidential elections, the teen vote has predicted the national outcome.

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

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Calendar and Subscriptions: Paul Hollingshead

Los Angeles Times
- Recasting wilderness as open for business

New York Times
- Editorial: Rocky Mountain politics

Associated Press
- Political woes befall 9 female governors

Deseret Morning News
- Nuclear plant security attacked
- Swallow learned responsibility early
- John Swallow bio
- John Swallow answers Deseret Morning News questionnaire
- Matheson carrying his family's banner
- Jim Matheson bio
- Jim Matheson answers Deseret Morning News questionnaire
- Salt Lake creates open space trust fund
- John Florez: Hearing other views is vital first step for change
- Editorial: Waste issue isn't resolved

Standard-Examiner
- Riverdale council endorses RAMP
- Editorial: On Citizen's State Initiative 1, vote no

Daily Herald
- Orem residents create forum to voice ideas
- Lindon mayor recognized for trail work
- Initiative 1 aims to preserve clean air, water
- Editorial: Bottles of beer on the wall

Salt Lake Tribune
- Big issue in mayoral race: Trust
- Rolly & Wells: Swallow hitting below belt
- Bishop to propose legislation for open space in Deer Valley
- Anti-PFLAG protesters chime in on issues during rally outside conference
- Gays and God: Some churches are softening stands
- Ivory's work background raises some eyebrows
- Bipartisan push is on for an end to N-funds
- Prospective first ladies supportive in very different ways
- Editorial: Foot in the door
- Editorial: Reinvest in Alter

Sunday, October 24

Salt Lake Tribune
- Families of gays, lesbians share tales of hate, hope
- 3rd District candidates waffle on polygamy
- Backers push tax to fund Weber recreation, arts
- EPA designation puts wind in Moab's environmental sails
- S.L. County clerk says Ivory case not political
- Davis County Commission candidates: New tax, government openness, among top issues in Davis
- Candidates sound familiar themes at Latino forum
- Rematch in Senate District 20 may be tight race
- The Race for Governor of Utah
- The Race for Governor of Utah: Huntsman wants to use his diplomatic skills .. in Utah
- The Race for Governor of Utah: The academic Matheson is thoughtful, deliberate, detail-driven
- Jon Huntsman Jr. Bio
- Scott Matheson Jr. Bio
- Op-ed: Chamber's Homeless Campus proposal stands on its merits
- Op-ed: Amendment 3, the state and marriage
- Op-ed: Young Rove's dreams became everyone else's nightmare
- John Swallow: My strong position against nuclear testing in Nevada
- Jim Matheson: Nuclear weapons research today means testing tomorrow
- Editorial: Huntsman for governor
- Editorial: Bush for president

St. George Spectrum
- Editorial: State needs Huntsman's economic plan

Standard-Examiner
- Editorial: Utah welfare system dented, not broken

Daily Herald
- Amendment 3 just right for some, goes too far for others

Deseret Morning News
- Demo Matheson is committed to serving Utah
- Scott Matheson Jr. biography
- Scott Matheson Jr.'s response to Deseret Morning News questionnaire
- 'Giving back' important to Huntsman
- Jon M. Huntsman Jr. biography
- Jon Huntsman Jr.'s response to Deseret Morning News questionnaire
- Utahns voting on 37 judges
- Gays can't be expected to change, experts say
- Habla Espanol? Candidates do — at forum
- Scientists speak out on fluoride
- GOP's poll on Ivory is assailed
- Jay Evensen: 'Tis the 'season' to punch ballots
- Pignanelli & Webb: Just one more week of election fun
- Op-ed: Ill-conceived Initiative 1 wouldn't achieve goals
- Editorial: Study the issues before voting

Saturday, October 23

Denver Post
- Editorial: How the West is named

Los Angelest Times
- Bush's profile is high in Congressional races

Salt Lake City Weekly
- Republican rock & roll
- Editorial: Four-year itch

Deseret Morning News
- Old systems more often used in well-off U.S., Utah areas
- Can criticism go too far?
- Farm groups oppose Initiative 1
- Gays' offspring do fine, expert says
- Bigelow fighting off strong challenger in West Valley City
- A 'Middle East Union' is proposed
- GOP letter of protest targets mayor's exit
- Measure would aid charter schools
- Draper agrees to repeal political-sign ordinance
- GOP replacement set after legislator resigns

Standard-Examiner
- Experts give their take on fluoride

KSL
- Editorial: Governor Walker's tax overhaul

Daily Herald
- Partisan talk may not change voters' minds
- No one applying for county grants
- Amendment 2 could affect college research
- Editorial: We survived Michael Moore

Salt Lake Tribune
- Angry ads the focus of debate
- N-plants being relicensed at record rates
- Reader Advocate: Editorial endorsements an essential role of papers
- GOP leaders pushing to get Ivory's name on the November ballots
- Candidates speechless on gay 'sin' question
- Sign law repealed in Draper
- Farmers, ranchers split on open-space measure
- S.L. County candidate is out
- 'We are going to win,' gay-rights leaders declare at rally
- Democrats argue for party balance in government
- Editorial: Matheson for Congress

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Oct 25: Peter Corroon Honk’n’Wave, 7:30-8:30 am, Bangerter Hwy @ California Ave; 4:30-6 pm, Bangerter Hwy @ 3100 S.
- 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: Peter Corroon Honk’n’Wave, 7:30-8:30 am, 5600 W. 4100 S; 4:30-6 pm, 4700 S. Redwood Rd.
- 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: Peter Corroon Honk’n’Wave, 7:30-8:30 am, N. Temple @ 900 W; 4:30-6 pm, 10600 S. Redwood Rd.
- Oct 27: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam debate, 5:30 pm, KSL 5.
- Oct 28: Peter Corroon Honk’n’Wave, 7:30-8:30 am, Midvale Ft. Union TRAX Station; 4:30-6 pm, 1300 E. Sego Lily.
- 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: Peter Corroon Honk’n’Wave, 7:30-8:30 am, 9400 S. 700 E; 4:30-6 pm, 2100 S. 700 E.
- 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: Peter Corroon Honk’n’Wave, 7-8 am, Union Park Ave; 4:30-6 pm, 400 S. 400 W.
- Nov 1: Utah Candidates for Governor scheduled to debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Nov 2: Peter Corroon Honk’n’Wave, 7-8 am, Wasatch Blvd at Fort Union Blvd; 4:30-6 pm, 6200 S. 3000 E.
- Nov 2: General Election, 7 am to 8 pm.

- See the entire calendar