News Highlights

Turnabout is fair play as Matheson goes negative on Swallow (Salt Lake Tribune).

The Tribune endorses Bob Bennett.

Newly-minted environmental group emerges to slam Huntsman Chemical Corp a week before election day (Deseret Morning News and Tribune).

The Morning News looks at Merrill Cook's candidacy for Salt Lake County Mayor.

Quote of the Day

“Were we to endorse people, rather than issues, we could easily fuel perceptions of bias in the objective news coverage elsewhere in the paper. Rightly or wrongly, studies have shown that readers assume a paper's endorsement clouds its reporting. Perhaps more disturbing, we would run the risk of creating an uneasy relationship with public office holders who may expect a certain familiarity or allegiance if we happened to support them, or feel a sense of antagonism if we did not. . . . we wouldn't insult you by trying to guide your hand as you enter the private sanctum of the voting booth.”

-- Deseret Morning News editorial explaining why the paper doesn’t endorse candidates

Go Honk at Peter

The Peter Corroon campaign is doing “honk and waves” all week at different spots around the valley (see calendar for times and locations). I’ve always disliked honk and waves. It seems rather undignified to be standing at a busy street or intersection holding signs and waving at cars as they pass. You usually get as many obscene gestures as friendly honks. But for Corroon, who hasn’t had enough money for heavy media buys, it makes sense to get in front of as many voters as possible. That’s the theory, at least.

Read All About It: The Life of Charlie Johnson

Charlie Johnson, who is running the finances of the Environmental Protection Agency, is the subject of a nice profile in the latest edition of Utah Spirit Magazine, which is published mostly for senior citizens. Johnson is former chief of staff to former Gov. Mike Leavitt and followed Leavitt to the EPA. Word from the Utah contingent at EPA is that everyone is on pins and needles waiting to see a week from now whether they need to be looking for jobs.

Utah Foundation Provides Candidate Info

The Utah Foundation has been very active this election season with its Utah Priorities project. For information on how the gubernatorial candidates stand on important issues, read their answers to a detailed questionnaire at www.utahpriorities.net and check out the Foundation’s research reports on key issues facing Utah. The Foundation has also sponsored forums with the Hinckley Institute of Politics on the state’s major issues.

National Money Flow Continues

The national congressional committees continue to pour money into Utah’s 2nd District race between Jim Matheson and John Swallow. According to FEC filings late last week reported by Congress Daily, the DCCC dropped another $276,000 to shore up Matheson, and the RNCC spent $219,000 in support of Swallow. In his fundraising letters, Swallow claims he is now running even with Matheson, but he has not released any polling numbers to prove it.

Won’t You Come Home Bob Bennett

If you can’t win, you might as well have some fun and stay in shape. That seems to be Paul Van Dam’s attitude about his U.S. Senate race. Besides riding his tandem recumbent bike around the state, winning some medals in the Senior Games, encouraging his wife, Mary Dawn, to write a lively campaign blog, and challenging Bob Bennett to an Internet debate, I’m told Van Dam has produced a singing radio ad running on Southern Utah stations using the tune of, “Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey.” Bennett’s supporters aren’t amused by the lyrics.

Sen. Peter Knudson, District 17, October 26
Rep. David Ure, District 53, October 29
Rep. Duane E. Bourdeaux, District 23, November 2
Rep. Darin G. Peterson, District 67, November 5

Entire Birthday List

Utah Policy Daily is a service
of Utah Policy.com

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

Salt Lake Tribune
- Ivory's ballot status could end up before high court
- Prison move plan again surfaces in governor debate
- Green group brands Huntsman Corp. 'rogue operation'
- Calls oppose certification
- Many Utahns casting votes early to beat rush
- Turnabout is fair play: Matheson attacking Swallow
- Editorial: Peep show
- Editorial: Bennett for Senate

Standard-Examiner
- Box Elder seeks to keep tax incentives
- Wasatch Rambler: Election throws monkey wrench through spokes of common sense
- Editorial: RAMP a smart investment for Weber

KSL
- Editorial: Davis County jail

St. George Spectrum
- U.S. House candidates talk Utah land issues
- Editorial: Register to vote before it's too late

Daily Herald
- Last day of registering to vote sees long lines
- Middle-school students practice democracy by voting in mock election
- Editorial: Initiative 1 good for Utah

Deseret Morning News
- Governor hopefuls present their cases
- GOP rips Matheson for aiding a GOP bill
- Cook looks ahead — and back
- Doug Robinson: Not run? Cook won't hear of it
- Cook says poll confirms he'll win
- Merrill Cook bio
- PAC backing Huntsman
- Health Department wants mayor's ear
- Would-be voters rush to register
- Environmental group denounces Huntsman
- Williams delivers 'healing' speech in Florida
- Marjorie Cortez: Political haranguing is getting tiresome
- Editorial: Why we don't endorse
- Editorial: Vote no on Initiative 1

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- 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