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Ric’s Got My Back
Ric Cantrell of the Utah Senate Majority office periodically calls and tries to convince me to go rock-climbing with his Thursday lunchtime rock-climbing group, made up mostly of legislative staffers. So far I’ve been able to find valid excuses, beyond being too old, too fat and worrying that some Democrat will push me off a Big Cottonwood Canyon cliff. But Ric’s invitation is reassuring: “We find it’s a lot better to go on dangerous adventures with good friends. That way we’ll really try to save your life if you get in trouble. On the other hand, if you do happen to die, we can embellish what happened so it sounds really cool to your family and friends.” Ric is always looking for new victims, so if you want to go rock-climbing, call him at the Senate.
Podcast Watch
In her Friday InsideUtah.com podcast, Jennifer Napier-Pearce features interviews with Sen. Orrin Hatch on nuclear waste, Mark Cuban and a 6th term in office; Salt Lake County Council Member Jenny Wilson on using tax dollars to fund campaigns; and analysis on that idea from Salt Lake Chamber President Lane Beattie and citizen watchdog Claire Geddes.
People You Ought to Know
Bill Simmons: Washington Lobbyist
 Bill grew up in Utah and has family in the state. He gets back to Utah frequently for visits and to meet with clients. As a lobbyist, he specializes in appropriations, transportation, tax, energy, environment and natural resources issues. He has excellent relationships on Capitol Hill and with the Bush administration.
Prior to joining Dutko Worldwide in 1999, Bill served as staff director for the House Resources’ Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health under Chairman of the Resources Committee, Don Young (R-AK). Bill also served as a legislative aide to then-Chairman Jim Hansen (R-UT).
Outside of government, Bill has been an Economic Staff member for the National Association of Realtors; a Marketing Associate for Ivory & Company; and as a stockbroker for P.B. Jameson & Company.
Occupation: Managing Principal, Dutko Worldwide (Washington Lobbying Firm)
Education: Bachelor of Arts in International Economics from the University of Utah
Growing up: My parents are both Utah Educators and in my early years we moved around Utah as my father finished his education and worked at different schools until settling in Park City. I was born in Salt Lake City, and lived in Altamont, Salt Lake and Park City. Our family moved to Summit Park when I was five and I lived in the same house until moving to Washington.
Family: My mother and father still live in the same house that I grew-up in Summit Park and my two sisters and one brother all live with their families in Utah. Although I do not live in Utah, I am proud to say that I do live on Utah Street here in the Washington area. I have a wife Holly and two young boys and a one-year old girl.
Why political involvement: I started my political involvement with a Hinckley Institute Internship at the University of Utah. Several friends and I decided to work in Washington before we graduated from College. I interned with Former Congressman
Howard Nielson that summer and I fell in love with politics. I enjoy every aspect of politics and policy.
Hobbies: Watching my kids play Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, and Competitive Diving.
Motivations/ambitions: I am motivated by my family.
Hottest issue you’re watching: Private Fuel Storage
Proudest moment: The birth of my children.
Most embarrassing moment: It happened in high school and as I get older my memory of that moment luckily is fading.
Favorite book: The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Campaign Tip
Importance of Targeting in Primaries
Primary election campaigns are pretty simple. Assuming both candidates are smart and capable, the candidate who targets effectively will win. The other one will lose. Simple. Simple. Simple. A candidate can actually win with fewer than 5% of the entire population voting for him or her.
Do you believe that? Consider the year 2000 when Mike Leavitt faced Glen Davis in the GOP primary. Turnout was about 19% of registered voters. Utah had a population of about 2.23 million people in 2000, and fewer than 200,000 voted in the primary. So fewer than 10% of all Utahns cast ballots. To win, a candidate needed 50% of the vote, plus one. So a candidate needed just over 5% of the total population to win, or around 100,000 votes.
Why is this important? Because undisciplined candidates don’t target effectively. They run radio, TV and newspaper ads that are read, heard or viewed by most of the population, and 95% of their money, resources, time and effort are wasted. Why reach viewers in Evanston and Mesquite when you only need to reach the 5% of Utahns who will vote? Focus, focus, focus like a laser on the 5% who will ensure a win.
The trick, of course, is to identify who those 5% are by name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Clean and accurate data are crucial. However, obtaining that data is not difficult with today’s sophisticated data sources. Then it becomes a matter of how to reach them through the right medium with the right messages. And that is fodder for a future campaign tip.
Democrats Plan Fundraiser
The annual Eleanor Roosevelt Luncheon is scheduled Sept. 27 at the Marriot City Centre, 11:30 a.m. Keynote speaker is Lily Eskelsen, secretary treasurer of the NEA. Robyn Matheson will be honored. Tickets are $50 and a table is $500. Sponsors include the Planned Parenthood Action Council, Envirocare, and Granite Education Association. Space is limited so make reservations early by calling the state party at 328-1212 or email marciesmithwest@gmail.com.
Media Watch
CBS News is experimenting with ways to reach a younger audience (New York Times).
UFIRE Woos State Delegates
Utahns for Immigration Reform and Enforcement (UFIRE) has sent a postcard to all Republican state delegates inviting them to events on Aug. 24 and 25 (see calendar for details) with Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo focused on immigration reform issues. The postcard notes that Utah Rep. Chris Cannon has been invited to debate Tancredo and if he accepts CSPAN will broadcast it. See UFIRE Web site for more information.
Oquirrh Plans D.C. Meetings
The Oquirrh Institute, which was founded by former Gov. Mike Leavitt and has its headquarters in Utah, is planning its Fall Meeting in Washington, D.C., which will feature Washington Post columnist David Broder, former EPA Administrator Christine Whitman, and HHS Secy. Mike Leavitt. Click here to see the Institute’s strategic plan.
Protecting Kids from Tobacco
Sen. Michael Waddoups has been honored by The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for his leadership in protecting young people from tobacco.
Casual Friday
Your On-Line Outdoors Headquarters
For people who like wildlife, fishing, hunting and the outdoors in general, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources provides a veritable cornucopia of information on its Web site. You can read fishing reports, participate in some fun hunting, fishing, and outdoors discussion groups, read proclamations, learn where fish have been stocked, create cool interactive wildlife maps, buy fishing or hunting licenses, participate in a variety of outdoors programs, and a lot more.
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