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GOP Delegates Chat – and Argue
Republican state delegates who just can’t stand to wait until Saturday’s convention to begin debating can get started by participating in an on-line discussion group located here. The group is moderated by Mark Towner (e-mail him at: mark_towner@msn.com) and already has about 200 members. A lot of the discussion to this point focuses on party in-fighting, rather than how to defeat the Democrats. That seems to be the norm for a handful of party activists/dissidents who would rather complain about party power brokers than engage in winning back those elusive Salt Lake County voters.
Towner has also put together an on-line delegate poll, inviting delegates to vote for party officers and the proposed resolutions. Results will be announced on Friday. In addition, delegates can participate in a live on-line delegate chat beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday. Anyone can ask questions of other delegates, party leaders and committee members. Those with computers equipped with microphones and speakers can participate via voice, as well.
This House Trio Harmonizes Well
By Hayden Hill
Utah House Speaker Greg Curtis has made significant changes in the House staff organization. If you need to do business with the House majority leadership, it helps to know three key staffers. Chief of Staff Chris Bleak, Public Relations Director Kate Bradshaw and Executive Assistant to the Speaker Jennifer Lambert, are the new faces at the Utah House of Representatives.
Although they’ve only worked together for two months, they’ve put together an operation that runs like clockwork. Serving all 56 Republican members of the House, they manage schedules, track media coverage, tackle press inquiries and make sure everything is running in tip-top order. Bleak works closely with Curtis on strategy and administration; Bradshaw deals with news media activities, research and special projects; and Lambert does scheduling and a variety of support activites.
In addition to handling the everyday responsibilities of keeping the office operating smoothly, the three stay up-to-date on current Utah policy issues – health care, economic development and No Child Left Behind being their favorites.
For an insight into the lives and minds of the trio, here are their profiles:
Chris Bleak – Chief of Staff to Speaker Greg Curtis
Education: University of Utah, BA Political Science, Starting MPA at BYU this fall.
Growing Up: Oldest of 3 boys. Grew up in Salt Lake City and attended West High
Family: Angela, daughter Ella (16 months)
Why Political involvement: My dad took me to my first state convention at age 9. My parents taught me to love politics at a young age and it’s stuck with me ever since.
Hobbies: playing with my daughter, baseball, reading, Jazz music
Motivations/Ambitions: List is too long!
Hottest issue you’re watching: Education – how we are going to prepare our children to compete in the global environment.
Proudest moment: Birth of my daughter
Most embarrassing moment: I make many silly mistakes, but I don’t get embarrassed.
Favorite Book: Jesus the Christ by James Talmage or Baseball America Prospect Handbook
Favorite Mentor: Speaker Greg Curtis or Majority Leader Jeff Alexander
A small insight into my psyche: The way to my heart is baseball or cinnamon bears.
Kate Bradshaw – Majority Public Relations Director
Education: Westminster College, BA History & Honor’s Degree
Growing up: Oldest of 5 kids growing up in Bountiful. Played every sport possible, but finally settled on basketball & volleyball in college.
Family: Michael & Jack the dog
Why political involvement: I credit my political interest to Mr. Briscoe, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Mitchell’s history and government classes at Bountiful High.
Hobbies: Just about anything sport or outdoor related.
Motivations/ambitions: I find it very inspiring to work with people everyday who get involved. The legislators sacrifice many things to do their civic duty. I’m amazed at what people can accomplish if they are willing to throw their hat in the ring. I’d love to join them as a legislator myself some day.
Hottest issue you're watching: NCLB -- State’s rights aren’t just something that belongs to the antebellum period. The ripples from our Special Session have been fascinating to watch in the national media.
Proudest moment: Finishing the Honor’s Program at Westminster
Most embarrassing moment: Why would I want to reveal an embarrassing moment? If no one knows, no one can tease me about it!
Favorite book: Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell
Favorite mentor: Winston Churchill
A small insight into my psyche: I’m very stubborn. I wore green corduroy pants as a kid for a year because they were my very favorite. Thankfully I outgrew the green corduroy phase, but the stubborn streak is still with me.
Jennifer Lambert -- Executive Assistant to Speaker Curtis
Education: University of Utah, B.A. Political Science, B.A. Behavioral Science and Health
Growing up: The eldest of 5 children, I was raised in Magna until I was 6, and then moved to the house my parents still live in, near Cottonwood H.S. We are a family of runners and frequently competed in 5K races.
Family: Husband Ryan. I can’t forget my new fabulous in-laws and the adorable children in my life: my nephew Ben, and my newly-born niece, Mary Grace, who was a miracle.
Why political involvement: Growing up I wanted to be the first woman president of the United States and I never lost my political drive of wanting to make a difference. My internship in D.C. with Senator Orrin Hatch re-awakened my sense and desire of civic duty and engagement. I love the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Flag, and the song, “I’m proud to be an American.”
Hobbies: Rockclimbing, biking, hiking, water skiing, traveling, learning new languages, reading.
Motivations/ambitions: Studying and learning new things; Meeting and getting to know new people; Understanding different cultures.
Hottest issue you're watching: Health care and Economic Development.
Proudest moment: Watching my husband graduate from law school.
Most embarrassing moment: Too many to recall just one.
Favorite book: Caesar and Christ by Will Durant, and Rock Climbing the Wasatch Range by Stuart and Bret Ruckman.
Favorite mentor: My dad. He taught me how to treat people, how to treat myself, what is most important in life, and how to be successful and humble.
A small insight into my psyche: My brain is always active. If I’m not being physically active or mentally productive, I am reading everything and anything before me. I recently returned from Lithuania, where I read every street sign, billboard, pamphlet, and store name.
Vote on Tax Reform
The Utah Foundation has a "Quick Poll" feature on its website (http://www.utahfoundation.org/) where readers can respond to the question, "What should be the highest priority for tax reform in Utah?" Possible responses include:
- Enact a flat income tax (no deductions with low rates);
- Reduce corporate income taxes;
- Reduce corporate sales taxes on inputs to production;
- Create a uniform sales tax rate across the state;
- Remove the sales tax from food;
- Reduce local governments' reliance on sales taxes.
It might be interesting to see the vote results if Utah Policy Daily readers took a second to wander over and cast their vote on this important question facing Utah policy makers.
Legislature Web Site Honored
Kudos to the Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, recent recipients of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ 2005 Online Democracy Award. As developers of the Legislature’s Internet site, the office was honored for best use of the Web by a state legislature, legislative chamber or partisan legislative caucus. Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel Director Mike Christensen and IT Manager Mark Allred accepted the award on behalf of the Legislature.
Washington Watch
Matheson Hosts Medicare Prescription Drug Meetings
Rep. Jim Matheson will host meetings in Heber City and Hurricane to help Utah seniors and their families understand the impending Medicare Prescription Drug Program, says a Matheson press release.
Matheson and representatives from the Social Security Administration, the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-will provide details and answer questions about selecting a plan and how to enroll in the voluntary program.
Hatch Addresses UITA CEOs
Sen. Orrin Hatch addressed an exclusive roundtable discussion of Utah Information Technology Association CEOs on Monday, according to PRNewswire. Hatch said one of the most important areas for pending new legislation is the issue of patent reform. For more information on UITA, click here.
Campaign Doctor
(By Craig Varoga, columnist in Campaigns & Elections magazine. Contact: cvaroga@VRstrategies.com)
Q: Is it OK to use stock photos in our campaign Web site or should we hire our own photographer to get pictures of children and that sort of thing?
A: Beware: Earlier this year, the campaign of New Jersey GOP gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler posted an image on its Web site of the candidate in front of cheering supporters. Problem was, the crowd shot was actually a digitally altered photo of former presidential candidate (and now DNC chair) Howard Dean, in which Schundler had replaced Democrat Dean, and “Dean for America” signs had been altered to read “Schundler Reform Governor.” Schundler claimed no pre-existing knowledge of the alteration, which was quickly removed from the Web site – but not before a rash of embarrassing news coverage. Schundler, incidentally, lost the GOP primary soon afterwards. So be careful with those Web site photos.
Now You Know
Sen. Orrin Hatch was first elected with 54% of the vote and he's never had a close election since. Here are his winning percentages:
2000: 66% vs. Scott Howell
1994: 69% vs. Pat Shea
1988: 67% vs.
Brian Moss
1982: 58% vs. Ted Wilson
1976: 54% vs. Frank Moss
(Source: National Journal’s 2006 "Almanac of American Politics”)
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