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Washington Watch
Cannon Targeted by PAC
Rep. Chris Cannon faces challenge over immigration issue
from Team America PAC, which plans to work to deny Cannon the GOP
nomination '06 (Los
Angeles Times).
Keep Politics Out, Says Hatch
Sen. Orrin Hatch says political ideology of SCOTUS nominees
shouldn't be used to measure their judicial qualifications (Chicago
Tribune).
Latest Demo Newsletter Available
The Utah Democratic Party has published and e-mailed out a new edition
of its newsletter. It can be read
on-line at the party’s
Web site. Among other items, the newsletter contains a notice
of a job opening for communications coordinator for the House minority
caucus.
Blog Watch
Rep. Steve Urquhart comments
on warning the Tax Reform Task Force received from the Utah
League of Cities and Towns that cities will oppose removing the
sales tax on food if it "costs them one penny"... The Media Center
Blog has
a long post/article about Senate candidate Pete Ashdown's
wiki campaign... Casserole Bar comments
on the condition of Salt Lake's downtown... Gary Thornock
has
a post on Mayor Rocky Anderson's confrontational style...
At Democracy
for Utah, Carrie Ulrich posts fifth step of eight from pamphlet,
"Ways to Become Involved with the Utah Democratic Party"... Randy
Harward at
New West says Sen. Orrin Hatch's Iraq/Vietnam
flub was revealing (see also here)
... Ben Winslow at the KSL Blog comments
on IKEA's plans to open store in Draper... SLCSpin responds
to report
that Rocky Anderson may not seek reelection... Media Law has
a post on Utah's reporter's shield law issue.
Local Government Watch
The Utah Association
of Counties recently named Bill Cox, Rich County Commissioner,
as the overall outstanding county official for 2005 (here's
the full list of those who received awards).
People You Ought to Know
Name: Chuck Chappell
Position: Executive Director, Wasatch Front Regional Council
Education: BS in Civil Engineering (California State University
at Long Beach) MS in Transportation Engineering/Urban Planning (University
of Illinois)
Growing up: First 10 years in the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Kinshasa, with three siblings, and parents who were career
missionaries. Second 10 years in Southern California.
Family: I'm single with two wonderful adult daughters, both
married with careers. One lives in Lewis County, Washington State,
and the youngest is a resident of England (permanently!).
Why political involvement: Working for a non-partisan board
(Council), I am not personally active in partisan politics at this
time. I facilitate the involvement of locally elected officials
in transportation policy and funding issues. I am inspired by the
local elected officials who set parochial interests aside and plan
for the whole region, reaching far beyond their city/county and
electorate.
Hobbies: International and domestic travel (to warmer climates);
house and yard (minor) reconstruction; outdoor exercises like road
biking, hiking, river floats, backpacking, jogging, scuba diving.
Motivations/ambitions: Between now and when I leave WFRC
in a few years, I want to build the credibility of WFRC by providing
unbiased analysis and information about the state of regional transportation
systems to decision makers (elected officials), and then to provide
a clear picture of the future for those systems. In addition, I
want the staff to be conscious of the valuable natural and man-made
resources in this region, and the effect of transportation on all
land uses, so that the transportation projects we plan will protect
and enhance these resources. Therefore, I am committed to the outstanding
staff at WFRC who makes this all possible.
Hottest issue you're watching: Potential long-term sources
for transportation funding to add badly needed capacity on highway
and transit systems.
Proudest moment: Selection as Executive Director of WFRC
after years gaining experience to qualify for the position (without
realizing it!)
Most embarrassing moment: Things I say under stress, such
as, forgetting my new stepmother's name when trying to introduce
her to our church congregation!
Favorite book: "The City Shape", given to me by my daughter
schooled in British historic preservation. The author graphically
illustrates the effect the past has on current city form.
Favorite mentor: My Father, a faithful, solid man of true
virtue and optimism and, my Mother, an affectionate, realistic,
true human being.
A small insight into my psyche: I enjoy being singled out
in Utah because I am confident that I can add another perspective
to public questions, based on my experience in other regions of
the world and country.
Anything else you'd like to share: I came to Utah in 1999
as an outsider and now plan to retire around the red rocks of southern
Utah!
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