2010 in review: a B.F.D. all the way! (what does it mean?)

It's time again for my annual (i think) year in review post, where I look at what mattered (or didn't matter) in Utah Politics 2010.

It was same old,same old for the Utah Legislature, except for the fact that it started and ended with fireworks. The opening fireworks involved the Senate Majority Leader getting arrested for DUI just before the session started (and resigning just afterward). The closing fireworks came in the form of a standing ovation for a Republican Lawmaker who admitted that 25 years ago her hung out in a hot tub with an underage girl, both of them naked. And that he had payed her $150,000 and she wanted more. However, unlike the TSA, no junk touching happened, and that was his story. He resigned after saying he wouldn't resign.

2010 also saw the Utah Republicans and Utah Democrats holding their conventions on the same day at opposite ends of the Salt Palace. As they are prone to do, Republicans blamed the Democrats. Democrats didn't point out that they've held their convention at the south end of the Slat Palace every even-numbered year (and one odd-numbered year) since at least 2004, because facts have a liberal bias, and the Utah Democratic Party doesn't want to be accused of a liberal bias.

The Demopublican (or was it the Republocratic) Convention had it's share of fireworks as well. On the Northwest corner of the building, Bob Bennett was ousted for looking like Montgomery Burns. Not even Mitt Romney could save Bennett. Instead, they delegates sent political bridesmaid Tim Bridgewater and Mike "I'm not crazy" Lee in a primary. On the south side of the building, delegates forced Jim Matheson into admitting he has a D behind his name. Lee and Matheson won their primaries.

Nationally, the Tea Party stormed onto the scene, with quality candidates like the wife of the
head of WWE and someone who had declare that she wasn't really a witch. Meanwhile, Utahns wondered what the big deal about Tea Partiers was. After all, we've been calling them "Utah Republicans" for years.

The LDS Church declared that it's not right to deny housing to someone just because they are homosexual, and did not oppose legislation outlawing such discrimination. Salt Lake City and nine other cities passed that legislation. The Utah Legislature, thinking they know more than the Bretheren, oppose the legislation.

In January, it was confirmed that is politics was college football, The Governor's race debates would be called the Ambien Bowl. However, Peter Corroon came out swinging, and landing, punches on the accidental Governor. Unfortunately, Corroon went from swinging some good jabs to swinging the same uppercut 13,000,000 times. And in the end, what was expected to be a close-for-Utah race was not even the closest statewide race.

The closest statewide race came for US Senate. Businessman Sam Granato rode his platform of small-business tax reform, Mr Mac suits, and calling his opponent crazy to a 29-point defeat.

Well, that's all that I want to remember about 2010. I'm opening the escape hatch and going down the slide into 2011. Have fun!

-Bob

Post-Mortem Part I: The Good, The Bad, and Previewing the Ugly

This is the first of three posts looking at the election. Part one will look at the good and bad of the 2010 election. Part two will look at the ugliest race of the 2010 election. And Part Three will be a preview of what's next. So,on to part one:

The Good

*Sam Granato

Yes, I have Granato on my good list. Why? Well, despite running a "name on the ballot" race formost of the last 18 months, he started actually campaigning at the end. And the result was the Most successful Democratic Senate race since 1992. Maybe it's the power of incumbency, but 1992 was the last time we had a new US Senator, with Bennett winning by 16 points.

*Philpot Phailure

For the fifth straight election, Republicans ran on a Matheson=Pelosi platform. And for the fifth straight time, Matheson was re-elected.

*Sim Gill

A Democrat back in the DA office. Now's the time for Sim to rock.

*Patrice Arent

OK, this is personal, as Arent is my Representative-Elect. However, any candidate who asks for volunteers to help take down yard signs via Facebook is one to respect.

The Bad:

*Losing 20% of our Legislative Democrats

Yes, we only lost 6 seats (5 in the house, 1 in the Senate). However, we only had 30 seats to begin with. A 20% cut hurts. bad.

*Losing control of Salt Lake County Council

I suppose it was inevitable, with the Pubic Safety Tax Fee and everything.

The Ugly:

Well, it needs it's own post. I'll post that a little later. It's a post on a race hat's missing from this list. And it uses boxing metaphors. It's good stuff, except it's going to piss a few people off.

Election News: Jack Morman Wins!

No, I didn't misspell that. Check it out, from The Pasadena (TX) Citizen:

Jack Morman did what few have tried and those who did failed: unseat Sylvia Garcia.

Morman, a Republican who calls Deer Park home, defeated the two-time Harris County Precinct 2 commissioner in a battle where nearly every vote counted.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Morman had 66,057 votes (50.89 percent) to Garcia’s 63,747 (49.11 percent). Where Morman won was in early and absentee voting, where he got 40,095 of 72,611 ballots cast, more than 55.2 percent.

On his Facebook page, Morman said, “I'd like to thank everybody for all their hard work and support over the past year. Tonight is a credit to all of my family, friends and supporters who made this possible. Now it is time to get to work for the people of Precinct 2!”

Meanwhile, Garcia conceded victory to Morman.

He's got to be the winner of the best name ever. I'm thinking that we need to have a candidate legally change their name to Ingrid M. Mormon and be listed on the ballot simply as I. M. Mormon. We'll win for sure.

-Bob

Beau Babka Campaign Breaking the Law

I go to vote this morning, and what do I see parked in front of my polling place?

Tacky? Yes.

Illegal? Yes.

From the Salt Lake County Poll Worker Manual, page 48:

Campaigning or other activities that interfere with voting or influence voters is prohibited. Ask the offenders politely to stop or refrain from their activities. If the activity does not cease, call the Elections Division. Any threatening or dangerous behavior should be immediately reported to local law enforcement first, then to the Elections Division. Electioneering includes oral or written attempts to persuade voters to refrain from voting or to vote for or against a candidate or issue. No electioneering or campaigning is allowed within 150 feet of the polling place.

And that truck is definitely less than 150 feet from the polling place(the building right behind the truck).

To be fair, the truck was removed by the time we left our polling place.

Special Interests, or Why Philpot = Vouchers

Much has been made about how much of Jim Matheson's campaign funding has come from PACs.

However, Morgan Philpot's campaign has gotten help from PACs. But, they did it in a way that is nearly impossible to track just how much PAC help they are getting.

First, there was the ad run by "B Alice Baker" who usually goes by Barbra Baker. She spent $50,000 of her own money to run the radio ads.

She says that "Both parties have been at fault with ignoring how to maintain freedom, and getting bigger and taxing more and spending more." However, the only talking point she has in her ad is that Jim Matheson votes with the Democratic Leadership 90% of the time. In other words, according to her radio ad, she's voting for Morgan Philpot because he's a Republican.

Which kinda makes her statement to KSL seem fishy.

So, who is Barbra Alice Baker? She's the owner of Challenger Schools, and was a big proponent of vouchers. Remember vouchers? That initiative that Utah voters defeated by more than a 3 to 2 margin. In fact, it was defeated in every single county.

However, the biggest special interest running Philpot's campaign for him is FreedomWorks. FreedomWorks is a big backer of....

Vouchers.

Another big proponent of vouchers is FreedomWorks. FreedomWorks is behind those often illegally-placed Matheson=Pelosi signs you see around town, and most of the Philpot signs you see as well.

What is Morgan Philpot's position on vouchers? Well, the guy who invented the Utah Republicans' Web Communications Committee can't seem to give any communication on his web site about his view on education. Which can only lead us to assume one thing:

Philpot = Vouchers.

-Bob

VIDEO: Peter Corroon on Education

Read Peter Corroon's plan for Education.

Or, you can read Herbert's "Plan."

The choice is clear who has a better plan. Corroon tells you what he'll do. Herbert says he'll do something.

My vote goes to Peter Corroon.

Did Morgan Philpot Violate Federal Election Law?

No, I'm not talking about the radio ad, even though that set off some BS detectors at my house.

No, I'm talking billboards.

Press Release from Utah Democratic Party (h/t Amicus)

Salt Lake City, UT—Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland said today he is asking election attorneys to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regarding questions about a discrepancy on 2nd Congressional District candidate Morgan Philpot’s campaign filing regarding billboard rentals.

Holland said that Philpot’s FEC report shows a payment of $2,854 on October 1 for billboard rentals. Based on what other campaigns are paying for billboards and the number of signs Philpot has displayed, Holland says the campaign disclosure is off by a significant amount.

“Federal campaign law is clear. In-kind donations from companies are not allowed. Mr. Philpot is on leave from his job with an outdoor advertising company. He must pay the going rate and whether he has done so is the focus of our complaint,” said Holland.

Holland said the Philpot campaign has several freeway “bulletin” signs, which rent for roughly $1,000 a month each, plus at least nine “30 sheets” around the 2nd Congressional District. Similar billboard rentals by Utah Democratic candidates in state and local races have totaled between $28,000 and $30,000.

Holland said the complaint will be filed with the FEC, triggering a formal investigation by that agency.

“As someone seeking to hold the public trust of elected office, Philpot needs to be held accountable to the law,” said Holland.

My Election Predictions 2010

Any idiot can make election predictions on election night and be wrong. A real idiot does it a week earlier.

So, with polls closing in 168 hours, here are some election predictions:

Republicans take the House, but by a narrow margin. Say, 225 GOP members.

Likewise, the Democrats keep the Senate, but only as long as Joe Lieberman can be kept handy, as he is the GOP's 50th member.

Here in Utah, Gary Herbert takes 55% of the vote. That's close for Utah.

Sam Granato loses by less than 20.

Incumbent parties win all of the Legislative races.

Salt Lake County Council remains 5-4 Dems.

BREAKING: Corroon Raises More Than Herbert

In the latest campaign finance reports filed today,covering the time from August 27 through October 21, Peter Corroon raised more money than Gary Herbert.

That's right. Corroon raised $765,556.03 compared to Herbert's $748337.30.

Moreover, Corroon reported 2440 individual contributions compared to 425 for Herbert.

That means Corroon's average contribution was $313.75 while Herbert's were $1760.79.

Don't let Gary Herbert's big money donors take this election from you! Vote Peter Corroon for Utah Governor.

-Bob

Sheryl Allen on Education

Utah Representative Sheryl Allen (R-Bountiful) is the current Democratic nominee for Lt Governor. She is a lifelong educator. Here she is talking about education:

Gary Herbert Hates Panguitch, Bryce Country, Tourism

Utah is a Pretty, Amazing State. One of my favorite places in the state is Bryce Canyon National Park. Not only is it beautiful, but the air both there and in surrounding communities is clean and wonderful.

And, that is why I am troubled by the decision to build a strip coal mine (Utah's First) just 10 miles from the park.

And, Acting Governor Herbert greased the wheels for it to happen.

300-400 large coal trucks per day will travel
this road thanks to Gary Herbert
(Photo credit: Tricia Simpson)

Yes, up to 150 jobs will be created. But, how many jobs will be lost in the tourism industry as people stop coming? After all, the strip mine comes with 3-400 truck trips per day. And those truck trips come with noise pollution and increased air pollution from their emissions. Not to mention the emissions and dust from the strip mining operations to begin with.

Not only will the state and county and city all lose tax revenues from the loss of tourism dollars, but there will be increased costs to all for repairs that will need to be made to US89 in the area.

After all, heavy trucks cause more damage to roadways than smaller cars and trucks.

There was an excellent Opinion piece published over the weekend by the Tribune regarding this issue. It was written by Bobbi Bryant, a business owner in Panguitch.

An excellent read is a column by the Tribune's Peg McEntee back in June.

Just another in a series of reckless decisions by Gary Herbert in his 14 months in a leadership position.

Peter Corroon on the issues: Natural Gas

Some benefits of Clean Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles vs those that burn gasoline, via the US Department of Energy:

• Reduces carbon monoxide emissions 90%-97%
• Reduces carbon dioxide emissions 25%
• Reduces nitrogen oxide emissions 35%-60%
• Potentially reduces non-methane hydrocarbon emissions 50%-75%
• Emits fewer toxic and carcinogenic pollutants
• Emits little or no particulate matter
• Eliminates evaporative emissions

Also, from the DoE, some CNG vs Diesel info:

In a study of CNG and diesel United Parcel Service (UPS) delivery trucks, CNG trucks produced 75% lower carbon monoxide emissions, 49% lower nitrogen oxides emissions, and 95% lower particulate matter emissions than diesel trucks of similar age.

CNG is awesome. That is why I'm glad that Peter Corroon has included CNG into his Energy Plan:

• Positioning Utah on the cutting edge of new automobile technologies by pushing for further expansion of the availability of CN G-fueled vehicles in Utah.
• Protecting Utahns operating under Utah’s new CNG conversion law from federal EPA interference.
• Converting more of the state passenger fleet to CNG vehicles, reducing particulate and greenhouse gas emissions by 95 percent and significantly lowering the fuel costs borne by the taxpayers.
• Aggressively pursuing incentives to continue expanding CNG fueling stations and infrastructure, while including the support of a temporary state-tax moratorium on all CNG fuel purchases.
• Encouraging development of more efficient natural gas combined cycle power plants. 

• Providing incentives through utility rebates to encourage the sale of higher-efficiency furnaces.

Reducing emissions make the air we breathe cleaner, and therefore making Utahns healthier.

Also, increasing demand in Natural Gas will create more production jobs. That will have a significant impact in places like Uintah County, Utah's largest Natural Gas producer, where unemployment nearly tripled in 2009 compared to 2008.

Improving the lives of Utahns both financially and physically sounds pretty good to me. That is why I'm excited to vote for Peter Corroon for Utah's Governor.

-Bob

New Corroon Ad: It's Like They Read My Mind

I've been ranting and raving to people for weeks about how this ad needed to be made. 90% of what I said is in this ad.

Mitt Romney, Peter Corroon, and Utah's lack of civic participation

At Last Night's Town Hall debate, KSL's Bruce Lindsay pointed out in a question that Utah ranks 48th out of the 50 states in voter turnout (based on percent of citizens over 18 who turn out to vote). Acting Governor Herbert said that the solution to the problem was ethics reform. I missed Mayor Corroon's answer.

However, I think that Mitt Romney hit the nail on the head. From a post on this blog in 2007:

"I just came back from living in a state that was overwhelmingly Republican," Romney told the [Commonwealth] magazine [in July 2002]. "And a single-party system generates problems, in my view. In that state, the more extreme wing of the dominant party begins to have more and more political sway, and that de-energizes the great mainstream of citizens. They get turned off by politics and offended by the politicians and become less engaged in the political process."

Of course, in 2002, Romney was running to be the Republican Governor of an overwhelmingly Democratic state.

Hmmm, sounds familiar.

-Bob

Alton Coal and Gary Herbert

In last night's town hall debate, Acting Governor Gary Herbert said that Mayor Peter Corroon's claims that Herbert got a donation from Alton Coal the same day that officials from Alton Coal met with him and got their permit fast-tracked were false.

Well, it appears, according to the AP (via FOX13) that there is some truth to the matter:

Utah gov. given $10K by coal co. seeking permit
By PAUL FOYAssociated Press Writer
5:25 PM MST, February 3, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - On the same day Gov. Gary Herbert sat down with a coal company that complained regulators were taking too long to issue a strip-mining permit, his campaign aides were cashing a $10,000 check from the company. The donation from Alton Coal Development LLC was revealed in a Jan. 11 filing by Herbert's political-action committee.

Alton's pleas did not go unanswered. At the September meeting, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press, state regulators agreed to fast-track a decision for Alton to operate the mine near Panguitch, despite opposition from residents.

Herbert's office said Wednesday he never ordered regulators to give their approval and didn't know about the company's donation.

A Panguitch shop owner characterized the payment as a blatant effort by the coal developer to influence a decision by the Herbert administration.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out," said Bobbi Bryant, owner of the gift and coffee shop Bronco Bobbi's, who said she was opposed to the strip mine because the operation would send coal trucks as often as 300 times a day through the small tourist town about 200 miles south of Salt Lake City.

"There's a lot more people down here against it than officials want you to know," she said.

A Utah regulator who was in the meeting with Alton and Herbert has said the governor never instructed him to make any particular decision and instead inquired, 'When do you think you will get it out?'

John Baza, director of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, said he then decided to hurry things up.

Regulators from the division showed up in Panguitch days later "saying they felt pressure to get some reports or inspections done for the approval," according to Bryant.

Environmental groups are seeking to block the mining, saying the strip mine would raise dust and foul air quality 10 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, which is known for its magnificent views, pristine air and sparkling night skies. Bryce Canyon's superintendent also has objected.

The decision by regulators is under review by a state board.

"This mine will damage the pristine air and water quality and wildlife of the area, increase dangerous truck traffic and have negative impacts on tourism and the visitor experience at Bryce Canyon National Park," said Clair Jones of the Utah Sierra Club.

A 33-page agency memo said the result of Alton's meeting with the Republican governor was to fast-track a decision by regulators. The memo was written by Priscilla Burton, a chief environmental scientist for the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, who noted regulators had a full year to make a decision.

"However, the applicant had an audience with the Governor on Sept. 17, 2009, with the result that the permitting process will end on October 15, 2009," Burton wrote. The mining approval was issued four days later.

While campaign records indicate Alton made its $10,00 donation on the same day it met with Herbert, the check actually arrived four days earlier and was deposited in a bank on the day of the meeting, Herbert spokeswoman Angie Welling clarified Wednesday.

Welling reiterated that Herbert "did not direct" anyone in the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to "take any particular action with regard to Alton Coal Development's project." Nor was Herbert aware of the donation, and he did not accept the check at the meeting, Welling said.

Herbert "is a longtime supporter of energy development in the state of Utah, particularly coal development and clean coal technology," Welling told the AP in one of a series of e-mails Wednesday. "As such, it should not be surprising that a company such as Alton Coal would choose to support Governor Herbert."

Welling also sought to clarify that neither Herbert nor anybody in the governor's office was aware of a check Alton sent to a campaign office across town.

"Fundraising is entirely a function of the campaign. Those of us who staff and schedule meetings are unaware of who is contributing or how much they've contributed," she said.

James J. Wayland of Naples, Fla., a 50-percent owner of Alton Coal Development LLC, didn't immediately return a phone message Wednesday.

Methinks the Acting Governor doth protest too much......

Back to the Future, 1990 Edition

Salt Lake County Ballot, circa 1990

Let's jump in the time machine and go back a few years. 1990 to be exact.

BYU was getting ready to debut their new 7'5" Freshman center Shawn Bradley. The Utah Jazz opened their first full season under Jerry Sloan against Jeff Hornacek's Phoenix Suns in Tokyo Japan. The Jazz were also celebrating their last season playing in the Salt Palace before moving into what was then called "Larry Miller's new arena" in newspaper articles.

In politics, there was an unpopular President facing midterm elections. In the final week before the election, Vice President Dan Quayle and First Lady Barbra Bush came to Utah on back to back days to campaign for Republican Congressional candidates. Democrats Wayne Owens and Bill Orton won those two seats. Randy Horiuchi won his first election to the Salt Lake County Commission. Gary Herbert won his first election to the Utah County Commission (he had been appointed to the job the year before).

And that leads us to the article found on page B2 of the Salt Lake Tribune on Thursday, November 1, 1990, written by Dan Harrie:

Utah Democrats don't like playing second fiddle to Republicans on election ballots in Salt Lake County, party officials said Wednesday, and they'll fight for a share of the top spot in court.

But, not this year.

Peter Billings, state Democratic Party chairman, called a news conference to denounce County Clerk Dixon Hundley's practice of listing GOP candidates first on the ballot in all races.

"Mr Hindley's systematic and widespread exclusionary practice of denying any candidate not affiliated with the Republican Party the top spot on the ballot is clearly a violation of the equal protection clause" of the the Constitution, Mr Billings charged.

Democrats cited appeals court rulings in two other states rejecting such preferential treatment as unconstitutional.

Mr Billings said it's too late to do anything about the Nov 6 election ballots, which already have been printed. But, "we're putting them on notice if they do that again next time, we are going to bring suit."

Copies of Salt Lake County ballots dating back to 1982 show Republicans always have been given top billing.

Mr Hindley was not available for comment Wednesday.

Mr Billings says Mr Hindley has been one of the biggest abusers of placing candidates of his own party first. The practice, however, appears to be a long and widespread tradition in Utah.

Tooele County Attorney Dennis Ewing said in a telephone interview, "In Tooele County, we list Democrats first."

Mr Ewing, a Democrat, said that practice has been in effect throughout his 17 years in office and "probably before my time," because of Democratic dominance in that county.

Mr Billings said Democratic county clerks should be held to the same standard he's demanding for Mr Hindley. And he promised the party will "work to cure any misuses in other counties."

In the Illinois and North Dakota cases cited as legal precedents, courts relied on studies saying top ballot placement translated to 3 percent to 5 percent more votes.

What the article did not say is that the state Democratic Party's director of administration was Sherrie Swensen, who also happened to be the party's candidate for the position of county clerk.

So, let's move ahead 20 years to 2010. Shawn Bradley had a very successful Freshman year at BYU, left on an LDS mission, then had a great NBA career. He's now running for Utah House of Representatives. Jeff Hornacek now has a jersey hanging next to one for Larry Miller in the rafters of what is now known as EnergySolutions Arena.

Randy Horiuchi is still on what is now the Salt Lake County Council.

And, ballots in Salt Lake County still have one party at the top of every race.

The difference is that Sherrie Swensen won that election in 1990. Which means Democrats have been at the top of the ballot ever since.

Ms Swensen doesn't see a problem with this. However, her Republican challenger, Jeremy Votaw, does.

And, so do I. If it was wrong when a Republican was in charge, then it's still wrong when a Democrat is in charge.

Now, my methods of changing this rule are different than Mr Votaw's. However, Mr Votaw's position on this is solid -- he wants to make elections more fair for everyone. And elections should be fair, shouldn't they?

That is why I am proud to endorse Jeremy Votaw for Salt Lake County Clerk.

-Bob

By Their Fruits you shall know them......

Acting Governor Gary Herbert used the line "by their fruits you shall know them" twice during tonight's debate.

Well, it reminded me of this little video I saw earlier today over on JMBell's blog:



That is the problem, Mr Governor. We know you by your fruits.

I also enjoyed his "The cigarette tax wasn't mine" even though his signature is on the bill. And his lecturing Corroon about having to work with the Legislative Branch, despite Corroon having five times the Executive experience.

Corroon's Business Plan "For All Businesses, Not Just The Well-Connected"

I recently came across this video that was posted back in June. It features the Sargetakis Family which owns Silver State Textile, and their endorsement of Mayor Peter Corroon's plan for businesses.

Given the recent examples of well-connected businesses getting all the advantages, I think this video is timely:



And, read Corroon's Plan for Businesses here.

I Wish I Lived In Republicanland

Republicanland must be a great place to live. I want to visit some day.

You see, in Republicanland, saying you opponent is trying to take away Seminary from the religious majority by adding 2 more required high school classes (in a 4-year span) is having a good, clean, issue-based discussion. Yet pointing out that there might be something wrong in accepting cash from and meeting privately with people who are seeking government contracts is wrong is hitting "below the belt."

In Republicanland, having the CEO say he doesn't know what's going on in his company means he can get a huge bonus on his way out the door. If the CEO is a Republican Governor, he's a great leader who deserves to keep his job. Who needs to know who's really running the state? In Republicanland, it doesn't matter.

In Republicanland, when you are running up large deficits, it's OK to sue and get sued by the feds. It's also a great time to give tax breaks to rich people. It's also a great idea to give tax breaks to rich people in times of plenty, too. Even if that puts you in deficits. Any other reason (except for war) for going into deficit spending is a bad idea. Even if it puts people to work or helps them buy food.

In Repulicanland, saying your Democratic incumbent opponent is nothing but an empty seat is great campaigning. When it's pointed out that you got the facts wrong, it means that your opponent is slinging mud. (see here)

In Republicanland, a group that endorses both candidates obviously meant it to be the Republican candidate.

In Republicanland, you didn't raise taxes if the only taxes you raised was on cigarettes.

In Republicanland, other politicians are good people to have vouch for your integrity.

In Republicanland, parents should have the option of sending their kids to private school. Unless said parent ever wants to run as a Democrat. Because the only way to know that public schools are failing/succeeding (because in Republicanland, public schools are doing both of them, at the same time) is if your kids are in public schools. But you can know what's best for higher education if you never finished college, and went to a private college at that.

In Republicanland, you can love the constitution, even if you want to add two amendments and repeal three others.

In Republicanland, saying you trust the Utah Legislature more than Utah voters is a great way to get elected.

Republicanland is a big place. It encompasses cities such as Herbertville, Philpot Pharms, and Leeton. Am I missing any more wonderful parts of Republicanland?

-Bob

Ethics Watermelons and Cantaloupes

I was going to use apples and oranges in this post, but they aren't similar enough. Watermelon and Cantaloupe are both melons, but they are still different.

And Holly on the Hill's assertion that Mayor Peter Corroon's one large donation from a company with a County contract is the same as Governor Gary Herbert's three large donations from companies seeking state contracts is as absurd as trying to say that Watermelons and Cantaloupes are the same. Let's review the facts in the case:

On three different occasions, donors who had contributed $50,000 or more got private, sit-down meetings in the Governor's Office with the Governor. In all three of these cases, said donors were seeking to do business with the state, and all three got their wishes. In one of those cases, the bid process was skewed by UDOT to favor the donor, which resulted in a potential lawsuit from a losing bidder. The lawsuit was avoided by the state settling on paying the company $13 Million.

Now, let's goto the accusation from Holly:

Corroon is vocal in his support for ethics UEG style, yet he abuses his office as county mayor, says the governor’s mansion is for sale and that contributions of $50,000 should raise red flags, he himself is – wait for it – taking contributions of $50K from a company doing business with the county.

Kem Gardner’s company – Gateway Associates – developed & owns the Gateway as well as residential, commercial and retail in Salt Lake County. Salt Lake County owns property at the gateway including Clark Planetarium. The county pays Gateway Associates, Kern Gardner pays Corroon’s campaign. Nice.

Well,let's look at some of the facts in the Kem Gardiner case:

Clark Planetarium was opened in April 2003, a full 19 months BEFORE Corroon was elected as Mayor. And, of course, the government contract was signed well before then.

So, you have one case of ONE large-money donor with a County Government contract which was signed more than six years before Peter Corroon probably conceived of even running for Governor versus THREE large-money donors that have gotten government deals in the 13 months Gary Herbert has been Governor.

Hmmm.... I think I'll take the one old deal vs the three brand-new deals, thank you very much.