Utah Senate Race Turns Dark and Ugly

From KSL:

By Tom Callan

Dirt is flying in a razor-tight state senate race as incumbent Chris Buttars defends his turf.

Democratic challenger John Rendell said, "My wife has had to protect some of the allegations that are being made. Chris Buttars has told lobbyists that I'm gay and that I have $100,000 of gay money."

Rendell says his wife Becky is so angry that she has recorded her own calls. In them she says, "The attacks by my husband's opponent are false and shameful. I hope you'll join with me and vote against these outrageous claims."

Rendell says he did receive some money from a gay activist but that is $2,000 out of the $64,000 he has raised.

Thanks to a comment at KSL for the headline idea.

Senator Buttars is Republican, a dark and ugly thing

Salt Lake Tribune:

Mapleton officials say Sen. Chris Buttars repeated his infamous remark about a black baby during a meeting with them this week.
Three city officials - one was Mayor Laurel Brady who has three adopted black children - said Buttars referred at least three times to inflammatory remarks earlier this year, saying of a bill, "this baby is black . . . it's a dark and ugly thing."
The comments, they said, came during a Capitol Hill meeting Wednesday to discuss a Utah County developer's ongoing dispute with the city over a proposed Maple Mountain housing project.
That's not all Buttars said during the meeting, according to the city officials. He also expressed no regret for writing a critical letter to 4th District Judge Derek Pullan who had ruled against the Maple Mountain developer - and Buttars' friend - Wendell Gibby.
That letter prompted Senate leaders to remove Buttars as chairman of the Judicial Confirmation Committee, which makes recommendations on judge appointments.
City Administrator Robert Bradshaw said Buttars appeared to be proud of writing the missive and told the group he would send it "a hundred times over." In addition, he was looking forward to Pullan coming before the Legislature's Judicial Review Committee, said Bradshaw.

Help defeat Senator Buttars. Donate to John Rendell's Campaign, or get involved.