UNOFFICIAL election results as of 11/9/18
Box elder county still has 756 provisional ballots to count
Utah county still has 72,000 ballots not counted
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U.S. Senate
Tim Aalders (Const) 2.69% - 23,543 Craig Bowden (Lib) 2.39% - 20,933 Reed McCandles (IAP) 1.12% - 9,806 Jenny Wilson (Dem) 31.15% - 272,885 *Mitt Romney (Rep) 62.65% - 548,780 U.S. House of Representatives Congressional District 1 Lee Castillo (Dem) 24.36% - 58,025 *Rob Bishop (Rep) 62.25% - 148296 Eric Eliason (UU) 11.61% - 27,664 Adam Davis (Green) 1.78% - 4,247 Utah State Senate District 17 *Scott Sandall (Rep) 78.07% - 26,728 Michael Keil (Dem) 21.93% - 7,510 Utah State House of Representatives District 1 * Joel Ferry (Rep) 73.38% - 8,083 Joshua Hardy (Dem) 17.13% - 1,887 Sherry Phipps (Const) 9.50% - 1,046 Utah State House of Representatives District 29 Kerry Wayne (Dem) 20.29% - 2,892 * Lee Perry (Rep) 79.71% - 11,359 State School Board * Jennie Earl 60.42% - 29,735 Terryl Warner 39.58% - 19,475 Box Elder County Commission Seat B *Jeff Scott (Rep) 81.89% - 14,345 Seth Durfee (Dem) 18.11% - 3,173 Box Elder School Board District 7 *Karen Cronin 58.24% - 1,584 Scott Butler 41.76% - 1,136 Judicial Retention Constandinos Himonas - Yes 573,276 to 155,709 Mary Kate Toomey - Yes 588,125 to 139,253 Angela Fonnesbeck - Yes 39,036 to 5,861 Kevin Allen - Yes 38,363 to 6,643 Brandon Maynard - Yes 37,140 to 6,859 |
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Constitutional Amendments Amendment A (Military property tax exemption) Box Elder County: For 75.26% {13,247} Against 24.74% {4,354} Statewide: For 78.64% {657,619} Against 21.36% {178,667} Amendment Passes Amendment B (Property tax exemption for gov.-leased property) Box Elder County: For 28.46% {4,997} Against 71.54% {12,565} Statewide: For 27.66% {231,513} Against 72.34% {605,435} Amendment Fails Amendment C (Legislative powers) Box Elder County: For 63.00% {10,982} Against 37.00% {6,448} Statewide: For 63.25% {525,099} Against 36.75% {305,123} Amendment Passes Ballot Measures Question 1 (Gas tax for education) Box Elder County: For 10.46% {1,643} Against 89.54% {14,076} Statewide: For 34.03% {295,379} Against 65.97% {572,709} Question Fails Proposition 2 (Medical marijuana) Box Elder County: For 40.76% {7,410} Against 59.24% {10,772} Statewide: For 52.75% {426,673} Against 47.25% {414,382} Proposition Passes Proposition 3 (Medicaid expansion) Box Elder County: For 43.51% {7,814} Against 56.49% {10,146} Statewide: For 53.63% {461,338} Against 46.37% {398,903} Proposition Passes Proposition 4 (Redistricting commission) Box Elder County: For 40.19% {7,111} Against 59.81% {10,584} Statewide: For 50.27% {423,469} Against 49.73% {418,850} Too Close To Call |
Packed ballot, controversial measures drive voter turnout
November 14, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
There were few surprises offered by Box Elder County voters last Tuesday, as local Republican candidates swept the polls, defeating their opponents by extremely large margins.
The biggest surprise came in the form of voter turnout, which at last count on Friday was calculated at 73.61 percent, almost twice the participation rate for the 2014 midterm election of 39.71 percent. The high voter turnout numbers were achieved even with 756 provisional ballots left to be counted, which, according to County Clerk Marla Young, should be tallied by Friday, Nov. 16.
The margin of uncounted ballots will have no effect on Box Elder County races since all of the races had margins well beyond that number.
Utah House District 1
Former Box Elder County Republican Party Chairman Joel Ferry easily defeated opponents for Scott Sandal’s seat in the Utah House of Representatives, capturing 73.37 percent of the vote with 8,083.
Democrat Josh Hardy received 17.13 percent with 1,887, and Constitution Party candidate Sherry Phipps took 9.5 percent of the vote with 1,046.
“I am deeply humbled by the trust you have placed in me,” wrote Ferry in a statement. “I am very thankful to my family, friends and community members who supported me. I look forward to representing Northern Utah values.”
Utah House District 29
Representative Lee Perry also won by a landslide, taking 79.71 percent of the vote (11,359) to Democrat Kerry Wayne’s 20.29 percent (2,892).
“Thank you to everyone who supported me and have given me the privilege to return to the Utah House of Representatives in District 29,” wrote Perry on his social media page.
Perry, a Lieutenant with the Utah Highway Patrol, has won the District 29 seat five times now, first taking office in January of 2011.
Utah Senate District 17
Former House District 1 Representative Scott Sandall easily defeated Democrat Michael Keil for the senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Peter Knudson, taking 78.07 percent of the vote (26,728) to Keil’s 21.93 percent (7,510).
Sandall’s wife, Christie, thanked those who had worked to support her husband.
“Thank you to all our family, who put their heart and soul into this campaign!” wrote Sandal on her husband’s social media page. “Thank you to friends and associates who have worked hard in supporting Scott, we appreciate your confidence and friendship!”
Box Elder County Commission,
Seat B
Two-term Republican Commissioner Jeff Scott also cruised to an easy victory on election night, beating Democrat Seth Durfee by over 63 percentage points. Scott received 81.89 percent of the vote (14,345) to Durfee’s 18.11 percent (3,173).
Uncontested races
Republicans all, several local candidates ran uncontested for their current positions; Box Elder County Sheriff Kevin Potter, Commissioner Jeff Hadfield, County Clerk Marla Young, County Auditor Tom Kotter, and County Attorney Steve Hadfield all won re-election.
Local School Board
In the only local school board race that had more than one candidate, former Perry Mayor and current school board member Karen Cronin defeated opponent Scott Butler 58.24 percent (1,584) to 41.76 percent (1,136) in District 7.
District 3 board member Wade Hyde, and District 4 member Julie Taylor both ran unopposed and were re-elected.
Utah State School Board
In what may be considered a minor upset, Jennie Earl defeated sitting state school board member Terryl Warner, taking 60.42 percent of the vote (29,735) to Warner’s 39.58 percent (19,475).
U.S. House of Representatives
District 1
In a race that many thought might be closer than it was, Republican Congressman Rob Bishop easily won a ninth term to the U.S. House.
In a four-way race, Bishop took 62.25 percent of the vote (148,296). Democrat Lee Castillo took 24.36 percent (58,025), and Logan businessman Eric Eliason of the United Utah Party took 11.61 percent (27,664). Green Party candidate Adam Davis received 1.78 percent of the vote, with 4,247.
The Bishop campaign released a statement following his victory.
“Thank you to the voters of the first congressional district for your support,” it read. “Rob is so humbled by and grateful for your continued trust. For the next two years Rob will continue to fight for those issues that are most important to northern Utahns.”
Bishop previously said this would be his last in Congress, since his chairmanship of the House Natural Resources Committee was term-limited. With the Democrats taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm, Bishop will lose control of the chairmanship.
A story in the Salt Lake Tribune quoted Bishop as saying, ““I was somewhat naive as to what I was going to anticipate after losing the majority after the ’06 election,” Bishop, who first took office in 2003, says. “I was shocked, and I was negatively surprised. So I’m not going in with a whole lot of anticipation of something being very positive [but still with] hope that I can be positively surprised this time.”
U.S. Senate
In what was perhaps the least surprising race in the state, Republican Senate candidate Mitt Romney took 62.65 percent of the vote (548,780), easily winning the seat being vacated by the retiring Orrin Hatch.
Among Romney’s challengers, Democrat Jenny Wilson took 31.15 percent of the vote (272,885), Constitution Party candidate Tim Aalders received 2.69 percent (23,543), Libertarian Craig Bowden received 2.39 percent (20,933), and Independent American candidate Reed McCandles received 1.12 percent (9,806).
In his victory speech, Romney congratulated opponent Jenny Wilson for running a “strong and positive” campaign.
“I admire her a good deal. Ann and I wish her and her family a future of success and service,” said Romney, who promised to represent the state with “Utah values.”
“I will be one of 100 United States Senators. But I believe that one person, doing the right thing at the right time, can have a lasting impact,” he continued. “I will work with good men and women in both parties to serve the cause of America’s enduring greatness. And I will endeavor to conduct myself in a manner that is consistent with Utah values and with our national character.”
Judicial Retention
All sitting judges appearing on Box Elder County ballots were retained by large margins.
Utah Supreme Court Justice Constandinos Himonas was retained by a vote of 573,276 to 155,709. Utah Court of Appeals Judge Mary Kate Toomey was retained by a vote of 588,125 to 139,253.
First District Juvenile Court Judge Angela Fonnesbeck was retained by a vote of 39,036 to 5,861. First District Court Judge Brandon Maynard was retained by a vote of 37,140 to 6,859. Judge Kevin Allen of the First District Court was also retained by a vote of 38,363 to 6,643.
Constitutional Amendment A
An amendment to the Utah Constitution that gives personal property tax exemptions to military personnel deployed away from their homes easily passed.
In Box Elder County the vote was 75.26 percent (13,247) for the amendment, and 24.74 percent (4,354) against.
Statewide the vote was 78.64 percent for (657,619), and 21.36 percent (178,667) against.
Constitutional Amendment B
Another constitutional amendment where the county vote tracked very closely with the statewide vote was Amendment B, which would have given property tax exemptions to landowners who lease their property to government entities.
Box Elder County voters rejected the amendment by 71.54 percent (12,565) to 28.46 percent (4,997).
Voters in the entire state agreed with the county, rejecting the measure 72.34 percent (605,435) to 27.66 percent (251,513).
Constitutional Amendment C
Both Box Elder and voters statewide agreed that the legislature should have the power to call itself into special session, an idea strongly opposed by Utah Governor Gary Herbert.
County voters approved of the idea 63 percent (10,982) to 36.75 percent (1,643) opposed. Statewide the numbers were nearly identical, with 63.25 percent (525,099) supporting the amendment, and 36.75 percent (305,123) opposing it.
Question 1
A controversial proposal to raise the gasoline tax in Utah and use that money to free up other state monies to benefit the state’s schools was soundly defeated within the county, and also defeated, but by narrower margins, by state voters.
Box Elder County voters strongly opposed the idea, 89.54 percent (14,076) to 10.46 percent (1,643).
Statewide voters were less hostile to the idea, defeating it 65.97 percent (572,709) to 34.03 percent (295,379).
Proposition 2
A proposal setting up the development of a medical marijuana program in Utah narrowly passed, but opponents of the initiative in the Legislature have crafted a replacement bill that may send the original law passed by voters to the trash bin.
The compromise bill is expected to be voted on by the Legislature in a special December session called for by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and agreed to by Governor Gary Herbert. The replacement bill in its current form sets up a central state pharmacy and distribution system, something that patient groups contend would be too costly, and could face possible shut-downs by federal authorities, something which many patient groups believe is the point of the replacement bill.
In Utah, the Legislature has the power to amend or repeal initiatives passed by the citizenry.
Box Elder County voters opposed the initiative 59.24 percent (10,772) to 40.76 percent (7,410), while statewide voters favored it 52.75 percent (426,673) to 47.25 percent (414,382).
Proposition 3
A citizen proposition to expand the state’s Medicaid program to all Utah adults with incomes equal to or less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level was also narrowly passed, with Box Elder County voters at odds with the statewide result.
County voters opposed the initiative 56.63 percent (10,146) to 43.51 percent, while statewide voters approved it 53.63 percent (461,338) to 46.37 percent (398.903).
Proposition 4
The final citizen proposition on the ballot this year remains too close to call, with Utah County and it’s 72,000 uncounted votes (as of Friday) set to be the difference between passage or failure.
Proposition 4 would set up a committee to draw political districts in the state, taking that power away from the Legislature, which has been accused of gerrymandering districts in support of Republican candidates.
All four of Utah’s congressional districts intersect Salt Lake County, and combine them with large rural populations.
The most recent counts for Prop 4 has it failing in Box Elder County, 59.81 percent (10,584) to 40.19 percent (7,111).
Statewide totals currently have the proposition passing 50.27 percent (423,469) to 49.73 percent (418,850).
Final vote totals from across the state are expected to be reported by Friday, which will let us know if Prop 4 passes or fails.
There were few surprises offered by Box Elder County voters last Tuesday, as local Republican candidates swept the polls, defeating their opponents by extremely large margins.
The biggest surprise came in the form of voter turnout, which at last count on Friday was calculated at 73.61 percent, almost twice the participation rate for the 2014 midterm election of 39.71 percent. The high voter turnout numbers were achieved even with 756 provisional ballots left to be counted, which, according to County Clerk Marla Young, should be tallied by Friday, Nov. 16.
The margin of uncounted ballots will have no effect on Box Elder County races since all of the races had margins well beyond that number.
Utah House District 1
Former Box Elder County Republican Party Chairman Joel Ferry easily defeated opponents for Scott Sandal’s seat in the Utah House of Representatives, capturing 73.37 percent of the vote with 8,083.
Democrat Josh Hardy received 17.13 percent with 1,887, and Constitution Party candidate Sherry Phipps took 9.5 percent of the vote with 1,046.
“I am deeply humbled by the trust you have placed in me,” wrote Ferry in a statement. “I am very thankful to my family, friends and community members who supported me. I look forward to representing Northern Utah values.”
Utah House District 29
Representative Lee Perry also won by a landslide, taking 79.71 percent of the vote (11,359) to Democrat Kerry Wayne’s 20.29 percent (2,892).
“Thank you to everyone who supported me and have given me the privilege to return to the Utah House of Representatives in District 29,” wrote Perry on his social media page.
Perry, a Lieutenant with the Utah Highway Patrol, has won the District 29 seat five times now, first taking office in January of 2011.
Utah Senate District 17
Former House District 1 Representative Scott Sandall easily defeated Democrat Michael Keil for the senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Peter Knudson, taking 78.07 percent of the vote (26,728) to Keil’s 21.93 percent (7,510).
Sandall’s wife, Christie, thanked those who had worked to support her husband.
“Thank you to all our family, who put their heart and soul into this campaign!” wrote Sandal on her husband’s social media page. “Thank you to friends and associates who have worked hard in supporting Scott, we appreciate your confidence and friendship!”
Box Elder County Commission,
Seat B
Two-term Republican Commissioner Jeff Scott also cruised to an easy victory on election night, beating Democrat Seth Durfee by over 63 percentage points. Scott received 81.89 percent of the vote (14,345) to Durfee’s 18.11 percent (3,173).
Uncontested races
Republicans all, several local candidates ran uncontested for their current positions; Box Elder County Sheriff Kevin Potter, Commissioner Jeff Hadfield, County Clerk Marla Young, County Auditor Tom Kotter, and County Attorney Steve Hadfield all won re-election.
Local School Board
In the only local school board race that had more than one candidate, former Perry Mayor and current school board member Karen Cronin defeated opponent Scott Butler 58.24 percent (1,584) to 41.76 percent (1,136) in District 7.
District 3 board member Wade Hyde, and District 4 member Julie Taylor both ran unopposed and were re-elected.
Utah State School Board
In what may be considered a minor upset, Jennie Earl defeated sitting state school board member Terryl Warner, taking 60.42 percent of the vote (29,735) to Warner’s 39.58 percent (19,475).
U.S. House of Representatives
District 1
In a race that many thought might be closer than it was, Republican Congressman Rob Bishop easily won a ninth term to the U.S. House.
In a four-way race, Bishop took 62.25 percent of the vote (148,296). Democrat Lee Castillo took 24.36 percent (58,025), and Logan businessman Eric Eliason of the United Utah Party took 11.61 percent (27,664). Green Party candidate Adam Davis received 1.78 percent of the vote, with 4,247.
The Bishop campaign released a statement following his victory.
“Thank you to the voters of the first congressional district for your support,” it read. “Rob is so humbled by and grateful for your continued trust. For the next two years Rob will continue to fight for those issues that are most important to northern Utahns.”
Bishop previously said this would be his last in Congress, since his chairmanship of the House Natural Resources Committee was term-limited. With the Democrats taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm, Bishop will lose control of the chairmanship.
A story in the Salt Lake Tribune quoted Bishop as saying, ““I was somewhat naive as to what I was going to anticipate after losing the majority after the ’06 election,” Bishop, who first took office in 2003, says. “I was shocked, and I was negatively surprised. So I’m not going in with a whole lot of anticipation of something being very positive [but still with] hope that I can be positively surprised this time.”
U.S. Senate
In what was perhaps the least surprising race in the state, Republican Senate candidate Mitt Romney took 62.65 percent of the vote (548,780), easily winning the seat being vacated by the retiring Orrin Hatch.
Among Romney’s challengers, Democrat Jenny Wilson took 31.15 percent of the vote (272,885), Constitution Party candidate Tim Aalders received 2.69 percent (23,543), Libertarian Craig Bowden received 2.39 percent (20,933), and Independent American candidate Reed McCandles received 1.12 percent (9,806).
In his victory speech, Romney congratulated opponent Jenny Wilson for running a “strong and positive” campaign.
“I admire her a good deal. Ann and I wish her and her family a future of success and service,” said Romney, who promised to represent the state with “Utah values.”
“I will be one of 100 United States Senators. But I believe that one person, doing the right thing at the right time, can have a lasting impact,” he continued. “I will work with good men and women in both parties to serve the cause of America’s enduring greatness. And I will endeavor to conduct myself in a manner that is consistent with Utah values and with our national character.”
Judicial Retention
All sitting judges appearing on Box Elder County ballots were retained by large margins.
Utah Supreme Court Justice Constandinos Himonas was retained by a vote of 573,276 to 155,709. Utah Court of Appeals Judge Mary Kate Toomey was retained by a vote of 588,125 to 139,253.
First District Juvenile Court Judge Angela Fonnesbeck was retained by a vote of 39,036 to 5,861. First District Court Judge Brandon Maynard was retained by a vote of 37,140 to 6,859. Judge Kevin Allen of the First District Court was also retained by a vote of 38,363 to 6,643.
Constitutional Amendment A
An amendment to the Utah Constitution that gives personal property tax exemptions to military personnel deployed away from their homes easily passed.
In Box Elder County the vote was 75.26 percent (13,247) for the amendment, and 24.74 percent (4,354) against.
Statewide the vote was 78.64 percent for (657,619), and 21.36 percent (178,667) against.
Constitutional Amendment B
Another constitutional amendment where the county vote tracked very closely with the statewide vote was Amendment B, which would have given property tax exemptions to landowners who lease their property to government entities.
Box Elder County voters rejected the amendment by 71.54 percent (12,565) to 28.46 percent (4,997).
Voters in the entire state agreed with the county, rejecting the measure 72.34 percent (605,435) to 27.66 percent (251,513).
Constitutional Amendment C
Both Box Elder and voters statewide agreed that the legislature should have the power to call itself into special session, an idea strongly opposed by Utah Governor Gary Herbert.
County voters approved of the idea 63 percent (10,982) to 36.75 percent (1,643) opposed. Statewide the numbers were nearly identical, with 63.25 percent (525,099) supporting the amendment, and 36.75 percent (305,123) opposing it.
Question 1
A controversial proposal to raise the gasoline tax in Utah and use that money to free up other state monies to benefit the state’s schools was soundly defeated within the county, and also defeated, but by narrower margins, by state voters.
Box Elder County voters strongly opposed the idea, 89.54 percent (14,076) to 10.46 percent (1,643).
Statewide voters were less hostile to the idea, defeating it 65.97 percent (572,709) to 34.03 percent (295,379).
Proposition 2
A proposal setting up the development of a medical marijuana program in Utah narrowly passed, but opponents of the initiative in the Legislature have crafted a replacement bill that may send the original law passed by voters to the trash bin.
The compromise bill is expected to be voted on by the Legislature in a special December session called for by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and agreed to by Governor Gary Herbert. The replacement bill in its current form sets up a central state pharmacy and distribution system, something that patient groups contend would be too costly, and could face possible shut-downs by federal authorities, something which many patient groups believe is the point of the replacement bill.
In Utah, the Legislature has the power to amend or repeal initiatives passed by the citizenry.
Box Elder County voters opposed the initiative 59.24 percent (10,772) to 40.76 percent (7,410), while statewide voters favored it 52.75 percent (426,673) to 47.25 percent (414,382).
Proposition 3
A citizen proposition to expand the state’s Medicaid program to all Utah adults with incomes equal to or less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level was also narrowly passed, with Box Elder County voters at odds with the statewide result.
County voters opposed the initiative 56.63 percent (10,146) to 43.51 percent, while statewide voters approved it 53.63 percent (461,338) to 46.37 percent (398.903).
Proposition 4
The final citizen proposition on the ballot this year remains too close to call, with Utah County and it’s 72,000 uncounted votes (as of Friday) set to be the difference between passage or failure.
Proposition 4 would set up a committee to draw political districts in the state, taking that power away from the Legislature, which has been accused of gerrymandering districts in support of Republican candidates.
All four of Utah’s congressional districts intersect Salt Lake County, and combine them with large rural populations.
The most recent counts for Prop 4 has it failing in Box Elder County, 59.81 percent (10,584) to 40.19 percent (7,111).
Statewide totals currently have the proposition passing 50.27 percent (423,469) to 49.73 percent (418,850).
Final vote totals from across the state are expected to be reported by Friday, which will let us know if Prop 4 passes or fails.
Nelson Phillips / Box Elder News Journal
Sixteen candidates for local, state and federal offices met at the Brigham City Senior Center on Wednesday to interact with Box Elder County voters.
Sixteen candidates for local, state and federal offices met at the Brigham City Senior Center on Wednesday to interact with Box Elder County voters.
LARGE SLATE OF CANDIDATES MAKE PITCHES TO
October 31, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
Around 40 voters turned out to a meet the candidates event held at the Brigham City Senior Center last Wednesday, but due to time constraints and the large number of candidates on hand, no candidate was able to address the crowd for very long.
The event was organized by the Brigham City Civic Improvement Club and Ladies Community Club, as well as the American Association of University Women, with former Box Elder News Journal editor, Sarah Yates, serving as host and moderator.
The candidates were each given two minutes to introduce themselves and say why they were running. With 16 candidates present, those two-minute introductions took up a large portion of the time scheduled.
U.S. Senate
A representative for U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney read a statement prepared by Romney to begin the event.
“I believe that conservative principles are the best at delivering on the promise to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our nation faces challenges on a number of fronts, and now more than ever we need a unified party to start creating solutions that improve the lives of all Utahns and all Americans,” Romney wrote. “Utah needs a candidate who understands that power not reserved to the federal government must be returned to the states.”
Jenny Wilson, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, went over her experience as a Salt Lake County Councilmember, as well as her political experience helping her father, former Salt Lake Mayor Ted Wilson, and serving as former Congressman Bill Orton’s chief of staff.
“I’ve stepped up because I think that we really do need a new generation of leaders in order to better understand the needs of our communities,” Wilson said. “We need to have the federal government be more responsive to the needs of the folks on the ground.”
U.S. Congress
The Green Party candidate for Utah’s 1st Congressional District, Adam Davis, said he believes in “peace, planet, and people over profit.” Davis continued that he feels that profit has taken over the election process, corrupting it with “gobs and gobs of money from corporate interests.” He said he would work to get the money out of politics.
Lee Castillo, the Democratic candidate, said although he’s running as a Democrat, he wants to represent everyone.
“I think we need to get back to a time where representatives actually represent the people,” said Castillo. He touted his experience as a social worker, working with the disadvantaged, as his connection to understand the needs and problems of everyday people, saying he would represent the people and not special interests.
Eric Eliason, the United Utah candidate, said he’s not running as a Republican or a Democrat, but as someone who can bridge the gap between them and get things done.
“There’s a red store and a blue store, and there’s no store in the middle. We’ve got eight kinds of Coca-Cola, but we’ve got two parties that seem to be spreading further and further apart.” Eliason said that he would work to try to reform the way government runs, removing the money and partisanship from politics.
Incumbent Congressman Rob Bishop said that he serves on two committees that are important to Utah’s 1st District, the Armed Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. He said that Hill Air Force Base benefits by his presence with armed services, and Utah outdoorsmen benefit from his chairmanship of natural resources.
“This is my last term, and I’m at the apex of where I can be beneficial to the citizens of Utah,” said Bishop.
State Senate
Democratic State Senate candidate Mike Keil said that he was running to improve the services that government provides to the people, and to get government workers the resources they need to do their jobs better.
“I think we deserve better, I think we deserve better health care,” said Keil. “Health care is too expensive, it’s too complex, and it’s not nearly accessible enough.”
Scott Sandall, the Republican candidate for State Senate, highlighted his Box Elder County roots and experience as a local rancher and farmer, as well as his experience over the last four years serving the county as a representative in the State House.
“The learning curve is very steep, and I’ve learned a lot,” said Sandall. “In doing so I’ve learned about people, polices and procedure, and it’s my opportunity to take that knowledge into the senate.”
Utah House Dist. 1
Democratic candidate Joshua Hardy said he’s running because he feels the people haven’t been represented.
“We need a balance in our state government, and I want to represent you guys, the people of District 1,” he said. Hardy promised to hold town hall meetings to hear the needs of constituents in the district.
Sherry Phipps, running on the Constitution Party ticket, warned of the dangers of a planned constitutional convention, saying that it would harm the constitution and strip citizens of their Second Amendment rights.
“I have here a proposed resolution that could be used to rescind Utah’s call for a constitutional convention,” said Phipps, holding up a paper. “If I’m not elected, whoever gets in there, I’d be happy to share.”
The Republican candidate for the seat, Joel Ferry, said he would take the principles he’s learned as a farmer and as member of a political family to the legislature with him.
“I will take with me the principles of hard work, and how to get along with people, how you can disagree but don’t have to be disagreeable,” said Ferry. “I look forward to serving you, and to taking these principles to the state capitol.”
Utah House Dist. 29
Kerry Wayne, running as the Democratic candidate for the House District 29 seat, said the reason he’s running is that things are not being done, and the people aren’t being told the truth.
“I saw the state legislature complain about Obamacare, and yet they refused to come up with their own plan,” said Wayne. “I think we need to have something for Utahns. Good health is good for Utah, it’s important.”
Incumbent Republican Lee Perry of House District 29 said he wanted to continue to be the voice of the people in his district.
“When I ran the first time, that’s what I ran on; being your voice. It has been my pleasure serving in the House of Representatives, and to continually find constituent-driven bills that I can take down there and represent your needs.”
County Commission
Republican County Commissioner Jeff Scott, running for re-election for Commission Seat B, said the two main issues Box Elder County faces right now are transportation and water.
“Both of those issues are the result of the growth that we are seeing heading north along the Wasatch Front. They’re manageable, there may be some pain involved, but they can definitely co-exist,” said Scott. “I’d like to serve one more term so we can finish out the things we’ve been working on.”
Scott’s Democratic opponent, Seth Durfee, was not present.
School board
Box Elder County School Board Precinct 7 candidate Scott Butler said he didn’t have much school board experience.
“But that’s not necessarily a bad thing,” said Butler. “I learn things fast.” Butler said he wanted to ask a lot of “why” questions, and work to make education and educating students a priority in the county, as well as close the teacher pay gap with nearby districts.
Butler’s opponent, incumbent school board member Karin Cronin, said her degree in secondary education, as well as her volunteer work with child advocacy support boards, make her uniquely qualified to continue serving.
“My most prominent qualification is that I’m a proven advocate for students, educators, parents and taxpayers,” said Cronin, touting her lobbying efforts with the legislature to get an equalization bill passed which resulted in $2 million more state dollars for the district. Cronin is also the former Mayor of Perry.
State school board
State School Board member Terryl Warner said she’d like to finish the process of “revamping licensing” for educators, by removing many of the barriers and obstacles that stand in the way of qualified teachers teaching.
“Teachers will come from the Department of Defense to Hill Air Force Base, and they can’t teach in this state, even though they have licenses in other states. That makes no sense to me,” Warner said. “We have worked really hard over the past two years to change that, and I’d like to finalize those changes.”
Warner’s opponent, Jennie Earl, said that she’d be a voice advocating for the home and the family on the state school board.
“I feel strongly that parents and families need to be the responsible parties for education,” said Earl. “Now is the time to stand up and advocate for the things that are right, and that is the reason why I’m running.”
Candidates running unopposed also spoke, including County Commissioner Jeff Hadfield, County Attorney Steve Hadfield, County Clerk Marla Young, Box Elder School Board member Wade Hyde, and board member Julie Taylor, running for Box Elder County School Board Precinct 4.
After a short round of questioning for mainly the federal candidates, the formal part of the event broke into a personal one, with candidates fielding one on one questions from voters.
Around 40 voters turned out to a meet the candidates event held at the Brigham City Senior Center last Wednesday, but due to time constraints and the large number of candidates on hand, no candidate was able to address the crowd for very long.
The event was organized by the Brigham City Civic Improvement Club and Ladies Community Club, as well as the American Association of University Women, with former Box Elder News Journal editor, Sarah Yates, serving as host and moderator.
The candidates were each given two minutes to introduce themselves and say why they were running. With 16 candidates present, those two-minute introductions took up a large portion of the time scheduled.
U.S. Senate
A representative for U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney read a statement prepared by Romney to begin the event.
“I believe that conservative principles are the best at delivering on the promise to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our nation faces challenges on a number of fronts, and now more than ever we need a unified party to start creating solutions that improve the lives of all Utahns and all Americans,” Romney wrote. “Utah needs a candidate who understands that power not reserved to the federal government must be returned to the states.”
Jenny Wilson, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, went over her experience as a Salt Lake County Councilmember, as well as her political experience helping her father, former Salt Lake Mayor Ted Wilson, and serving as former Congressman Bill Orton’s chief of staff.
“I’ve stepped up because I think that we really do need a new generation of leaders in order to better understand the needs of our communities,” Wilson said. “We need to have the federal government be more responsive to the needs of the folks on the ground.”
U.S. Congress
The Green Party candidate for Utah’s 1st Congressional District, Adam Davis, said he believes in “peace, planet, and people over profit.” Davis continued that he feels that profit has taken over the election process, corrupting it with “gobs and gobs of money from corporate interests.” He said he would work to get the money out of politics.
Lee Castillo, the Democratic candidate, said although he’s running as a Democrat, he wants to represent everyone.
“I think we need to get back to a time where representatives actually represent the people,” said Castillo. He touted his experience as a social worker, working with the disadvantaged, as his connection to understand the needs and problems of everyday people, saying he would represent the people and not special interests.
Eric Eliason, the United Utah candidate, said he’s not running as a Republican or a Democrat, but as someone who can bridge the gap between them and get things done.
“There’s a red store and a blue store, and there’s no store in the middle. We’ve got eight kinds of Coca-Cola, but we’ve got two parties that seem to be spreading further and further apart.” Eliason said that he would work to try to reform the way government runs, removing the money and partisanship from politics.
Incumbent Congressman Rob Bishop said that he serves on two committees that are important to Utah’s 1st District, the Armed Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. He said that Hill Air Force Base benefits by his presence with armed services, and Utah outdoorsmen benefit from his chairmanship of natural resources.
“This is my last term, and I’m at the apex of where I can be beneficial to the citizens of Utah,” said Bishop.
State Senate
Democratic State Senate candidate Mike Keil said that he was running to improve the services that government provides to the people, and to get government workers the resources they need to do their jobs better.
“I think we deserve better, I think we deserve better health care,” said Keil. “Health care is too expensive, it’s too complex, and it’s not nearly accessible enough.”
Scott Sandall, the Republican candidate for State Senate, highlighted his Box Elder County roots and experience as a local rancher and farmer, as well as his experience over the last four years serving the county as a representative in the State House.
“The learning curve is very steep, and I’ve learned a lot,” said Sandall. “In doing so I’ve learned about people, polices and procedure, and it’s my opportunity to take that knowledge into the senate.”
Utah House Dist. 1
Democratic candidate Joshua Hardy said he’s running because he feels the people haven’t been represented.
“We need a balance in our state government, and I want to represent you guys, the people of District 1,” he said. Hardy promised to hold town hall meetings to hear the needs of constituents in the district.
Sherry Phipps, running on the Constitution Party ticket, warned of the dangers of a planned constitutional convention, saying that it would harm the constitution and strip citizens of their Second Amendment rights.
“I have here a proposed resolution that could be used to rescind Utah’s call for a constitutional convention,” said Phipps, holding up a paper. “If I’m not elected, whoever gets in there, I’d be happy to share.”
The Republican candidate for the seat, Joel Ferry, said he would take the principles he’s learned as a farmer and as member of a political family to the legislature with him.
“I will take with me the principles of hard work, and how to get along with people, how you can disagree but don’t have to be disagreeable,” said Ferry. “I look forward to serving you, and to taking these principles to the state capitol.”
Utah House Dist. 29
Kerry Wayne, running as the Democratic candidate for the House District 29 seat, said the reason he’s running is that things are not being done, and the people aren’t being told the truth.
“I saw the state legislature complain about Obamacare, and yet they refused to come up with their own plan,” said Wayne. “I think we need to have something for Utahns. Good health is good for Utah, it’s important.”
Incumbent Republican Lee Perry of House District 29 said he wanted to continue to be the voice of the people in his district.
“When I ran the first time, that’s what I ran on; being your voice. It has been my pleasure serving in the House of Representatives, and to continually find constituent-driven bills that I can take down there and represent your needs.”
County Commission
Republican County Commissioner Jeff Scott, running for re-election for Commission Seat B, said the two main issues Box Elder County faces right now are transportation and water.
“Both of those issues are the result of the growth that we are seeing heading north along the Wasatch Front. They’re manageable, there may be some pain involved, but they can definitely co-exist,” said Scott. “I’d like to serve one more term so we can finish out the things we’ve been working on.”
Scott’s Democratic opponent, Seth Durfee, was not present.
School board
Box Elder County School Board Precinct 7 candidate Scott Butler said he didn’t have much school board experience.
“But that’s not necessarily a bad thing,” said Butler. “I learn things fast.” Butler said he wanted to ask a lot of “why” questions, and work to make education and educating students a priority in the county, as well as close the teacher pay gap with nearby districts.
Butler’s opponent, incumbent school board member Karin Cronin, said her degree in secondary education, as well as her volunteer work with child advocacy support boards, make her uniquely qualified to continue serving.
“My most prominent qualification is that I’m a proven advocate for students, educators, parents and taxpayers,” said Cronin, touting her lobbying efforts with the legislature to get an equalization bill passed which resulted in $2 million more state dollars for the district. Cronin is also the former Mayor of Perry.
State school board
State School Board member Terryl Warner said she’d like to finish the process of “revamping licensing” for educators, by removing many of the barriers and obstacles that stand in the way of qualified teachers teaching.
“Teachers will come from the Department of Defense to Hill Air Force Base, and they can’t teach in this state, even though they have licenses in other states. That makes no sense to me,” Warner said. “We have worked really hard over the past two years to change that, and I’d like to finalize those changes.”
Warner’s opponent, Jennie Earl, said that she’d be a voice advocating for the home and the family on the state school board.
“I feel strongly that parents and families need to be the responsible parties for education,” said Earl. “Now is the time to stand up and advocate for the things that are right, and that is the reason why I’m running.”
Candidates running unopposed also spoke, including County Commissioner Jeff Hadfield, County Attorney Steve Hadfield, County Clerk Marla Young, Box Elder School Board member Wade Hyde, and board member Julie Taylor, running for Box Elder County School Board Precinct 4.
After a short round of questioning for mainly the federal candidates, the formal part of the event broke into a personal one, with candidates fielding one on one questions from voters.
Races and candidates
Several local incumbent Republicans are facing challengers from within their own party, as well as opponents from the Democratic and Constitution parties, while other incumbents are running unopposed. This year there are also two open seats for the Utah Senate and Utah House, with many well-known names vying for those positions.
|
U.S. Senate (Orrin Hatch, retiring)
Mitt Romney R Jenny Wilson D Tim Aalders C Craig R. Bowden L Reed C. McCandless IA U.S. House District 1 (Rob Bishop, incumbent) Rob Bishop R Lee Castillo D Adam Davis G Eric Eliason UU State Senate District 17 (Peter Knudsen, retiring) Scott Sandall R Michael A Keil D |
State House District 1 (Scott Sandall)
Joel Ferry R Joshua Hardy D Sherry Phipps C State House District 29 (Lee Perry, incumbent) Lee B. Perry R Kerry M Wayne D Box Elder County Commission Seat A Jeff Hadfield R (unopposed) Box Elder County Commission Seat B Jeffrey D. Scott R Seth Durfee D Box Elder School Board Scott W. Butler Dist. 7 Karen Cronin Dist. 7 |
PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS
Totals updated with ballots received through June 28.
Box Elder County Commission Seat A
(Republican)
Jeff Hadfield 5,164 66.73%
Charley Young 2,574 33.27%
Hadfield advances to November election, running unopposed
Box Elder County Commission Seat B
(Republican)
Jeff Scott 4,604 57.72%
Jon Adams 3,023 42.28%
Scott advances to November election
Utah Senate 17
(Republican - Multi County)
Scott Sandall 6,825 52.90%
Clark Davis 6,077 47.10%
Sandall advances to November election
U.S. House 1
(Democrat - Multi County)
Lee Castillo 6,764 56.85%
Kurt Weiland 5,133 43.15%
Castillo advances to November election
U.S. Senate
(Republican - Statewide)
Mitt Romney 229,627 71.54%
Mike Kennedy 91,367 28.46%
Romney advances to November election
Incumbents emerge victorious in contentious commission race
July 4, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
The first vote-by-mail primary election in Box Elder County is over, with the two incumbent Box Elder County Commissioners claiming victory in what became a hotly contested race.
Jeff Hadfield handily defeated opponent Charley Young, taking 66.73 percent of the total, 5,164 to 2,574 for commission seat A.
“After many weeks of campaigning I am humbled to have won the Republican nomination for Box Elder County Commissioner,” Hadfield said in a released statement. “I want to wish my opponent Charley Young and his family all the best moving forward. The Young family are one of the great families of our county and Charley is a good man!”
Hadfield has no Democratic challenger, and barring a successful write-in candidacy, has already won re-election.
County Commissioner Jeff Scott, also prevailed in his race against challenger Jon Adams, but the margins were closer. Scott pulled 57.72% of the vote, 4,604 to Adams’ 3,023.
“It’s a beautiful ending to the day,” wrote Scott on his social media page, with a photo of the sun setting behind Brigham City, as seen from the courthouse.
Scott still faces Democrat Seth Durfee in the November general election.
The commission race became contentious in the final days with revelations that the challengers had received $20,000 in in-kind donations from a political action committee entirely funded by local businessmen Randy Moulding and Phil Adams. Moulding has a landfill application active with the county for property he owns near Snowville, and had publicly called for the defeat of both incumbents.
Another group, identified as Kerry Zundel, Dr. Gilbert Miller, Dr. Gar Workman, Tim Munns, Rod Arbon, Keith Oman, Dennis Poulsen and Dave Eliason, supporting the incumbents, released a video that was creatively edited in such a way as to show Young and Adams deny they took in-kind contributions. At the same meeting where the video was taken, both challengers said they had taken in-kind donations.
In the race for Utah Senate 17, current District 1 State Representative Scott Sandall won the Republican nomination, defeating former Brigham City mayor and county commissioner, Clark Davis, 6,825 votes to 6,077.
“I am overwhelmed by the amazing amount of support my campaign has received from volunteers throughout our district. Thank you! And thank you to my incredible family, especially to my wonderful wife, Christie Sandall!” wrote Sandall on his campaign social media page.
Sandall now faces Democrat Michael A Keil in the November election.
The Democratic primary for the two men looking to run against Congressman Rob Bishop ended with Lee Castillo taking 56.85 percent of the vote, 6,764, to opponent Kurt Weiland’s 5,133.
“I am so honored to represent you and the Democratic party in our fight for equal rights, clean air, open lands, and a livable wage because Utah is for everybody,” Castillo released in a prepared statement.
In perhaps the least surprising result of the primary, Republican senatorial candidate Mitt Romney easily defeated State Representative Mike Kennedy, taking 71.54 percent of the vote, 229,627 to 91,367.
“What I’ve learned is when the people of Utah are needed - when they have to rise to the occasion - they are there when people call for their help,” wrote Romeny on his campaign page.
Romney now moves on to face Democrat Jenny Wilson in the November election.
July 4, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
The first vote-by-mail primary election in Box Elder County is over, with the two incumbent Box Elder County Commissioners claiming victory in what became a hotly contested race.
Jeff Hadfield handily defeated opponent Charley Young, taking 66.73 percent of the total, 5,164 to 2,574 for commission seat A.
“After many weeks of campaigning I am humbled to have won the Republican nomination for Box Elder County Commissioner,” Hadfield said in a released statement. “I want to wish my opponent Charley Young and his family all the best moving forward. The Young family are one of the great families of our county and Charley is a good man!”
Hadfield has no Democratic challenger, and barring a successful write-in candidacy, has already won re-election.
County Commissioner Jeff Scott, also prevailed in his race against challenger Jon Adams, but the margins were closer. Scott pulled 57.72% of the vote, 4,604 to Adams’ 3,023.
“It’s a beautiful ending to the day,” wrote Scott on his social media page, with a photo of the sun setting behind Brigham City, as seen from the courthouse.
Scott still faces Democrat Seth Durfee in the November general election.
The commission race became contentious in the final days with revelations that the challengers had received $20,000 in in-kind donations from a political action committee entirely funded by local businessmen Randy Moulding and Phil Adams. Moulding has a landfill application active with the county for property he owns near Snowville, and had publicly called for the defeat of both incumbents.
Another group, identified as Kerry Zundel, Dr. Gilbert Miller, Dr. Gar Workman, Tim Munns, Rod Arbon, Keith Oman, Dennis Poulsen and Dave Eliason, supporting the incumbents, released a video that was creatively edited in such a way as to show Young and Adams deny they took in-kind contributions. At the same meeting where the video was taken, both challengers said they had taken in-kind donations.
In the race for Utah Senate 17, current District 1 State Representative Scott Sandall won the Republican nomination, defeating former Brigham City mayor and county commissioner, Clark Davis, 6,825 votes to 6,077.
“I am overwhelmed by the amazing amount of support my campaign has received from volunteers throughout our district. Thank you! And thank you to my incredible family, especially to my wonderful wife, Christie Sandall!” wrote Sandall on his campaign social media page.
Sandall now faces Democrat Michael A Keil in the November election.
The Democratic primary for the two men looking to run against Congressman Rob Bishop ended with Lee Castillo taking 56.85 percent of the vote, 6,764, to opponent Kurt Weiland’s 5,133.
“I am so honored to represent you and the Democratic party in our fight for equal rights, clean air, open lands, and a livable wage because Utah is for everybody,” Castillo released in a prepared statement.
In perhaps the least surprising result of the primary, Republican senatorial candidate Mitt Romney easily defeated State Representative Mike Kennedy, taking 71.54 percent of the vote, 229,627 to 91,367.
“What I’ve learned is when the people of Utah are needed - when they have to rise to the occasion - they are there when people call for their help,” wrote Romeny on his campaign page.
Romney now moves on to face Democrat Jenny Wilson in the November election.
Financial disclosures heat up county election
Salt Lake-area political action committee provided in-kind donations
to challengers for Box Elder County Commission seats
Salt Lake-area political action committee provided in-kind donations
to challengers for Box Elder County Commission seats
Story updated on Thursday, June 21.
Summary of update: A landfill application to Box Elder County by Randy Moulding was tabled indefinitely at his request and is still active with the county.)
Summary of update: A landfill application to Box Elder County by Randy Moulding was tabled indefinitely at his request and is still active with the county.)
June 20, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
In a new twist to Box Elder County politics, two challengers running against incumbent county commissioners are being supported by a newly-formed political action committee (PAC).
Both Charley Young and Jon Adams told the News Journal last week that they had been receiving some “in-kind” support from Elevate Utah Action Fund, but were unable to assign a dollar amount to that support. An in-kind donation is a donation of time, materials or services where money does not change hands.
“They’ve helped me with some signs, and with a mass-mailer that was supposed to go out but got lost somehow,” said Adams during a telephone interview on Thursday. He continued that he wouldn’t know how much the contributions by Elevate Utah were worth until the PAC filed it’s contribution report, which was due to the lieutenant governor’s office on Monday, seven days before the Republican primary scheduled for June 26.
“I don’t know anything about the Elevate Utah Action Committee, but I’m grateful they chose to support my campaign,” said Young in an email exchange. When asked what was contributed, Young wrote that he had not seen their report, so he didn’t know.
Calls placed on Thursday to Collin Pace of Salt Lake City, Teresa Gregory of Sandy and Mike McCauley of Salt Lake City, listed respectively as primary officer 1, primary officer 2, and chief financial officer for Elevate Utah, have not been returned.
Information released Tuesday morning by the lieutenant governor’s office showed that Elevate Utah spent $17,768.51 of the $20,000 in donations it received, but details about on which campaigns the money was spent was not available.
Financial disclosures released by lieutenant governor’s office last week revealed that Elevate Utah has had two contributors to date, Garden Creek Ranches, LLC, out of Brigham City, and Bar-M Cattle Company, LLC, out of Ogden, both of which had each donated $10,000 to the PAC on the same day in May.
A business search revealed that Garden Creek Ranches was owned by Phil Adams, formerly of Flying J. Bar-M Cattle is associated with Randy Moulding, a businessman who has been trying for the last several years to get a 220-acre landfill approved in an area located south and west of Snowville.
Moulding faced vocal opposition from area ranchers who contend the landfill would poison their aquifer, and was unsuccessful in getting the permit approved by the county. After meetings in May and June of 2014 where the Box Elder County Planning Commission tabled the application, Mr. Moulding sent a letter to the commission in Aug. 2014 requesting it be tabled until further notice.
According to Box Elder County Planner Scott Lyons, Moulding’s application is still active.
“He contacts me once every couple of months to let me know he’s still working on it,” Lyons said.
Moulding is pursuing permitting for the landfill with the Utah Division of Environmental Quality.
When contacted by telephone on Friday, Moulding stated that his donation was to support Republicans running for office.
“They’re Republicans, it’s the Republican Party people, I know that. That’s what I am, and Phil, I believe. That’s the way they’re doing things now, is through PACs,” said Moulding.
When told the PAC was only supporting the challengers for the commission seats, Moulding said he had no say regarding who the PAC supported, but was glad it was the challengers.
“I actually have no control over that, but I hope so, absolutely. I don’t want the incumbents in,” he said. “I hope they’re supporting Charley and Jon.” Moulding went on to say he had no idea who was in control of the PAC, and had no control over where the money went.
When asked about Moulding’s financial involvement with Elevate Utah, Adams said he had no involvement with Moulding, and if elected would let Moulding’s landfill application stand or fall on its own merits.
“If DEQ comes out and says that landfill would poison that aquifer, I’d be against it, just like I’m against a Class 5 landfill on Promontory,” said Adams.
Adams contended that there was nothing wrong with accepting help from a PAC, saying it was legal, and preferable to accepting a bunch of small donations, which can be used to “game the system” by spreading large donations among many different people.
In a video released earlier this week, the two men’s statements at a meet-the-candidates event in Bear River on June 6 are being used to question their credibility, as both men said at one point that they paid for their campaigns themselves.
In the video, Jon Adams is shown saying, “My wife and I pay for the ads, um, the signs, and anything for convention and whatever else. I do not take cash donations.”
Similarly, the video shows Charlie Young making a short, similar statement, “As far as my expenditures, have been out of my own pocket.”
Later in their statements at the meeting, both men walked back those comments, saying they had accepted in-kind donations.
Adams said that he does not accept cash donations, but would accept in-kind donations from groups that wouldn’t ask for favors. Young said he doesn’t accept money, and had even given back a check that someone had left for him. He said that he had some donations “in-kind,” but that the majority of his expenditures have been out of his own pocket.
The video lists Kerry Zundel, Dr. Gilbert Miller, Dr. Gar Workman, Tim Munns, Rod Arbon, Keith Oman, Dennis Poulsen and Dave Eliason as having paid for the video.
An email from Tim Munns to the News Journal that contains a link to the video was originally sent to him by current county commissioner Stan Summers.
Summers was unavailable for comment by press time, as he was headed to Washington D.C. Both incumbents, Jeff Scott and Jeff Hadfield, said they are completely self-financing their own campaigns, and campaign finance disclosure information from the county supports their claim, with the exception of $30 donated to Jeff Hadfield by a neighbor, which Hadfield disclosed to those attended at the meet-the-candidates event.
Primary election candidate information
June 20, 2018
Election information
Mail-in ballots need to be postmarked no later than June 25.
On election day, Tuesday, June 26, in-person polling locations will be open at:
Utah State University Brigham City
989 South Main Street
Tremonton Senior Center
510 West 1000 North
(Note: Both Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, Mitt Romney and Mike Kennedy, did not reply to requests for information for this article.)
U.S. House of Representatives District 1
Democratic Primary
Lee Castillo
website: www.UtahIsForEverybody.com
Lee Castillo, from Layton, says he is running for Congress because “Utah is a diverse state without diverse representation. I am uniquely qualified to change that and represent all of the constituents in Utah HD-1.”
Lee says that as a Hispanic male in Utah, he has often seen the voices of Utah’s diversity ignored, and that his focus will be to change that.
“My work experience as a social worker for the Division of Child and Family Services and a clinical social worker at the Utah State Hospital has allowed me to serve a myriad of clients from diverse economic, social, and ethnic backgrounds. It’s my job to listen to problems, evaluate situations, develop treatment plans, set progress milestones, and follow-up on the progress of the set goals. As a therapist I have seen people at their lowest points and worked with them to identify issues, set goals, and helped prepare them to re-enter the world as a contributing member of society. I have volunteered countless hours over the past 15 years serving homeless youth and other vulnerable Utah populations. It’s now time for me to take my service to the next level and serve you as your representative for Utah HD-1.”
On the issues:
Immigration: “We need to keep the promise that we made to the Dreamers.We need to create a reasonable pathway to citizenship.”
Income inequality: “Tax reform to benefit the lower income and middle class – not the top 1 percent. Enforce taxation on greedy corporations who make millions/billions while their workers struggle to pay for their next meal.”
Common sense gun control: “Protect the 2nd Amendment for all law-abiding citizens, require Universal Background Checks, mandatory two-day waiting periods, ban bump stocks and high capacity magazines and create a gun buy-back program.”
Healthcare: “I support a single-payer, universal healthcare system that would ensure healthcare access for all our citizens. I would fight to have Medical Canibis (Marijuana) reclassified across the nation as a Schedule II drug
Air quality/public lands: “Re-instate the EPA regulations removed by the Trump Administration. Restore Bear’s Ears and Grand Escalante...fight to enact policy that requires engagement of the Indigenous Americans and continual collaboration on matters that pertain to their sovereignty.”
Kurt Weiland
website: www.kurtforuscongress.com
In a statement about his values and the reason he is running, Weiland said, “We live in interesting times. Political parties struggle with each other. Political parties struggle within themselves. Honest people disagree over real—and basic and heartfelt—issues. These times call for experienced, thoughtful, and caring leadership.”
Weiland said he’s been fortunate to have served in the Army for 23 years in various roles, including in infantry and airborne units, both as an enlisted soldier and later as a commissioned officer. He has led hundreds of American troops on two continents, and taught leadership skills at the United States Military Academy at West Point and at the Army’s Command and General Staff College.
He’s also found commercial success. For the last 22 years, he’s led an international training company in Utah that has gone all over the world teaching people how to lead, to think critically, and how to take care of their people.
Where all this comes together, Weiland said, is Hill Air Force Base, Utah’s sixth-largest employer.
“I jumped out of the airplanes that Hill Air Force Base maintains,” Weiland said. “I understand the culture. I speak the language. I carry the card.
“In these times, this experience, this understanding, and these skills will make a critical difference. I respectfully ask for your vote. Thank you.”
On the issues:
Access: “Too many politicians isolate themselves. If you call (or email) me or my office, you’ll get a response. And, at least once a month, I’ll set up town-hall meetings”
Families: Too many Utah bread-winners work two or three jobs to provide for their families. I’ll work across the aisle to establish a livable minimum wage, establish a new—and fairer—tax program, and create a single-payer health-insurance program.
Immigration: “I’ll work to strengthen the borders to—at the very least—keep little kids from dying in the Sonoran Desert (This does not mean a wall. Walls don’t work.), establish a guest-worker plan for undocumented immigrants, and keep the promises we made to the Dreamers.
Safety: “I support the Second Amendment. It’s the law of the land. But we need to address the problem of gun violence and understand the causes. If we don’t, the violence will continue.”
Term limits: “I’ll work for a Constitutional amendment to limit the terms for the House and the Senate. I will serve no more than two terms—if you’ll let me.”
Land: “Public lands are ‘public’ because they belong to the people. To you. To me. To the public. Public lands do not belong to developers, miners, and wildcatters.”
The winner of the Democratic Primary will face Republican incumbent Rob Bishop in November.
Utah Senate District 17
Republican Primary
Scott Sandall
website: www.VoteScottSandall.com
Scott Sandall is a lifelong resident, rancher, and small-business owner in Box Elder County, who has been representing the county in the state House of Representatives. As a Representative, Sandall has earned accolades as a “Business Champion” and “Friend of the Taxpayer” by associations within the business community.
“During this race, I’ve spent months speaking with constituents from this district about the issues that matter to them. We’ve discussed: education issues, the pressures of a growing population, ensuring that we have enough water, and infrastructure needs to name a few,” Sandall said in a statement. “As your state senator, I promise to continue those discussions and represent your concerns. I’ll fight to make sure that we move forward with conservative principles and leave our district better for our children and grandchildren. With that in mind, I humbly ask for your support in this election. In return, I promise to remain accountable and receptive to you.”
On the issues:
Education: “I believe a strong public education system is the backbone of a prosperous society. I believe that teachers in classrooms and principals at schools should be making the majority of funding decisions with their local communities.”
Growth: “Population growth will continue to stretch limited water resources. I am committed to finding solutions that allow water to move to where it is needed, while at the same time protecting existing water rights.”
Transportation: “Our current model for funding transportation is becoming obsolete. I am committed to finding a solution, because I believe that transportation funding is as close to a user-fee system that we have in government. Those that use the roads need to pay in proportion to their use.”
Public lands: “I believe [public] land can and should be available for all to enjoy. Utah is full of natural resources that can safely be enjoyed and extracted to the benefit of all our citizens. Public lands are public and should remain that way with the State in control.”
Clark Davis
website: www.ClarkDavisFor17.com
Clark Davis has been serving in the community for 40 years as a mayor, county commissioner, in various ecclesiastical roles, on boards, and within community organizations.
After he and his wife, Shelley, returned from serving a humanitarian mission in Africa for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they were eager to return to serving the community.
“When approached by neighbors and friends to run for this Senate seat, we were timid,” Davis said in a statement. “However, after deliberation and prayer, we decided that my unique experience allowed me a perspective that would serve our district well.”
Davis said he is committed to be an effective voice for representing the district, and promises to seek input and feedback from those he represents.
“I will use my professional background as an accountant and governmental auditor to take a hard look at the budget, assess frivolous spending, and work to reduce the tax burden,” Davis said. “My goal is to represent our community, not special interest groups. I will be consistent with my conservative principles and use my experience as a commissioner and mayor to support and fight for local issues.
“I want to express our sincerest gratitude for your support and encouragement. My name is Clark Davis, and I humbly ask for your vote.”
On the issues:
Economic development: “I will leverage my experience to find creative solutions to District 17’s economic development needs. We need representation at the state legislature that is committed to District 17’s community interests, not special interests.”
Fiscal responsibility: “It is...critical that we stretch tax dollars, not taxpayers, to the max. With surplus in the budget, the legislature should be wary of raising taxes. Instead we should toe the line, use smart spending principles, and look for opportunities to cut spending and taxes.”
Education: “Family buy-in is critical to the success of our students. I would like to see programs that encourage parent/student collaboration and accountability.”
Accountability: “During my tenure as Mayor and Commissioner, I worked hard to be a voice for the people. This meant seeking meaningful constituent feedback, communicating my priorities, and aligning the goals of the community with the goals of the entity. I will bring this same approach with me to the Capitol and work to represent our district.”
The winner of the primary will face Democratic challenger, Michael Keil in November.
Box Elder County Commission Seat A
Republican Primary
Jeff Hadfield
website: www.hadfieldforcommissioner.com
As Hadfield tells it, four years ago as he complained about politics in Washington D.C., his wife encouraged him to “do something about it” by at least serving locally.
“When I came into office, the county had debt. As fiscal-conservatives, we worked to get the county out of debt,” said Hadfield.
Hadfield also touts the county’s low unemployment (3 percent) and the creation of 1,200 new jobs.
Hadfield said he has the skill-set to get the job done, as well as knowing the “pulse of the economy” as a business owner, and having “great relationships” with community leaders. He’s worked with the Soil Conservation District and West Box Elder Coordinated Range Management on water conservation, irrigation systems, and how to keep the sage grouse off the endangered species list, all of which have benefited agriculture. He’s also been working on future transportation needs/concerns as the Wasatch front continues to grow.
“This position takes lots of time and energy, and there are many long meetings,” Hadfield said. “But I have the ability to keep up with its demands and I look forward to serving you one more term!”
Charlie Young
Charlie Young submitted the following response to a request for information about him and his campaign:
“I will vote to bring back public comment to the commission meetings thereby, restoring public trust in our local government. I will respectfully listen to your comments and concerns.
“I will not favor a specific individual or special interest. I will work to represent the best interest of the county and its residents. I am strongly opposed to a Class V commercial landfill at Promontory Point or anywhere else in the county. Box Elder County should not be the world’s dumping ground.
“I will vote to balance the budgets and avoid increasing the debt.
“As a lifelong resident of Box Elder County, I will strive to maintain the appropriate balance between change and tradition for our communities, attracting new commerce to sustain growth, while maintaining our rural roots.
“I love this county and have a desire to serve. I would appreciate your vote.”
Box Elder County Commission Seat B
Republican Primary
Jeff Scott
Jeff Scott, a lifelong resident of Box Elder County, who was raised in Fielding and graduated from Bear River High School, says it has been his honor to serve as a Box Elder County Commissioner for the last four years.
Scott and his wife, Lisa Randall of Brigham City, have four children. Two of Scott’s children are married, and he is grandfather to one child. Scott says he is fortunate that all his children are able to live in Box Elder County.
Scott has owned his own financial services business for the last 25 years.
“We paid off our business debt in 2007 and that is the same philosophy I bring to county government,” Scott says.
Scott identifies transportation and water as two of the biggest issues facing the county. He served on the statewide Transportation Task Force last year and is anxious to complete the regional transportation plan with Cache and Weber Counties.
“We are also working diligently on conservation and water projects to meet our future needs,” Scott said.
“I will continue to do all I can to make sure that our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to pursue their chosen career path here in Box Elder County. I ask for your vote to serve one more term to accomplish these goals.”
Jon Adams
Jon Adams said he believes in “collaborative governance strategies based on the needs, interests, and input of our own county residents,” and that he supports “compatible, sustainable development enhancing our quality of life and strengthening our rich agricultural heritage.”
Adams has more than 40 years experience managing public utilities, budgeting, and in public financing. He said he is a “proven fiscal conservative incorporating accountability and transparency into the public decision making process.”
Jon Adams previously served as a Brigham City Councilmember and as a district manager. In those roles he learned the processes necessary to serve the public. He also has experience in the legislative process.
“The knowledge gained over my career, and already established relationships with state, federal and local agencies, give me a ‘leg up’ in addressing water, transportation and other growth-related challenges facing our county,” Adams said. “I can hit the ground running!”
Adams said that growth that will come to the county, “but we have time to prepare and ensure our citizens new development will truly benefit them without compromising life quality and provide career opportunities so our children are not forced to seek outside jobs as the economy grows.
“I ask for your support and vote on June 26, to meet these challenges together.”
Democratic Senate candidate hopes to bring some ‘needed’ balance to Utah’s Congressional delegation
May 30, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
The Democratic nominee running for the retiring Orrin Hatch’s United States Senate seat believes she can win in Utah, believes that Utah’s congressional delegation needs balance, and believes that she can better represent Utah values in Washington D.C. than either of the two Republicans left in the race.
Jenny Wilson, current Salt Lake County councilmember and daughter of former Salt Lake mayor, Ted Wilson, stopped in Brigham City during a May 21 campaign tour of northern Utah. The News Journal caught up with her while she was having lunch at J&D’s Family Restaurant, as she talked about her interests, her campaign, the issues facing Utah, and whether a Democrat can win in this deeply red state.
Wilson has served on the Salt Lake County Council since 2005, and holds the distinction of being the first woman elected to that body.
Speaking of her 13 years of legislative experience in Salt Lake County, Wilson said, “We’ve had a lot of governance change over the past decade, with new authorities formed for fire, for police, we now have new townships which diluted our unincorporated areas, so there’s just a lot going on.”
Growing up with a politician for a father, Wilson truly entered politics during her father’s 1988 gubernatorial run, where she served as his deputy press secretary under Randy Horiuchi.
“Randy was like the ‘go to the bar guy’ with all the reporters, and I was the one who wrote the press releases, and executed everything,” she said.
After her father’s loss to incumbent Norm Bangerter, Wilson, who had a degree in communications from the University of Utah, moved to Washington D.C. where she worked as a temp for the Utah Association of Counties, among other organizations, and eventually ended up working as an assistant press secretary for Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin in 1991. In 1992 she began working for Utah Congressman Bill Orton, first as a communications director, and later as his chief of staff, until Orton lost his seat in 1996 to Chris Cannon.
Wilson served in various supporting roles for Democratic organizations while earning her master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University in 1998. Until winning a council seat in 2005, Wilson worked in the private and non-profit sectors, including positions in administration, fundraising and project management for the Sundance Institute, Film Festival and Sundance Group, where she coordinated the training, management and retention of more than 20,000 volunteers for the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
When asked why she decided to run for the U.S. Senate, Wilson said it was because she felt that Hatch’s retirement opened up the possibility for change.
“I felt that we needed a really strong Democrat to file. Orrin Hatch had been there a very long time, and I started to feel that we just needed a change, that this was an opportunity to make the voice that I feel is important heard in a campaign,” said Wilson. “I know that we haven’t had a Democrat elected since the 1990s, but I also feel like this is a year where everything is sort of disrupted.”
Wilson spoke of the need for balance in Utah, and that having a Democrat in the Utah delegation could pay off for the state, having someone who could negotiate with other Democrats to address Utah’s needs.
“If we have six Republicans in this divided world, who’s going to speak to the other side?” she asked.
On the differences between Utah Democrats and the national Democratic party, Wilson said that national Democrats tend to speak for “very concentrated urban areas,” while Utah Democrats would represent the entire state, including rural populations.
“I feel like I’m educated on and very much understand our western issues,” she said, drawing a distinction between herself and the national party, as well as her presumptive Republican opponent.
Admitting that it will take Republican votes to get her elected, Wilson downplayed the “hot button” differences between herself and the average Utah Republican, offering a pitch based on pragmatism.
“I’ve got to hope that people will want a candidate who will straight talk (to them), which I’m going to give, who will give direct answers,” she said. “My positions are consistent. I’m sure there are a lot of people in Box Elder County who will look at my candidacy and go ‘there are a lot of things that I don’t agree with,’ on some of the issues that sometimes define Democrats and Republicans. But I can deliver, I’m highly strategic. I can form coalitions, and I want to work with Republicans.” Wilson gave an example of the Salt Lake County Council, with five Republicans and four Democrats, saying they work well together, and find compromises that bring a balance to county government.
On issues currently in the spotlight, Wilson pointed to the tax code revision last December as something she just couldn’t support.
“The day the tax bill passed, I held a press conference and said, sorry, this was not good for the working people of this state,” said Wilson, who expressed that the bill was passed by politicians who accept money from corporations.
On the opioid crisis, Wilson expressed support for states and counties suing drug companies that “knowingly hid the addictive nature” of their products from doctors, saying that local governments are right to try to recoup some of their funding spent on addiction treatment. She also said that more needs to be done about securing the southern border from narcotics smugglers, but doesn’t support a wall intended to stop migrant workers.
Wilson came out in support of the medical marijuana initiative currently in state headlines, but said she would not be in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana like a Colorado or Nevada.
When asked about her position on gun rights, Wilson gave a nuanced response.
“I understand the western way of life, and I love that I’m from the west, I chose to live here,” she said. “I had to work through, as a candidate representing the state of Utah, where the line was, and I realized pretty quickly I was going to have to land on the assault weapon ban, and I came out in favor of the assault weapon ban.” Although she expressed support for the second amendment, Wilson said she couldn’t “wrap her head around” an individual having “weapons of war,” saying that she would be in favor of limiting future production and purchases, but wouldn’t support confiscations.
“A person’s second amendment rights aren’t absolute,” she said. “We can put reasonable restrictions on that right.” Wilson continued that Utah’s current laws regarding concealed weapons, including allowing armed teachers in schools, were “risky either way,” but she wouldn’t oppose the status quo.
Wilson said she wouldn’t support a public lands bill that turns federal land over to states, but that she realized that in western states federal ownership erodes the tax base, and felt that the PILT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) program needed to be expanded.
“Western Democrats support it, this is why we need more western Democrats,” she said. “I strongly believe that the urban elected, the Chuck Schumer’s of the world, need a better education on this. I’m a problem solver. I’d bring them out here.”
When asked what she wants Box Elder County voters to know about her, Wilson turned personal.
“Of everything I’ve done, what I love the most is being a mother,” she said. “I think that I have a unique perspective as a mother, and I would take that with me, that I get what it means to try and fund a vacation, and thinking about my kids going to college, and thinking about my parents aging – I want to get Congress to understand that.”
In November, Wilson will face the June 26 primary winner between Republicans Mitt Romney and Mike Kennedy.
May 30, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
The Democratic nominee running for the retiring Orrin Hatch’s United States Senate seat believes she can win in Utah, believes that Utah’s congressional delegation needs balance, and believes that she can better represent Utah values in Washington D.C. than either of the two Republicans left in the race.
Jenny Wilson, current Salt Lake County councilmember and daughter of former Salt Lake mayor, Ted Wilson, stopped in Brigham City during a May 21 campaign tour of northern Utah. The News Journal caught up with her while she was having lunch at J&D’s Family Restaurant, as she talked about her interests, her campaign, the issues facing Utah, and whether a Democrat can win in this deeply red state.
Wilson has served on the Salt Lake County Council since 2005, and holds the distinction of being the first woman elected to that body.
Speaking of her 13 years of legislative experience in Salt Lake County, Wilson said, “We’ve had a lot of governance change over the past decade, with new authorities formed for fire, for police, we now have new townships which diluted our unincorporated areas, so there’s just a lot going on.”
Growing up with a politician for a father, Wilson truly entered politics during her father’s 1988 gubernatorial run, where she served as his deputy press secretary under Randy Horiuchi.
“Randy was like the ‘go to the bar guy’ with all the reporters, and I was the one who wrote the press releases, and executed everything,” she said.
After her father’s loss to incumbent Norm Bangerter, Wilson, who had a degree in communications from the University of Utah, moved to Washington D.C. where she worked as a temp for the Utah Association of Counties, among other organizations, and eventually ended up working as an assistant press secretary for Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin in 1991. In 1992 she began working for Utah Congressman Bill Orton, first as a communications director, and later as his chief of staff, until Orton lost his seat in 1996 to Chris Cannon.
Wilson served in various supporting roles for Democratic organizations while earning her master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University in 1998. Until winning a council seat in 2005, Wilson worked in the private and non-profit sectors, including positions in administration, fundraising and project management for the Sundance Institute, Film Festival and Sundance Group, where she coordinated the training, management and retention of more than 20,000 volunteers for the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
When asked why she decided to run for the U.S. Senate, Wilson said it was because she felt that Hatch’s retirement opened up the possibility for change.
“I felt that we needed a really strong Democrat to file. Orrin Hatch had been there a very long time, and I started to feel that we just needed a change, that this was an opportunity to make the voice that I feel is important heard in a campaign,” said Wilson. “I know that we haven’t had a Democrat elected since the 1990s, but I also feel like this is a year where everything is sort of disrupted.”
Wilson spoke of the need for balance in Utah, and that having a Democrat in the Utah delegation could pay off for the state, having someone who could negotiate with other Democrats to address Utah’s needs.
“If we have six Republicans in this divided world, who’s going to speak to the other side?” she asked.
On the differences between Utah Democrats and the national Democratic party, Wilson said that national Democrats tend to speak for “very concentrated urban areas,” while Utah Democrats would represent the entire state, including rural populations.
“I feel like I’m educated on and very much understand our western issues,” she said, drawing a distinction between herself and the national party, as well as her presumptive Republican opponent.
Admitting that it will take Republican votes to get her elected, Wilson downplayed the “hot button” differences between herself and the average Utah Republican, offering a pitch based on pragmatism.
“I’ve got to hope that people will want a candidate who will straight talk (to them), which I’m going to give, who will give direct answers,” she said. “My positions are consistent. I’m sure there are a lot of people in Box Elder County who will look at my candidacy and go ‘there are a lot of things that I don’t agree with,’ on some of the issues that sometimes define Democrats and Republicans. But I can deliver, I’m highly strategic. I can form coalitions, and I want to work with Republicans.” Wilson gave an example of the Salt Lake County Council, with five Republicans and four Democrats, saying they work well together, and find compromises that bring a balance to county government.
On issues currently in the spotlight, Wilson pointed to the tax code revision last December as something she just couldn’t support.
“The day the tax bill passed, I held a press conference and said, sorry, this was not good for the working people of this state,” said Wilson, who expressed that the bill was passed by politicians who accept money from corporations.
On the opioid crisis, Wilson expressed support for states and counties suing drug companies that “knowingly hid the addictive nature” of their products from doctors, saying that local governments are right to try to recoup some of their funding spent on addiction treatment. She also said that more needs to be done about securing the southern border from narcotics smugglers, but doesn’t support a wall intended to stop migrant workers.
Wilson came out in support of the medical marijuana initiative currently in state headlines, but said she would not be in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana like a Colorado or Nevada.
When asked about her position on gun rights, Wilson gave a nuanced response.
“I understand the western way of life, and I love that I’m from the west, I chose to live here,” she said. “I had to work through, as a candidate representing the state of Utah, where the line was, and I realized pretty quickly I was going to have to land on the assault weapon ban, and I came out in favor of the assault weapon ban.” Although she expressed support for the second amendment, Wilson said she couldn’t “wrap her head around” an individual having “weapons of war,” saying that she would be in favor of limiting future production and purchases, but wouldn’t support confiscations.
“A person’s second amendment rights aren’t absolute,” she said. “We can put reasonable restrictions on that right.” Wilson continued that Utah’s current laws regarding concealed weapons, including allowing armed teachers in schools, were “risky either way,” but she wouldn’t oppose the status quo.
Wilson said she wouldn’t support a public lands bill that turns federal land over to states, but that she realized that in western states federal ownership erodes the tax base, and felt that the PILT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) program needed to be expanded.
“Western Democrats support it, this is why we need more western Democrats,” she said. “I strongly believe that the urban elected, the Chuck Schumer’s of the world, need a better education on this. I’m a problem solver. I’d bring them out here.”
When asked what she wants Box Elder County voters to know about her, Wilson turned personal.
“Of everything I’ve done, what I love the most is being a mother,” she said. “I think that I have a unique perspective as a mother, and I would take that with me, that I get what it means to try and fund a vacation, and thinking about my kids going to college, and thinking about my parents aging – I want to get Congress to understand that.”
In November, Wilson will face the June 26 primary winner between Republicans Mitt Romney and Mike Kennedy.
Clerk says her office ready for primary, election integrity is secure
May 16, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
This year’s June 26 primary election will be the first time an election is mostly conducted through voting by mail in Box Elder County, and County Clerk Marla Young says her office is ready.
The county recently obtained several machines that both count and flag the mailed ballots, as well as those that allow voting in-person at two polling locations in Tremonton and Brigham City, including machines that help those with visual impairments to cast ballots.
New in-person voting machines will be positioned at Utah State University Brigham City and the Tremonton Senior Center on election day, for those who don’t want to vote by mail. The machines will allow citizens to cast votes on a touch screen, have the completed ballot printed out, and will scan the completed ballot as it’s placed into a secure ballot box. Those ballots are then transported to the clerk’s office where they’ll be scanned just like a mailed ballot.
“By the way, none of our machines are ever connected to the internet,” said Young, speaking to the security of the system. “If we want early results, we need to put it on a thumb drive and physically take it to another computer.” The thumb drives are encrypted, and a security key is needed to download the vote data.
Secure drop-boxes will also be setup for ballot collection at the Willard, Perry, Honeyville, Tremonton and Garland city offices, as well as the clerk’s office.
“I’m very confident in the integrity of the vote-by-mail system that we’ve set up,” said Young. “We take every measure to ensure that it’s safeguarded.”
Tabulated batches are also randomly audited by the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s office, which is responsible for election oversight.
Early in-person voting for the upcoming primary can be done from June 19 through June 22 at the county clerk’s office. According to each state party’s rules, only registered Republicans can vote in a Republican primary, but Democratic primaries are open to any registered voter. If someone is unaffiliated with a party, they can affiliate and vote at the polling locations.
If a voter wants to change affiliations, it must be done 30 days prior to any election. For the June 26 primary, affiliations must be changed by May 27.
Registered voters should begin receiving their ballots in the mail on about June 6. Young said if people don’t receive their ballot, please call the County Clerk’s office at (435) 734-3393, or drop in and speak with an employee.
More information on elections can be found at the County Clerk’s elections website, www.boxeldercounty.org/elections.htm.
May 16, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
This year’s June 26 primary election will be the first time an election is mostly conducted through voting by mail in Box Elder County, and County Clerk Marla Young says her office is ready.
The county recently obtained several machines that both count and flag the mailed ballots, as well as those that allow voting in-person at two polling locations in Tremonton and Brigham City, including machines that help those with visual impairments to cast ballots.
New in-person voting machines will be positioned at Utah State University Brigham City and the Tremonton Senior Center on election day, for those who don’t want to vote by mail. The machines will allow citizens to cast votes on a touch screen, have the completed ballot printed out, and will scan the completed ballot as it’s placed into a secure ballot box. Those ballots are then transported to the clerk’s office where they’ll be scanned just like a mailed ballot.
“By the way, none of our machines are ever connected to the internet,” said Young, speaking to the security of the system. “If we want early results, we need to put it on a thumb drive and physically take it to another computer.” The thumb drives are encrypted, and a security key is needed to download the vote data.
Secure drop-boxes will also be setup for ballot collection at the Willard, Perry, Honeyville, Tremonton and Garland city offices, as well as the clerk’s office.
“I’m very confident in the integrity of the vote-by-mail system that we’ve set up,” said Young. “We take every measure to ensure that it’s safeguarded.”
Tabulated batches are also randomly audited by the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s office, which is responsible for election oversight.
Early in-person voting for the upcoming primary can be done from June 19 through June 22 at the county clerk’s office. According to each state party’s rules, only registered Republicans can vote in a Republican primary, but Democratic primaries are open to any registered voter. If someone is unaffiliated with a party, they can affiliate and vote at the polling locations.
If a voter wants to change affiliations, it must be done 30 days prior to any election. For the June 26 primary, affiliations must be changed by May 27.
Registered voters should begin receiving their ballots in the mail on about June 6. Young said if people don’t receive their ballot, please call the County Clerk’s office at (435) 734-3393, or drop in and speak with an employee.
More information on elections can be found at the County Clerk’s elections website, www.boxeldercounty.org/elections.htm.
Romney primary opponent courts Box Elder voters
May 16, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
Mike Kennedy, the Utah County state representative who bested Mitt Romney at the state Republican convention last month, appeared at a campaign event in front of Box Elder County voters on Thursday night.
Kennedy, who is a practicing medical family doctor and also holds a law degree from Brigham Young University, spoke to approximately 40 interested people assembled at the Brigham City Senior Center, telling them he’s the candidate that can best represent Utahns in the United States Senate.
Referencing the story of David and Goliath, Kennedy cast himself as David, the Hebrew shepherd boy from the Bible who went up against the giant Goliath and won, toppling him with a stone from a sling. To drive the point home, Kennedy campaign workers passed out ‘stones’ with Kennedy’s campaign emblem printed on them.
“When David took on the fearsome Goliath, he wasn’t fighting for himself, he was fighting for the liberty of his people,” said Kennedy. “I love that, I think that this is what it’s all about.”
Kennedy took over John Dougall’s District 27 seat in the Utah House in 2013, and highlighted his experience as that of a local public servant with deep roots in Utah.
“I’ve been serving in the state House of Representatives, and it has been a privilege for me to work together with my colleague legislators to try and move Utah issues forward, making sure we address the issues that we confront in this state,” he said.
He continued that as a doctor he was a trained listener, and that as an attorney he was a trained advocate, and would use his experience in those fields plus his legislative experience to help solve Utah issues in Washington, D.C.
“I believe one of the biggest issues we confront in our society is our deficit,” said the candidate. “People have asked me on the campaign trail what I focus on. I focus on three primary things – deficit reduction, deficit reduction, and deficit reduction.” He added that the deficit was America’s “greatest national security threat,” saying that if the country didn’t have money it couldn’t address other threats. He also highlighted securing the border from terrorists and illegal immigrants, restoring Washington D.C. back to principles of limited government, and protecting the rights of the unborn as other priorities.
Kennedy’s prepared remarks were brief, instead devoting the largest share of his time to answering questions from those assembled.
“What grade would you give President Trump?” asked a woman.
“I’d give him an A,” said Kennedy. “His approach has been historical. I’m amazed that in a little over a year we’re seeing things like those two presidents [in Korea] shaking hands and working together. Whatever the media might continue to say about our president, something really positive is happening there.” Kennedy did express some disagreement, wishing that Trump would “tweet a little less.”
When asked about his support for CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel, who oversaw terrorist detainee interrogations that included waterboarding, Kennedy said he didn’t know all the facts, and that he had to defer to the president, who needed qualified people in key positions.
“As to her circumstances, I’m not going to render judgement,” he said. “I would say we need to move forward on those things in a timely fashion, and I want good information before I make my decisions.”
When asked about the “deep state,” meaning unaccountable career bureaucrats exercising the levers of power, Kennedy stated that the country had drifted far from enumerated powers designated in the constitution, and that legislators were to blame for ceding their oversight and authority to agencies and bureaus.
“When it comes to legislation, you can do something called rulemaking. You can give a general framework and then say ‘I’ll let the rulemaking process move forward and these people can make the rules.’ That’s not something that I would do. If it takes me longer to write the bill the way it should be, and it’s still under legislative purview, that’s something we should be doing.”
In response to other questions, Kennedy stated he supports building a wall between the United States and Mexico, supports limiting federal control over state lands to unlock energy and other economic development, would vote to completely repeal Obamacare, and is a “strong supporter” of the second amendment.
After being asked if he would be closer philosophically to retiring Senator Orrin Hatch or Senator Mike Lee, Kennedy didn’t hesitate.
“Mike Lee,” he answered.
A question that no one asked during the meeting was posed by the News Journal in a private conversation after the event: “What is the difference between you and Mitt Romney?”
“Policy-wise, I think the key difference in this race is between a ‘Massachusetts Republican’ and ‘Utah Republican,’” said Kennedy. “He’s done many things in Massachusetts that probably are different than what we would do here. Romneycare would be the most obvious example.” Calling Romney’s healthcare plan the “blueprint for Obamacare,” Kennedy said it wasn’t what the people of Utah support. “It’s a representation of one of the things that distinguishes us.”
When asked about Romney’s claim that he could be the more effective senator because he already has relationships with other politicians, Kennedy didn’t agree.
“The more people you know in Washington, the more people you owe in Washington,” he said. “The reality is those relationships go both ways. I don’t know anybody in Washington, and I don’t owe them anything. I’ll go there to represent the people of Utah.”
The Republican primary election is scheduled for June 26. The winner between Kennedy and Romney will go on to face Democratic nominee Jenny Wilson in the November election.
May 16, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
Mike Kennedy, the Utah County state representative who bested Mitt Romney at the state Republican convention last month, appeared at a campaign event in front of Box Elder County voters on Thursday night.
Kennedy, who is a practicing medical family doctor and also holds a law degree from Brigham Young University, spoke to approximately 40 interested people assembled at the Brigham City Senior Center, telling them he’s the candidate that can best represent Utahns in the United States Senate.
Referencing the story of David and Goliath, Kennedy cast himself as David, the Hebrew shepherd boy from the Bible who went up against the giant Goliath and won, toppling him with a stone from a sling. To drive the point home, Kennedy campaign workers passed out ‘stones’ with Kennedy’s campaign emblem printed on them.
“When David took on the fearsome Goliath, he wasn’t fighting for himself, he was fighting for the liberty of his people,” said Kennedy. “I love that, I think that this is what it’s all about.”
Kennedy took over John Dougall’s District 27 seat in the Utah House in 2013, and highlighted his experience as that of a local public servant with deep roots in Utah.
“I’ve been serving in the state House of Representatives, and it has been a privilege for me to work together with my colleague legislators to try and move Utah issues forward, making sure we address the issues that we confront in this state,” he said.
He continued that as a doctor he was a trained listener, and that as an attorney he was a trained advocate, and would use his experience in those fields plus his legislative experience to help solve Utah issues in Washington, D.C.
“I believe one of the biggest issues we confront in our society is our deficit,” said the candidate. “People have asked me on the campaign trail what I focus on. I focus on three primary things – deficit reduction, deficit reduction, and deficit reduction.” He added that the deficit was America’s “greatest national security threat,” saying that if the country didn’t have money it couldn’t address other threats. He also highlighted securing the border from terrorists and illegal immigrants, restoring Washington D.C. back to principles of limited government, and protecting the rights of the unborn as other priorities.
Kennedy’s prepared remarks were brief, instead devoting the largest share of his time to answering questions from those assembled.
“What grade would you give President Trump?” asked a woman.
“I’d give him an A,” said Kennedy. “His approach has been historical. I’m amazed that in a little over a year we’re seeing things like those two presidents [in Korea] shaking hands and working together. Whatever the media might continue to say about our president, something really positive is happening there.” Kennedy did express some disagreement, wishing that Trump would “tweet a little less.”
When asked about his support for CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel, who oversaw terrorist detainee interrogations that included waterboarding, Kennedy said he didn’t know all the facts, and that he had to defer to the president, who needed qualified people in key positions.
“As to her circumstances, I’m not going to render judgement,” he said. “I would say we need to move forward on those things in a timely fashion, and I want good information before I make my decisions.”
When asked about the “deep state,” meaning unaccountable career bureaucrats exercising the levers of power, Kennedy stated that the country had drifted far from enumerated powers designated in the constitution, and that legislators were to blame for ceding their oversight and authority to agencies and bureaus.
“When it comes to legislation, you can do something called rulemaking. You can give a general framework and then say ‘I’ll let the rulemaking process move forward and these people can make the rules.’ That’s not something that I would do. If it takes me longer to write the bill the way it should be, and it’s still under legislative purview, that’s something we should be doing.”
In response to other questions, Kennedy stated he supports building a wall between the United States and Mexico, supports limiting federal control over state lands to unlock energy and other economic development, would vote to completely repeal Obamacare, and is a “strong supporter” of the second amendment.
After being asked if he would be closer philosophically to retiring Senator Orrin Hatch or Senator Mike Lee, Kennedy didn’t hesitate.
“Mike Lee,” he answered.
A question that no one asked during the meeting was posed by the News Journal in a private conversation after the event: “What is the difference between you and Mitt Romney?”
“Policy-wise, I think the key difference in this race is between a ‘Massachusetts Republican’ and ‘Utah Republican,’” said Kennedy. “He’s done many things in Massachusetts that probably are different than what we would do here. Romneycare would be the most obvious example.” Calling Romney’s healthcare plan the “blueprint for Obamacare,” Kennedy said it wasn’t what the people of Utah support. “It’s a representation of one of the things that distinguishes us.”
When asked about Romney’s claim that he could be the more effective senator because he already has relationships with other politicians, Kennedy didn’t agree.
“The more people you know in Washington, the more people you owe in Washington,” he said. “The reality is those relationships go both ways. I don’t know anybody in Washington, and I don’t owe them anything. I’ll go there to represent the people of Utah.”
The Republican primary election is scheduled for June 26. The winner between Kennedy and Romney will go on to face Democratic nominee Jenny Wilson in the November election.
Election picture clears following conventions
May 2, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
Republicans and Democrats held their respective state conventions in April, whittling down the field of candidates and putting some through to the November election while sending others to a June 26 primary.
Utah House District 1
The race for Utah House District 1 saw former Box Elder County GOP Chairman Joel Ferry claim the nomination with a 63 percent to 37 percent victory over challenger Kris Udy at the April 21 Republican convention. Ferry now moves on the general election in November, where he will face Democrat Joshua Hardy and Constitution Party candidate Sherry Phipps. Neither Hardy nor Phipps faced any challengers from within their own parties.
“I am honored and excited to have earned the Republican nomination for State House District 1 today at State Convention,” said Ferry in a released statement. “I look forward to meeting more district members, the election in November and serving you at the Capitol.”
Utah Senate District 17
The race for Utah Senate District 17 remains tight between the two GOP candidates, with former Brigham City mayor, Clark Davis, heading into a primary with current District 1 Representative Scott Sandall.
Davis won 54 percent of the vote to Sandall’s 46 percent at the convention, with neither candidate surpassing the 60 percent threshold necessary to win the nomination.
“We were thrilled to receive 80 of the 147 votes cast by state delegates,” said Davis. “We hope to continue this momentum into the primary to be held June 26.”
“I very much appreciate the opportunity the caucus-convention process gives me as a candidate,”said Sandall. “Allowing me to visit so many great delegates, one-on-one, makes me a better public servant as I hear their needs and concerns. I look forward to this primary election season where I can continue to meet with the residents of state senate district 17.”
The winner of the June 26 primary will face Democrat Michael Keil in November’s general election. Keil ran unopposed for his party’s nomination.
U.S. House of Representatives, District 1
Eight-term Congressman Rob Bishop avoided a Republican primary, winning 68.05 percent of the delegate vote over challenger Chadwick Fairbanks. Bishop will now advance to the general election against the winner of a Democratic Party primary on June 26 between Lee Castillo of Layton or Kurt Weiland of Bountiful.
Castillo and Weiland are involved in a close race, with Castillo taking 53 percent of the delegate vote versus 47 percent for Weiland at the April 28 state Democratic convention.
Weiland contacted the News Journal on Monday to announce that he is in talks with the Castillo campaign to organize a series of debates prior to the June 26 primary.
“We’re going to try to do it across the northern tier, with Brigham City or Tremonton, and then Layton, Ogden, Logan and Park City,” said Weiland. No official dates or locations have yet been announced.
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney will be going to a June 26 primary against opponent Mike Kennedy. Kennedy defeated Romney, 51 percent to 49 percent, at the state Republican convention, but short of the needed 60 percent to avoid a primary. Romney and Kennedy emerged from a crowded field of 12 candidates at the convention.
Romney stated that he felt his choice to gather signatures through “County My Vote” provisions may have played a part in not clinching the nomination outright.
“I can’t possibly imagine that I’m speaking for the minds of the delegates, but I know that there were many people that were not enthusiastic about someone who gathered signatures,” Romney said to state media outlets following the second-place showing. “Frankly, given the fact that I collected signatures, and the delegates don’t like people who collect signatures, I’m delighted with the outcome.”
Kennedy, both a doctor and a lawyer, is a three-term representative to the Utah House from Alpine.
“Thank you so much to all of the delegates for your votes today,” said Kennedy in a statement. “I look forward to winning the support from voters across the state in the primary on June 26. Now let’s go clean up Washington!”
On the Democratic side, Salt Lake County Councilmember Jenny Wilson easily secured her party’s nomination at Saturday’s convention.
Wilson, the daughter of of former Salt Lake City mayor, Ted Wilson, took 81 percent of the vote, knocking out opponents Larry Livingston, Mitchell Vice and Jeff Dransfield.
Wilson is already campaigning against Romney, telling delegates at Saturday’s convention that if Romney needed driving directions to Tabiona, Escalante, Ephraim or Brigham City, she’d be willing to help “because I’m actually from this state.”
May 2, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
Republicans and Democrats held their respective state conventions in April, whittling down the field of candidates and putting some through to the November election while sending others to a June 26 primary.
Utah House District 1
The race for Utah House District 1 saw former Box Elder County GOP Chairman Joel Ferry claim the nomination with a 63 percent to 37 percent victory over challenger Kris Udy at the April 21 Republican convention. Ferry now moves on the general election in November, where he will face Democrat Joshua Hardy and Constitution Party candidate Sherry Phipps. Neither Hardy nor Phipps faced any challengers from within their own parties.
“I am honored and excited to have earned the Republican nomination for State House District 1 today at State Convention,” said Ferry in a released statement. “I look forward to meeting more district members, the election in November and serving you at the Capitol.”
Utah Senate District 17
The race for Utah Senate District 17 remains tight between the two GOP candidates, with former Brigham City mayor, Clark Davis, heading into a primary with current District 1 Representative Scott Sandall.
Davis won 54 percent of the vote to Sandall’s 46 percent at the convention, with neither candidate surpassing the 60 percent threshold necessary to win the nomination.
“We were thrilled to receive 80 of the 147 votes cast by state delegates,” said Davis. “We hope to continue this momentum into the primary to be held June 26.”
“I very much appreciate the opportunity the caucus-convention process gives me as a candidate,”said Sandall. “Allowing me to visit so many great delegates, one-on-one, makes me a better public servant as I hear their needs and concerns. I look forward to this primary election season where I can continue to meet with the residents of state senate district 17.”
The winner of the June 26 primary will face Democrat Michael Keil in November’s general election. Keil ran unopposed for his party’s nomination.
U.S. House of Representatives, District 1
Eight-term Congressman Rob Bishop avoided a Republican primary, winning 68.05 percent of the delegate vote over challenger Chadwick Fairbanks. Bishop will now advance to the general election against the winner of a Democratic Party primary on June 26 between Lee Castillo of Layton or Kurt Weiland of Bountiful.
Castillo and Weiland are involved in a close race, with Castillo taking 53 percent of the delegate vote versus 47 percent for Weiland at the April 28 state Democratic convention.
Weiland contacted the News Journal on Monday to announce that he is in talks with the Castillo campaign to organize a series of debates prior to the June 26 primary.
“We’re going to try to do it across the northern tier, with Brigham City or Tremonton, and then Layton, Ogden, Logan and Park City,” said Weiland. No official dates or locations have yet been announced.
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney will be going to a June 26 primary against opponent Mike Kennedy. Kennedy defeated Romney, 51 percent to 49 percent, at the state Republican convention, but short of the needed 60 percent to avoid a primary. Romney and Kennedy emerged from a crowded field of 12 candidates at the convention.
Romney stated that he felt his choice to gather signatures through “County My Vote” provisions may have played a part in not clinching the nomination outright.
“I can’t possibly imagine that I’m speaking for the minds of the delegates, but I know that there were many people that were not enthusiastic about someone who gathered signatures,” Romney said to state media outlets following the second-place showing. “Frankly, given the fact that I collected signatures, and the delegates don’t like people who collect signatures, I’m delighted with the outcome.”
Kennedy, both a doctor and a lawyer, is a three-term representative to the Utah House from Alpine.
“Thank you so much to all of the delegates for your votes today,” said Kennedy in a statement. “I look forward to winning the support from voters across the state in the primary on June 26. Now let’s go clean up Washington!”
On the Democratic side, Salt Lake County Councilmember Jenny Wilson easily secured her party’s nomination at Saturday’s convention.
Wilson, the daughter of of former Salt Lake City mayor, Ted Wilson, took 81 percent of the vote, knocking out opponents Larry Livingston, Mitchell Vice and Jeff Dransfield.
Wilson is already campaigning against Romney, telling delegates at Saturday’s convention that if Romney needed driving directions to Tabiona, Escalante, Ephraim or Brigham City, she’d be willing to help “because I’m actually from this state.”
Sparse turnout at Democrat’s county convention does not dampen fighting spirit to ‘turn Utah blue’
April 25, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
Box Elder County Democrats held their 2018 nominating convention on Saturday, but with only one candidate to nominate for county office, and a Jazz basketball playoff game on TV, turnout was sparse.
Approximately 30 people in total came out to the Box Elder County Fairgrounds for the event, with seven of those being candidates for state and federal office, and four being county party officials. The only local candidate fielded by the party, Seth Durfee, who is running for Box Elder County Commission Seat B, was nominated in absentia by acclimation.
The low turnout didn’t dampen the fighting spirit of the featured speaker, however, as State Senator Gene Davis exhorted local Democrats not to cede anything to Republicans.
“As I look at you all, I know I’m just as excited as you are for the blue wave that’s coming up,” began Davis. “We’re going to drive forward. We’re going to turn Utah blue.”
Davis, currently the Utah Senate minority leader, told those assembled that there are only five Democrats in the Utah Senate, and that he needs help to grow their numbers.
“I need help from Utahns to drive Utah forward,” he said. “It concerns me when I see the lack of affordable housing that we have in the state of Utah. We need to address this.”
“We’ve looked down so long at our shoes,” said Davis, concluding his remarks. “It’s time we look up and see the sunshine, and say ‘yes we can.’ I ask for your vote. I ask you to help me gain a Democratic majority in the Utah House and Senate.”
Other speakers included Mitchell Vice, candidate for U.S. Senate; Wilson campaign press secretary Allie Vallarta, speaking for U.S. Senate candidate Jenny Wilson; Lee Castillo, candidate for U.S. House District 1, Kurt Weiland, also running for U.S. House District 1; Mike Keil, who is running for Utah Senate District 17; Josh Hardy, running for Utah House District 1; and Kerry Wayne, running for Utah House District 29.
April 25, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
Box Elder County Democrats held their 2018 nominating convention on Saturday, but with only one candidate to nominate for county office, and a Jazz basketball playoff game on TV, turnout was sparse.
Approximately 30 people in total came out to the Box Elder County Fairgrounds for the event, with seven of those being candidates for state and federal office, and four being county party officials. The only local candidate fielded by the party, Seth Durfee, who is running for Box Elder County Commission Seat B, was nominated in absentia by acclimation.
The low turnout didn’t dampen the fighting spirit of the featured speaker, however, as State Senator Gene Davis exhorted local Democrats not to cede anything to Republicans.
“As I look at you all, I know I’m just as excited as you are for the blue wave that’s coming up,” began Davis. “We’re going to drive forward. We’re going to turn Utah blue.”
Davis, currently the Utah Senate minority leader, told those assembled that there are only five Democrats in the Utah Senate, and that he needs help to grow their numbers.
“I need help from Utahns to drive Utah forward,” he said. “It concerns me when I see the lack of affordable housing that we have in the state of Utah. We need to address this.”
“We’ve looked down so long at our shoes,” said Davis, concluding his remarks. “It’s time we look up and see the sunshine, and say ‘yes we can.’ I ask for your vote. I ask you to help me gain a Democratic majority in the Utah House and Senate.”
Other speakers included Mitchell Vice, candidate for U.S. Senate; Wilson campaign press secretary Allie Vallarta, speaking for U.S. Senate candidate Jenny Wilson; Lee Castillo, candidate for U.S. House District 1, Kurt Weiland, also running for U.S. House District 1; Mike Keil, who is running for Utah Senate District 17; Josh Hardy, running for Utah House District 1; and Kerry Wayne, running for Utah House District 29.
Box Elder county delegates flock to hear Romney campaign for Hatch Senate seat
April 18, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
Former Republican presidential nominee and current U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney stopped in Perry City on Friday, speaking with Box Elder County delegates in advance of Saturday’s Utah GOP convention.
Box Elder was the last of Utah’s 29 counties visited by Romney since announcing his intention last February to seek the seat of retiring senator, Orrin Hatch. The event was held at the home of Box Elder County Commissioner Jeff Hadfield, and attracted most, if not all, of the county’s 75 elected state delegates, with many standing in adjacent rooms to hear Romney speak.
Romney began by telling the delegates that he wasn’t planning on running for anything after his loss in the 2012 presidential election.
“I didn’t expect to be doing this,” he said. “Frankly I thought my political career was over after the 2012 election, so we bought the lot next to my son, Josh, in Holladay and started to build a house there.”
Romney bought the lot and began building a home in 2013, dividing his time between Utah and a beachfront home in La Jolla, California, as well as an apartment in Boston and a lakeside home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. By 2015 the Romneys had taken to calling Utah their primary residence.
“I got a call from Orrin Hatch in 2017, and he said ‘I’m not sure if I’m going to run again, and I think you ought to think about it,’” continued Romney. “And we began thinking about it, and Ann [Romney’s wife] convinced me that I ought to do it.”
Romney said his wife reasoned that a junior senator usually can’t get anything done, but someone with Romney’s experience, name-recognition and established relationships could get things done, and that he could represent the people of Utah with more success, wielding more influence than someone less known.
“I felt I had an obligation to get in there, because these are challenging times for our families, for our state, and for the country,” he said.
Touching on policy he would put forward as a senator, Romney stated that getting the federal government back under its constitutional constraints was his highest priority.
April 18, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
Former Republican presidential nominee and current U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney stopped in Perry City on Friday, speaking with Box Elder County delegates in advance of Saturday’s Utah GOP convention.
Box Elder was the last of Utah’s 29 counties visited by Romney since announcing his intention last February to seek the seat of retiring senator, Orrin Hatch. The event was held at the home of Box Elder County Commissioner Jeff Hadfield, and attracted most, if not all, of the county’s 75 elected state delegates, with many standing in adjacent rooms to hear Romney speak.
Romney began by telling the delegates that he wasn’t planning on running for anything after his loss in the 2012 presidential election.
“I didn’t expect to be doing this,” he said. “Frankly I thought my political career was over after the 2012 election, so we bought the lot next to my son, Josh, in Holladay and started to build a house there.”
Romney bought the lot and began building a home in 2013, dividing his time between Utah and a beachfront home in La Jolla, California, as well as an apartment in Boston and a lakeside home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. By 2015 the Romneys had taken to calling Utah their primary residence.
“I got a call from Orrin Hatch in 2017, and he said ‘I’m not sure if I’m going to run again, and I think you ought to think about it,’” continued Romney. “And we began thinking about it, and Ann [Romney’s wife] convinced me that I ought to do it.”
Romney said his wife reasoned that a junior senator usually can’t get anything done, but someone with Romney’s experience, name-recognition and established relationships could get things done, and that he could represent the people of Utah with more success, wielding more influence than someone less known.
“I felt I had an obligation to get in there, because these are challenging times for our families, for our state, and for the country,” he said.
Touching on policy he would put forward as a senator, Romney stated that getting the federal government back under its constitutional constraints was his highest priority.
Count My Vote signature gathering law throws county Republican convention into turmoil
April 11, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
At the Box Elder County Republican Convention on Saturday, incumbent county commissioners, Jeff Hadfield and Jeff Scott, both garnered over 60 percent of the county delegate vote, which in years past would have granted them the party nomination, but provisions of the Count My Vote law negated that, and had some officials questioning the usefulness of the convention system.
Hadfield defeated opponent, Charles Young, 64.86 percent to 35.14 for Commission Seat A, while Scott defeated Jon Adams 63.1 percent to 36.9 percent for Seat B.
However, because of Utah law allowing candidates to gather signatures to make the primary ballot, all four candidates will again square off in the primary election on June 26.
Young has gathered 503 signatures, two more than the 501 necessary to get on the primary ballot. Jon Adams gathered 527 signatures, also placing him on the primary ballot. Hadfield also gathered signatures, and had 547, guaranteeing his place in the primary whether he had won or lost at Saturday’s convention.
The situation had some questioning the relevance of the convention system.
“It’s made the convention pretty much useless in my opinion,” said a Republican county official who was present at the convention on Saturday.
The same type of scenario may also play out at the state Republican Convention on April 21, where District 1 Utah House candidate Joel Ferry has gathered 1,019 signatures, 19 more than needed to get on the primary ballot. His opponent, Kris Udy, decided not to gather signatures, and must beat Ferry outright at the convention in order to qualify to run against him in the primary.
Current District 1 Representative Scott Sandall, running for State Senate in District 17 against former Brigham City Mayor Clark Davis, has also gathered 2,002 signatures, exceeding the number needed by two for placement on the primary ballot. Davis will need to beat Sandall at the convention in order to run against him in the primary.
April 11, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer
At the Box Elder County Republican Convention on Saturday, incumbent county commissioners, Jeff Hadfield and Jeff Scott, both garnered over 60 percent of the county delegate vote, which in years past would have granted them the party nomination, but provisions of the Count My Vote law negated that, and had some officials questioning the usefulness of the convention system.
Hadfield defeated opponent, Charles Young, 64.86 percent to 35.14 for Commission Seat A, while Scott defeated Jon Adams 63.1 percent to 36.9 percent for Seat B.
However, because of Utah law allowing candidates to gather signatures to make the primary ballot, all four candidates will again square off in the primary election on June 26.
Young has gathered 503 signatures, two more than the 501 necessary to get on the primary ballot. Jon Adams gathered 527 signatures, also placing him on the primary ballot. Hadfield also gathered signatures, and had 547, guaranteeing his place in the primary whether he had won or lost at Saturday’s convention.
The situation had some questioning the relevance of the convention system.
“It’s made the convention pretty much useless in my opinion,” said a Republican county official who was present at the convention on Saturday.
The same type of scenario may also play out at the state Republican Convention on April 21, where District 1 Utah House candidate Joel Ferry has gathered 1,019 signatures, 19 more than needed to get on the primary ballot. His opponent, Kris Udy, decided not to gather signatures, and must beat Ferry outright at the convention in order to qualify to run against him in the primary.
Current District 1 Representative Scott Sandall, running for State Senate in District 17 against former Brigham City Mayor Clark Davis, has also gathered 2,002 signatures, exceeding the number needed by two for placement on the primary ballot. Davis will need to beat Sandall at the convention in order to run against him in the primary.