What do Internet memes with Ryan Gosling and neon green lawn signs have in common? They’re both part of Representative John Dougall’s campaign for State Auditor. The lawmaker is challenging 17-year incumbent Auston Johnson for the post, saying his opponent has been asleep at the wheel, and making the case that he’ll be a more aggressive watchdog for Utah taxpayers.
This fall, Millcreek voters will decide if the east-side suburb should remain a township or incorporate as the county’s 17th city. What would this mean for taxpayers and businesses? And how would becoming a full-fledged city affect Salt Lake County’s already-thin budget?
Former Republican State Senator Dan Liljenquist was counting on a strong showing in the GOP caucus meetings this spring to knock off six-term Senator Orrin Hatch this election year. But Hatch got his people out to support him, setting the challenger back a bit. Still, Liljenquist managed to secure enough votes to put Hatch in his first primary election since 1976.
Social justice and human rights are among the important issues for Angela Romero. The Democratic hopeful for the Utah House of Representatives defeated an incumbent state lawmaker, Brian Doughty, at the Salt Lake County Democratic Party Convention to capture the nomination for House District 26. Now, she’s running to represent the city’s west side neighborhood of Glendale, along with 9th and 9th, parts of downtown and West Valley City.
The state of Utah’s general fund is being eroded by tax exemptions and earmarks, hurting important needs like colleges and universities, the courts, water safety and environmental protection. That’s according to a new report issued by Voices for Utah Children, which is making new recommendations to the Utah Legislature to fix the problem.
If you recognize the name Breck England, it could because of his frequent op-eds in the newspaper, lambasting the Utah Legislature. Or perhaps it’s because the he’s co-written several books with famous Utah author Stephen Covey, and shared his expertise on LDS history. Now, the business consultant is hoping to win a seat in the Utah Legislature, running as a Democrat in Davis County.
Jeff Bell says he’s running for elected office because he got fed up. The Democrat says he’d rather be participating in the political process as a bystander, but the legislature has become too absurd. Bell can be heard online every week as host of The Left Show, one of many podcasts he created. We talked with him about his campaign for the Utah House of Representatives, where he’s running for an open seat.
Salt Lake City’s budgeting process for next year is expected to be much smoother than in years past, with revenues up instead of down, bolstered by an estimated million dollars in sales taxes from the newly opened City Creek Center. But Mayor Ralph Becker says the city is still $11.5 million behind on its projects.
This year’s election for U.S. Senate could be a rematch. After challenging him in 2000, former Utah Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell is once again mounting a campaign against incumbent Orrin Hatch, who’s seeking a seventh term in office. Howell served 10 years in the Utah legislature, and was an executive for 34 years with IBM, where he says he’s helped produce economic growth.
The Supreme Court ruling Citizens United has swiftly become one of the most criticized judicial decisions in history. The 2010 ruling led to the creation of so-called Super PACs, collecting unlimited contributions in support of candidates from both parties. Now, a nationwide movement called Move to Amend seeks to overturn that decision, and it’s picking up steam here in Salt Lake City.
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