Showing posts with label 2014 General Election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2014 General Election. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

2014 Utah General Election: The Aftermath

"Three cheers for one-party rule!"

The Northern Utah print media provides the full post-election LOW-down:
The Weber County Election Office provides the final Weber County vote tallies:
It was a big day for our Utah "blue" state, all-in-all.

Here we go, O Gentle Ones.  Repeat after your blogmeister:  "Three cheers for one-party rule!"

Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Utah 2014 General Election: WCF Election Day Special - Updated

That's right folks. we'll go along with the Standard-Examiner, concerning possibly the most important set of candidate choices of the 2014 election season

It's Utah General Election Day 2014, folks.  You know what to do... do it at your neighborhood polling places.  Utah polls are open from 7am to 8pm, by the way. Unsure of your polling place location? Click this handy link, provide by the ever-helpful folks at Vote.Utah.Com:
Still undecided about the candidates who are worthy of your votes? Check out the our robust Election module in our right sidebar, which also includes information on these two individual 2014 candidates whom we've endorsed:
As an added bonus, we'll embed the text of this morning's strong Standard-Examiner editorial,which provides additional information concerning the three Ogden school board candidates whom we also endorsed.  This is an important editorial folks; so we've incorporated it in full:
Editor,
Collectively we hope to give voice to the teachers in Ogden School District who are too afraid to speak. We were teachers in Ogden School District and left because of the working environment created there. Some of us have children in the OSD. Many of us have even won teaching awards from Ogden School District but felt that we were undermined to the point where our students’ learning was suffering. While there may be teachers in the district who support the changes, we want to let the public know why over 100 teachers leave the district each year.
For the past few years, we have painfully watched as the Ogden City School Board has blindly approved every policy the Ogden superintendent has proffered. Even as the librarians were let go due to “budget issues” the superintendent was given cash bonuses, and the board acquiesced. When the public outcry reached the boiling point and letters were written, protests staged, and board meetings packed with angry citizens, the Ogden School Board turned a deaf ear ignoring the public’s pleas. When parents and citizens were alarmed at the mass exodus of veteran teachers, and the classroom sizes that topped forty, the board, again refused to act. Grass roots movements consisting of angry parents, citizens, and teachers demanded answers publicly, but the Ogden School Board remained silent and unanimously voted to renew the superintendent’s contract, replete with his cash bonuses.
We, the public, were promised that the “new direction” that the superintendent was taking the district would not lose any programs, teachers, or raise taxes. Each one of these promises was broken, and each decision was made with the unanimous support of the Ogden School Board. Now with the specter of SAGE results discrediting all of the grandiose promises of huge increases in test scores, we would like to urge the voters of Ogden to seriously consider voting in the three challengers. It is time to make a change for the sake of our students and teachers. Please vote for Douglas Barker-2, Dori Mosher-4, and Aaron Garza-7. Our students deserve the credibility and expertise they bring.
-Shane Pearson
-Jan Hollist
-Kristen Baddley-Blunck
-Lisa Vipperman
-Kim Irvine
-Charla Dean
-Lisa Arango
That's right folks. we'll go along with the Standard-Examiner, concerning the possibly most important set of candidate choices of the 2014 election season:
Update 11/4/2014 4:30 p.m.: Check back later this evening for election state-wide tallies after the polls close folks. In that connection, here's a link to tonight's real-time election results, via the Utah.Gov/Elections online utility:
For our Weber County readers' convenience, we're also providing a link for those races which are specific to Weber County ballots only:
Alternatively, Weber County will also be posting tonight's Weber County election results via this page:
For those interested in following tonight's national mid-term election results, check out the NBC News Decision 2014 Website:
And whatever happens tonight, don't let the cat get your tongues.

Friday, October 31, 2014

2014 Weber County Election Update: The Standard-Examiner Opens the Door To An Examination of Weber County Campaign Finance

We invite you to open  online pre-election candidate cheat-sheet, and prowl around a little bit. folks -  You'll be amazed how many individuals and entities are pouring out the dough for that "precious" elected official "access" [Wink]

With our Weber County Forum countdown clock ticking down to a mere minus four days until the November 4, 2014 Utah General Election, we'll shine the spotlight on yesterday's Kathy McKitrick story from the Standard-Examiner, which zeros in, laser-like, on one topic near and dear to your blogmeister's heart, campaign finance. Here's Ms. McKitick's lede:
OGDEN — Recent campaign finance reports revealed an influx of cash to Weber County candidates who are running unopposed, which prompts the question why donors give to recipients who lack the need to actively campaign.
“If the candidate doesn’t face an expensive race and is running unopposed, it’s hard to believe that money to that candidate won’t give some sort of special access once they’re serving,” said Jenn Gonnelly, co-president of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Utah,
Read up, folks:
Surprise of surprises.  Unopposed candidates on our November 4 Weber County ballots are reeling in cash contributions like madmen, despite the fact that their 2014 campaigns are absolute slam-dunks.

County Commissioner Kerry Gibson's 2014 campaign finance disclosure report illustrates one instance of this weird phenomenon, although Ms. McKitrick also provides numerous other examples of this surprising 2014 election campaign twist:
No one from any political party mounted a challenge this year to Republican incumbent Kerry Gibson, who will sail to a second term as Weber County commissioner this November. The former state lawmaker’s Oct. 28 report — the first he’s been required to file this year — showed that he started with a fund balance of $13,302 and brought in $12,650 in donations throughout 2014. 
Gibson’s largest donations include $5,000 from a political action committee called Preserve Ogden Valley, two $1,500 contributions from Randall Moulding and a business called AFC Tanks, and $1,000 from Staker Parsons, a six-decades-old sand, rock and concrete company.
And what's the motivation for this? Why do unopposed candidates solicit and accept campaign donation whilst running unopposed?
“Usually people spend money on campaigns to get a return on their investment, but they don’t waste their money,” said Leah Murray, an associate professor in political science at Weber State University.
“I don’t know if you’re buying influence so much as access,” Murray added. “If you want to make sure they take your call, you give.”
Ms. McKitrick has done a bang up job in opening the door to a discussion of 2014 Weber County Election campaign finance.  Accordingly, we're delighted to be able to offer our gentle WCF readers a little something more.  In that connection, we'll again provide the link to our robust online pre-election candidate cheat-sheet, which includes all campaign finance disclosures from all candidates who'll appear on Tuesday's (11/4/14) ballots.  Check it out, political wonks:
We invite you to open the link and prowl around a little bit. folks.  You'll be amazed how many individuals and entities are pouring out the dough for that "precious insider access" [Wink].

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Weber County 2014 Election Roundup: The Standard Excels Again, With Three New 2014 General Election Stories

Bottom line: Utah is ripe for political change, wethinks, so long as ALL registered voters to actually show up to vote

We gotta say the Standard-Examiner is doing a bang-up job of covering the November Utah General Elections this year. Here are the latest SE 2014 election stories which popped up within the last 24 hours.

1) Seems that House District 10 GOP incumbent Jeremy Peterson is taking liberties with the truth, shall we say, with respect to his 2014 Democratic Party opponent, Steve Olsen,  Peterson already has an advantage in District Nine, of course, due to 2008 Leg District gerrymandering by the EVIL 2008 Utah Legislature:
Our take? Seems that this little twit, Peterson, feels the heat of a smarter and more competent Demo candidate (Steve Olsen), who's breathing down Peterson's "skinny" neck, in this race.

Sodden question, why would Mr. Peterson sink so low as to actively misrepresent Mr. Olsen's stance in this? Here's a helpful hint.  Democratic professional engineer candidate Steve Olsen probably owns 20 or 30 IQ points over this clownish and shabby GOP real estate salesman, and Peterson senses that his House 9 "gig is up."

We urge you to vote Steve Olsen on this one, folks!

2) Whilst your blogmeister is not really overwhelmed  about the depth of Cathy McKitrick's story today, here's a link to today's Ogden School Board election story anyway, nevertheless:
Our WCF out-take? It might have been nice for Ms. McKirtick to have interviewed all Ogden School Board candidates about the mindless hiring and support of the original hiring of nitwit Brad Smith, rather than focusing on Common Core,  That's the issue Ms, MCkitrick missed, unfortunately.

Ahem, People! Oust all the Ogden School Board "Incumbent Toadies" Puh-Leeze! 

3) Smart editorial from the Standard-Examiner, also following up on our earlier WCF story, wherin we also urged "bhusy" Utah voters to vote early :
Get out and vote ealy WFC Lumpencizens , just as the S-E urges.  Despite you crappy work schedule, with early voting, there'e no real reason that all Utah voters can't cast their votes, this election season

4) And here's one reason why Utah remains on the outskirts of GOP crack-pottedness, by the way:
Utah is ripe for political change, wethinks, so long as ALL registered voters to actually show up to vote.

Monday, October 27, 2014

House District 10 Incumbent Dixon Pitcher: Asleep At The Switch?

Keep your eyes on the ball, Weber County Forum Readers who reside in Legislative District Ten -  Unlike the the current incumbent, you can rest assured assured that Eric Irvine is definitely not "asleep at the switch."

Interesting story from the Salt Lake Tribune, breaking down the chances for Utah Democrats to pick up a few state legislative seats in the upcoming 2014 November mid-term election. Within this story, SLTrib reporter Lee Davidson shines the spotlight on Weber County legislative District 10 race, wherein GOP incumbent Dixon M. Pitcher faces off against strong Democratic challenger Eric D. Irvine.

Earlier, we duly noted that Pitcher had "failed and refused" to stand for an interview with the Standard's Cathy McKitrick for this S-E story, wherein Ms. McKitrick originally reported that "Attempts to reach [Legislative District 10 candidate Dixon] Pitcher by phone were unsuccessful and he did respond to emails."  Although Pitcher seems to have finally responded after the fact (Ms. McKitrick's story has now apparently been amended), we'll reiterate that Mr. Pitcher  still doesn't seem "much interested in participating in [his own] election campaign,"  as is demonstrated  in the below  linked Lee Davidson 10/26/14 story, wherein Mr Davidson reports that "Pitcher [again] did not return phone calls":
Troublingly, we also learn from a separate online source that Mr. Pitcher was also a "no show" for yet another important campaign related interview:

 "That was the case when it came to candidate interviews with our PAC. He said he would be there, then never showed, then called a few weeks later to apologize because he had a conflict come up. I kind of like my legislators to be responsible with their commitments. I really hope you win, Eric," says the Utah Education Association's Matt Ogle.

Our take?  Mr. Pitcher's campaign performance can be viewed as troublingly "flaky" at best. It could also reflect just the kind of Utah GOP arrogance which we detest, in a worse case scenario, of course.

Keep your eyes on the ball, Weber County Forum Readers who reside in Legislative District 10. The Democrats have fielded a fine candidate in Eric Irvine, whom we heartily endorse. Unlike the the current incumbent, you can rest assured assured that Mr. Irvine is definitely not "asleep at the switch."

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

2014 Utah Election Update: Early Voting Starts Today

Don't vote? Don't complain!


Click this handy link below for additional information, including Weber County early voting polling locations:
For further information on candidates and issues appearing on our Weber County ballots, check out our handy 2014 General Election Module in the right sidebar, which features (among other things) our below-linked online voter information guide:

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

2014 Weber County Election Update: A Couple of Informative Stories Via The Standard-Examiner

We've also provided a link to our own handy pre-election candidate information page, for those readers who'd like to dig a little bit deeper

With the Utah Elections looming in under 14 days, we'll augment our 2014 election coverage with two excellent stories appearing on the pages of the Standard-Examiner this week.

First, Cathy McKitrick provides this candidate overview, briefly providing thumbnail sketches of most of the candidates appearing on your November 4, 2014 Weber County Ballots:
Notably, regarding Medicaid expansion, one of the biggest issues in Utah this year,  Legislative District 8 candidate Gage Froerer's approach to the issue is pretty typical of the rest of the GOP candidates, who seem to be reading from the same script, a script no doubt authored by those out-of-state political meddlers, American Legislative Council (ALEC):
Froerer favors a work requirement in order to access Medicaid services and also questioned the federal government’s ability to reimburse the state’s costs into the future.
In our view the Democratic Party candidates generally adopt a more sensible and humane approach, we think, as is expressed by Legislative District 9 candidate Steve Olsen:
“... [A]ny unbiased examination of the facts are clear that simple Medicaid expansion would have been the smarter fiscal choice (as the Governor’s blue ribbon committee reported),” Olsen said, “and the only reason we didn’t do it was because the name ‘Obama’ was attached to it.”
Seems it's only paranoid GOP candidates who are obsessed with possible "freeloaders," we guess.

And here's a story quote which we believe stuck out like a sore thumb:
Attempts to reach [Legislative District 10 candidate Dixon] Pitcher by phone were unsuccessful and he did respond to emails.
Pitcher isn't much interested in participating in an election campaign, we suppose.  If for only that reason alone, we believe his Democratic opponent, Eric Irvine (whom we've already endorsed for a variety of other reasons), deserves your vote, in Legislative District 10,

P.S.: Regarding the Weber County Government races, it's a shame that so many (GOP) candidates are running unopposed, and that Weber County voters don't have more choices,  we'll add.

Next, Ms. McKitrick also provides a particularly robust story, concerning  one of the four proposition-type measures appearing on November ballots, i.e., Weber County Proposition 1. Read up, folks.  This is by far one of the most informative election writeups that the Standard-Examiner has carried during the current election cycle:
Our take? This ballot measure ought to be approved by Weber County voters with a hearty slam-dunk.

We'll also helpfully provide our own handy pre-election candidate information page, for those readers who'd like to dig a little bit deeper:
The floor's open for you comments as always, O Gentle Weber County Forum Readers.

Monday, October 13, 2014

2014 Utah General Elections Spotlight: Four Weber County Ballot "Propositions"

Vote smart, Weber County Lumpencitizens -- Don't enter those voting booths on November 4 without being completely and fully informed

With a mere 20 days remaining until the 2014 Utah General Election, we'll fatten out our pre-election coverage, beginning with with this informative morning article from the ever-excellent UtahPoliticoHub. Here's the lede, folks:
Something you can count on for every state-level election is getting one or more ballot questions asking you to amend the Utah constitution. About 90% of the time, they’re very dry and somewhat boring technical changes. While the state has some good documents on the arguments for and against each, most voters are looking for a TL;DR summary of the positions. Keep reading to get a five-minute breakdown of what each constitutional amendment means.
Check out the full article here, folks:
For those political wonks who might feel the above summary is still a mite meager, here's a more complete array of  information and  pro-con arguments concerning these heretore three "mysterious" proposed amendments, gleaned straight from the Lt. Governor Cox's VoteUtah.Com website:
As to above-linked Amendment A, the Standard's Cathy McKitrick reported this morning that this proposed amendment is already generating predictable and significant controversy:
“It’s a huge deal, a big change, and a grab by large corporations to take any vestige of fairness out of the state Tax Commission” “This is the single most outrageous thing on the ballot this year because it pits residential property owners against the mighty industrial segments of our state; and it has been done so stealthily that if the ma and pa taxpayers realized what the Republicans were planning here, they would be outraged,” State Senator Jim Dabakis forcefully complains.

Mr. Dabakis make a good point, wethinks.

As an added bonus, we'll also shine the spotlight on the fourth proposition "item" which will appear on your 2014 Weber County ballots, folks.  Seems it's already time for Weber County voters to renew authorization of the R.A.M.P.Tax:
And there you have it. We hope you'll open the above links and carefully weigh the arguments, folks.

Vote smart, Weber County Lumpencitizens.  Don't enter those voting booths on November 4 without being completely and fully informed.

Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Standard Examiner: 1st Congressional District Showdown - Updated

In the Fall, Fire them All!

Due to yesterday's "game-changing" news, wherein the most severe crackpot "haters" got their derrieres kicked to to curb, we have a couple of Sunday Standard-Examiner 2014 Utah General Election stories which got diverted to the back burner.  Here ya finally go, however folks.  Better late than never, we hope.

Check out these two most excellent Cathy McKitrick 2014 Utah General Election stories, which shine the spotlight on the two "major party" candidates (Rob Bishop and Donna McAleer) in the ongoing Utah Congressional District 1 race, based upon interviews with Standard-Examiner staff:
Blockbuster Top Question and Answer of the two-candidate series, in our never humble opinion?
Question: "What would you ask your opponent?"
Donna McAleer: “Do you really want this job, Congressman Bishop, because you seem quite bored and not engaged in delivering results for Utah."
Added Bonus 5:20 p.m.:  Check out Libertarian candidate  Craig Bowden's responses, which he graciously provided us earlier this afternoon, upon extremely short notice:
Our take with respect to Mr. Bowden's candidacy?  Keep an eye on this guy, as a viable alternative to the other three.

In connection with Rep. Bishop's extended time in Congress, we do believe that the feisty Ms. McAleer raises a salient point, which is artistically well-illustrated by Pat Bagley, the Trib's "Cartoonist on Residence." in this recent and totally boffo SL Trib "editorial cartoon," which pretty well captures Bishop's Congressional attitude, wethinks:


For our own part, we'll remind our readers of the ever-most important principle for which all "concerned" political wonks operate, those who are concerned with good government, that is:


Here are the web links to the other two (third-party) candidates whom the Standard inexpicably left outta the whole discussion, BTW:
Be sure to check them out too, despite the fact that the Standard refuses to admit that they even exist.

Just another helpul hint from yer old pal Rudi.

Saturday, October 04, 2014

Utah AG Candidate Andrew McCullough: "A Change is Gonna Come"

Vote for the best AG candidate; you know, just for once

In connection with our upcoming November 4, 2014 Utah elections, we'll present this:

Check out Utah Attorney General Candidate Andrew McCullough's most excellent new blog post, which further fortifies your blogmeister's belief that Andy McCullough  is by far the best 2014 choice for Utah Attorney General. Don't get all "pissy," my Demo and GOP friends. Andrew MCullough is clearly the best 2014 Utah AG choice to to clean up the mess that Mark Shurleff and Swallow (and particularly) that GOP-FAWNING little GOP "suckup"candidate, i.e., Sean Reyes, hasn't yet cleaned up:
Please read, and fully absorb it.

Andrew McCullough clearly speaks the truth. and nothing but the truth.

Please try to do something bold and useful in your lives for once, Utah voters. Use the brains that your "Gawd" gave you. Ditch your knee-jerk "major party" affiliations... in the 2014 Utah AG race... at least.

Please vote for the best AG candidate... you know, just for once?

Friday, October 03, 2014

Weber County Forum Friday Morning News Roundup

A few notable news stories which have been languishing on our WCF back burner

In the interest of kicking off any possible Friday Weber County Forum discusssion (on an otherwise sl-o-o-o-w news day), we're reeling out for your perusal a few notable news stories which have been languishing on our WCF back burner

1) With 10 felony charges hanging over his head, we'll guess that opportunities in the legal profession are a mite thin.  Nevertheless we learn that former Attorney General Mark Shurtleff isn't letting any grass grow under his feet, as the Salt Lake Tribune reports on Shurtleff's latest legal representation venture:
Former Attorney General Mark Shurtleff attended Tuesday’s state liquor commission meeting, working as legal counsel for a new Orem-based business he owns with his brother.
Shurtleff and younger brother Kevin Shurtleff were requesting a special manufacturing permit for Now Neutraceuticals, which plans to make small aerosol inhalers that can quickly introduce different compounds — such as caffeine — into the lungs.
The inhaling solution includes a negligible amount of alcohol but still requires a special alcohol-use permit, which was unanimously approved by the five-member commission.
Read up, peeps;
Caffeine inhalers: Instant heart attack?

One Trib reader wryly sums it up: "Wow, from attorney general to general counsel for a 'huffing' enterprise'".

2) We've been relatively harsh critics of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) for many years; so we're now pleased to observe that one Weber County Commissioner (Kerry Gibson) is jumping on the bandwagon, in the wake of the full Commission's unanimous decision "to bump [one] Utah Transit Authority request off the list before approving this year’s round of local transportation funding for a dozen other projects":
Check out the above story to learn about the other twelve road-building boondoggles which the commission did unanimously approve.

Seems the Weber County Commission never stumbled upon a transportation project they didn't fall in love with... well, almost.

3) With the 2014 Utah General Election rolling out in exactly a month, we're delighted to put the spotlight on this strong Salt Lake Trib editorial, which pulls no punches concerning Northern Utah's pending 1st District Congressional race:
"A new poll from UtahPolicy.com shows that 81 percent of Utahns polled rated the job performance of the legislative branch as either somewhat or highly unfavorable. Nationally, 14 percent of voters approve of the job Congress is doing[...].Voters in Utah’s 1st Congressional District can do something about that in this election. They can send Donna McAleer to Washington," says the Tribune.

We'll be standing by with abated breath to find out whether strong editorials like this will aid in pulling Northern Utahns out of their paradoxical elective stupor.

4) To put a close to today's news roundup, we'll lodge, for our readers' attention, this truly remarkable Trib story, shining the spotlight on our truly remarkable Utah Lieutenant Governor,  Ya gotta admire Cox's boldness and candor:
We'll assume that Lt. Governor Cox may be unfamiliar with that oft-cited Ronald Reagan Eleventh Commandment, "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." We'll also presume that Lt. Governor Cox won't be receiving GOP backing for any other elective office any time soon. One thing's for sure: politics-wise, LT. Governor Cox is a true breath of fresh air.

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Big 2014 Campaign Event Tonight: Utah Attorney General Candidate Debate - Updated

Don't forget to mosey on back here later this evening, to share your post-debate notes, folks

Attention Weber County Forum Political wonks. Tonight's the night for the Utah Debate Commission's Utah Attorney General Candidate Debate, wherein Republican and Democratic Party candidates, Sean Reyes and Charles A. Stormont will square off  at 6:00 p.m. in the broadcast venues set forth below:


The Standard-Examiner carries this morning's online story on this topic for those WCF readers who'd like to bone up:
To refresh your recollection, these are the Utah Attorney General candidates who will appear on your November 4, 2014 Weber County ballots, by the way:

Attorney General
State of Utah - 4 year term
Declaration of CandidacyWebsite/Contact InfoCampaign Finance DisclosuresParty
Leslie D. CurtisLeslie D. Curtis Campaign WebsiteLeslie D. Curtis 2014Independent American
Gregory G. HansenGregory G. Hansen Campaign WebsiteGregory G. Hansen 2014Constitution
Andrew McCulloughAndrew McCullough Campaign WebsiteAndrew McCullough 2014Libertarian
Sean ReyesSean Reyes Campaign WebsiteSean Reyes 2014Republican
Charles A. StormontCharles A. Stormont Campaign WebsiteCharles A. Stormont 2014Democratic

Sadly, tonight's debate action will be limited to the GOP and DEMO opponents, as the Utah Debate Commission, in its "infinite wisdom", has cavalierly decided to exclude the three third-party candidates listed below, notwithstanding the fact that they've all qualified to appear on 2014 Weber County ballots:
Here's the UDC live video link, for those who'd prefer to view this event online:
And don't forget to mosey on back here later this evening, to share your post-debate notes, folks.

Update 10/02/14 6:15 a.m.: Both the Standard and Tribune carry brief reports on last night's debates:
ABC4 News provides the full recorded video:


Comments, anyone?

Update 10/3/14 11:45 a.m: Check out excluded UBC Libertarian AG candidate Andrew McCullough's withering post-debate retort:


Here's the "money quote":
I am the consummate outsider. I have never worked for the government, and I am not influenced by what government employees think is good for the government. I prefer to look at the job as legal counsel for the people of the State of Utah, and will work to promote their interests.
Awaken from your crackpot Sean Hannity stupor, O Utah voters.  The 2014 candidacy of Mr. McCullough represent the best opportunity to clean up the Utah Attonet General's Office, once and for all

Friday, September 26, 2014

Salt Lake Tribune: Utah Third Parties to File FEC Complaints Over Debate Exclusions - Updated

Our take? If you qualify for the ballot, you should be included in the debates

Surprise of surprises? As a predictable response to their ham-handed exclusion from the currently ongoing Utah Debate Commission debates, we learn from the Salt Lake Tribune that certain "third-party candidates upset at being left out of televised debates announced their intention Wednesday to file formal complaints with the Federal Election Commission and county district attorneys, among other officials":
Our take? If you qualify for the ballot, you should be included in the debates.

We'll be keeping a close eye on this development, to see how this all shakes out, of course, even though these late-in-coming legal efforts may amount to nothing more than "shutting the barn door, after the livestock have escaped."

Update 9/26/14 8:30 a.m.: Here's more from KSL News. “We’re getting charged if we want to have a similar amount of time, up to $2,000 for a 2:00 a.m. slot on broadcast media.” "Prime time slots can be costlier," Libertarian first district congressional candidate Craig Bowden complains:
Comments... anyone? Ferris?

Monday, September 22, 2014

Utah Elections 2014: Utah Debate Commission Live Broadcast Schedule - Updated

Sadly, all Utah third-party candidates have been entirely squeezed out

Attention Weber County Forum Political wonks. We're semi delighted to announce the first glimmerings of public events surrounding the upcoming 2014 Utah General Elections. Here's a nifty graphic highlighting the Utah Debate Commission debates which are coming up during the next couple of weeks:


Via the Utah Debate Commission website, here are the space-time coordinates for tommorrow's WSU campus event, which ought to be of interest to Weber County-situated political wonks who might like to personally attend:
1st Congressional District
Weber State University
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Ballroom B, Shepherd Union Bldg.
Click here for map and parking instructions.
Please visit weber.edu/walkerinstitute for ticket information.
For your convenience, here's a handy webpage for non-attendees who'd like to submit questions in advance.

Added bonus for those who'd like to view Tuesday's debate online:
The Utah First Congressional Debate will begin at 6:01 p.m. Tuesday September 23, 2014.

To refresh your recollection, these are the 1st Congressional District  U.S. House of  Representative candidates who will appear on your November 4, 2014 Weber County ballots, by the way:

U.S. House of Representatives
1st Congressional District - 2 year term
Declaration of CandidacyWebsite/Contact InfoCampaign Finance DisclosuresParty
Rob BishopRob Bishop Campaign WebsitePendingRepublican
Craig BowdenCraig Bowden Campaign WebsitePendingLibertarian
Donna McAleerDonna McAleer Campaign WebsitePendingDemocratic
Dwayne A. VanceDwayne A. Vance Campaign WebsitePendingIndependent American

Notably, in their questionable "wisdom," which some are labeling as pre-election chicanery, the Utah Debate Commission will be limiting tomorrow's debate podium to GOP and Demo candidates Rob Bishop and Donna McAleer only  That's right, folks Independent American and Libertarian candidates Dwayne A. Vance and Craig Bowden have been entirely squeezed out.

It's also the same story in all other Utah Debate Commission featured debates, as to third-party candidates.

Sadly, we'll have to take what we can get however, we guess. It's the Utah Debate Commission's dog-and-pony show... not ours.

Yeah. We essentially agree with the Salt Lake Tribune:
Defective though the debate candidate screening process may be, let's get this show on the road.

We hope you'll all tune in tomorrow evening, in the event that you can't be there in person, folks.

Update 9/23/14 8:00 a.m.:  The Deseret News devotes some ink to defending the exclusion of all third-party candidates. "'You cannot be a genuine candidate unless you pay the price, The debate commission will not be the campaign for third-party candidates,' Scott Howell, commission co-chairman and a former Democratic state senator Howell said on The Doug Wright Show.":
"I am the Libertarian candidate for Attorney General. I have as good a chance to win as does the Democrat who polled 12.6% in the poll run by the Debate Commission. So, do your own research and don't let the powers that be decide for you. The debate Commission is co-chaired by long-time Republican and Democratic politicians who do not want to open it up for others to be heard. Let them know how you feel," Libertarian Attorney General candidate Andrew McCullough retorts.

Yep.  Looks like the "fix" is "in."

Update 9/24/14 6:25 a.m.: Both the Standard and  Trib provide post-debate reports:
And for those who missed it, here's a recorded video of last night's 1st Congressional District slug-fest:

Monday, September 08, 2014

Deseret News: Judge Rules State School Board Selection Process Unconstitutional

Judge Waddoups definitely has his work cut out for him as he tackles fixing the Utah State School Board nomination system... on an exceedingly short timeline

Uh-oh. There's blockbuster 2014 General Election news this morning, folks, as Deseret News reporter Benjamin Wood informs his readers that a federal judge has thrown a wrench into the gears of the pending State School Board elections. Specifically "[o]n Friday, U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups ruled that the state's selection of school board candidates — a multi-tiered process that includes vetting by a committee and final selection by the governor — violates constitutional guarantees of free speech," according to the story linked below:
"Waddoups did not order remedies related to the case, which was brought against the governor, lieutenant governor and members of the governor's nomination committee by former candidates for State School Board. An additional hearing was set for Thursday, during which Waddoups is expected to receive additional testimony and recommendations from the involved parties and issue a final order," Mr. Wood further reports

With a mere 57 days remaining until the 2014 Utah General Election, don't consider our current Weber County ballot roster to be indelibly etched in granite:

State School Board
District #1 - 4 year term
Declaration of CandidacyWebsite/Contact InfoCampaign Finance Disclosures
David L. ClarkNone FoundDavid L. Clark 2014
Terryl WarnerState School Board Member BioTerryl Warner 2014

State School Board
District #2 - 4 year term
Declaration of CandidacyWebsite/Contact InfoCampaign Finance Disclosures
Willard Z. MaughanNone FoundWillard Z. Maughan 2014
Spencer F. StokesNone FoundSpencer F. Stokes 2014

Judge Waddoups definitely has his work cut out for him as he tackles fixing the wacky Utah State School Board nomination system, wherein "Utah [now] runs their [State School Board} elections the same way as Iran, with the mullahs approving which candidates can appear on the ballot."

Hopefully, he'll come up with something suitably Solomonesque, as time's running exceedingly short.

Update 9/12/14 9:00 a.m.: The Trib reports this morning that Judge Waddoups has issued a ruling in re the State School Board candidate selection matter.  Happily, Weber County Election ballots won't be effected:

Monday, August 25, 2014

2014 Weber County General Election Candidate Roster

Check our election sidebar module for periodic updates

Greetings, O Weber County Forum Readers. As Labor day approaches on September 1, the drop-dead date for serious 2014 General election campaigning, we're delighted to offer the latest feature to our right sidebar 2014 Election Module at least a week early.  So far we've invested +/-13 hours in googling and coding toward this project.  So we hereby cheerfully invite you to check it out::
This page remains still under construction folks, inasmuch as it still presently lacks the Local School Board and Weber County Elected Officials'  Campaign Finance Disclosure numbers, which we'll fill in around Tuesday, October 28th, when the these first financial reports come due.  As for the Federal Election Commission numbers for the First Congressional District... trust us...they'll be coming up soon.

Click the link above, for the very best (and most complete) 2014 Weber County Candidate roster in the meantime.

If you're a Weber County candidate, or a supporter of a good Weber County political candidate, by the way, we hereby invite you to send your candidate links here:
If you snooze, you lose, BTW.

And yes, Weber County Forum readers, we've also planted this phenomenal web feature in our right sidebar 2014 Election Module, of course.  You know... for future reference.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Standard-Examiner: Lessons Gained From Stewart Shooting Review

Ultimately, the buck stops with Weber County voters

As a followup to our Thursday, July 17 writeup, wherein we shined the spotlight on the recently released " Ogden Police Department internal shooting review report summary," The Standard's Ben Lockhart jumps aboard the bandwagon with this robust Sunday morning story, again putting the disastrous 1/4/12 blunders of local police agencies into sharp focus :
However belatedly, it's entirely fitting that this story would be splashed all over the SE front page this morning, we believe. Ultimately, the buck stops with Weber County voters, dunnit?

A Weber County Tip O' The Hat to Ben Lockhart, for providing this thoroughly well-researched report.

Sodden Question: Despite the headline, did anybody in authority truly learn any real lessons from this fiasco?

Monday, July 21, 2014

Standard-Examiner Editorial: Our View: Put Limits On [Utah] Campaign Cash

Howbout you? ...are you "on the bus" with this, WCF Peeps?

Top-notch editorial in Sunday's edition of our WCF home town newspaper, (the Standard-Examiner.)

Here's the lede, WCF political wonks:
Honestly, is there any argument left against Utah setting limits on campaign donations?
Or, are we once again going to deal with the same pusillanimous arguments by our pols that Utah does not need campaign cash limits, that the idea that big dollars would influence our vote is insulting, and that everything is properly disclosed, ad nauseam, and so on?
After the several-years spectacle of the attorney general’s office being receptive to those with the biggest cash pockets, such enabling rhetoric is enough to make one clutch an air sick bag.
And here's the full editorial for your perusal:
More summary argument from the Standard-Examiner:
Utah is one of only four states that basically have no limits on money that can be stuffed in pols’ pockets for use in campaigns. Also, in the matter of disclosure, Utah falls behind most of the other states. This is a dysfunction that should have been corrected a long time ago. But it wasn’t. Pols, enjoying the access and cash of deep-pocket donors, have instead passed mostly meaningless “baby-step” reforms.
The embarrassing and sickening saga of Shurtleff and Swallow must change the mind set and break down the objections. It’s time to limit campaign cash.
Weber County Forum will be seriously (perhaps feverishly) on this bandwagon during the 2015 Legislative session, concerning the campaign finance reforms which the SE Editorial Board proposes.

Howbout you?

Are you "on the bus" with this, WCF Peeps?

Exhibit "A" for Utah Campaign Finance Reform:

Swallow/Shurtleff Booking Photos
Don't let the cat get your tongues.

Tuesday, July 08, 2014

Official Results for the 2014 Midterm Primary Election

Snoose, You Lose

Via Ricky Hatch's Weber County Election Office:

"Official Results for the 2014 Midterm Primary Election were approved by Weber County Commissioners. See them here":
Election turnout: 6.27%

Gulp!

Looking at the bright side, we guess, those 5,980 voters who did get off their ass and cast their primary ballots in Weber County got lotsa bang for the buck, no?

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Weber County Primary Election Final Results

The 5,718 lumpencitizens who took the time to vote today have spoken

Here you have it Weber County Forum political wonks. With 100% of Weber County precincts reporting, the final results of today's Weber County Primary Election have been tallied by Ricky Hatch's County Clerk's Office.  The 5,718 lumpencitizens who took the time to vote today have spoken.


The stage is now set for the 2014 General Election, in which Republican nominee Justin Fawson will square off on November 4, 2014 against candidates of the other Utah political parties for the House Legislative 7, and  Leeann Kilts will effortlessly cruise into her boss's job, since she faces no opponents in the General Election. Weber School Board candidates Brent W. Richardson and John W. Bradley will face off as General Election opponents, of course.

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