Salt Lake Tribune: Longtime Utah Incumbents Leaving Office

We predict all 82,825 residents of Ogden will be dancing in the streets when Boss Godfrey "exits stage left" this coming January

Interesting Christopher Smart story in this morning's Salt Lake Tribune, which includes some introspective quotes from our lame-duck Mayor Boss Godfrey...


... as he prepares to let the City Hall exit door slap him in the backside:

• Longtime Utah incumbents leaving office

Here comes the money quote:

Godfrey muses that he’ll be the happiest person in Ogden come January, when the new mayor is sworn it.

Sodden contrarian observation from your blogmeister...

Nope, wethinks the 82,825 residents of Ogden will be competing for that honor. We predict they'll all be dancing in the streets well into the night, when Boss Godfrey "exits stage left" this coming January:

Boss Godfrey's soon-to-be 2012 Retirement Par-tay

Comments???

Standard Examiner Council Ward 2 Questionnaires

The full slate of SE Council candidate questionnaires is now complete

Following up on yesterday's Council At-large "C" data, the Standard-Examiner has now uploaded and linked from its website its 2011 Ogden Municipal Election Council Ward 2 questionnaires. Here are the responses of candidates Jennifer Niel and Richard Hyer, thus completing the questionnaire process for the full slate of contested Ogden City Council seats:

• Candidate Jennifer Neil
• Candidate Richard Hyer

The floor's open for your ever-savvy comments.

10/21/11 Ogden Mayoral Candidate Poll #3 Results

Query: Based on the latest WCF polling results, can we now conclude that former Suzie Van Hooser supporters have now moved en masse into the Mike Caldwell camp?

The final tallies are in from our latest 10/21/11 Ogden Mayoral Candidate Poll #3, which was up in our WCF sidebar for the last five days; and here are the final results for our WCF readers' information:


Granted, this is merely an unscientific poll of those who read Weber County Forum. Nevertheless, comparing these results to our previous polling data, we believe that this latest information may reasonably reveal that the largest block of WCF readers, those who might have been heretofore disposed to vote for former mayoral candidate Susie Van Hooser, have now shifted their voter loyalties to Mayoral Candidate Mike Caldwell.

We'll also make note of the fact that the mere 62 participants in this latest poll don't even come close to the 135 or more who avidly responded to our two previous polls, which each garnered tallies in excess of 135 votes.

So we feel compelled to ask: Do these flagging polling numbers signal a similar ebbing interest in the upcoming November election?

Alternatively, based on the latest WCF polling results, can we conclude that former Suzie Van Hooser supporters have now moved en masse into the Mike Caldwell camp?

We guess we'll find out on November 8th, no?

Take it for what it's worth, O Gentle Readers.

Who will be the first to offer their own 2¢?

So who'll be the first to chime in with their own interpretations concerning these latest data?

Standard Examiner Council At-large Seat "C" Questionnaires

Who'll be the first to toss in their own 2¢?

The Standard-Examiner has now uploaded its 2011 Ogden Municipal Election Council At-large Seat "C" questionnaires to the SE website. Here are the responses of candidates Amy Wicks and Steven D. Thompson, the two candidates who have legitimately participated in the race from the very start, and will appear on the November ballots only after surviving the September 13, Ogden Primary Election:

• Councilwoman Amy Wicks
• Candidate Stephen D. Thompson

For reasons unknown, the Standard website is also carrying the responses of the late-starting usurper, right wing socialist Comrade Safsten, who willfully ignored the formal process, intentionally dodged any pre-primary campaigning and instead sneaked into the race as a write-in candidate, without the slightest Ogden voter validation, after the Primary Election smoke had cleared:

• Candidate Rick Safsten

Regarding the "legitimacy" of Mr. Safsten's candidacy, we believe SE reader Bob Becker sums it up well, in this reader comment lodged below Mr. Safsten's SE response:

If Mr. Safsten wanted his seat on the council back he should have stood for election in the primary and allowed the people to send him through to the run off if they so chose. He did not earn a spot in this run off and should not be rewarded for his attempt to sneak in at the finish line. The other two candidates earned their places in this runoff. That matters.

That's it for now, Weber County Forum readers.

Who'll be the first to toss in their own 2¢?

Standard-Examiner: Two Events Set to Meet Ogden Mayoral Candidates

2012 Ogden City Mayoral Debate, October 25, 2011, 7:00 pm Weber County Main Branch Library

For those readers keeping track of the continuing flurry of 2011 Ogden Municipal Election events, this morning's Standard-Examiner provides a heads up concerning another mayoral candidate event, this one occurring this evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Weber County Library Main Branch, under the co-sponsorship of the Weber County League of Women Voters and the Standard-Examiner:

• Two events set to meet Ogden mayoral candidates

We've previously provided an announcement of Wednesday's Rotary Club-sponsored Mayoral Candidate Meet-up, but this week's conjunction of events certainly sounds like an ideal situation for procrastinators, no?

We'll keep the lower comments section open, of course, for any WCF readers who'd like to offer their remarks before, during or after tonight's event.

Standard-Examiner: Next Stop for (Faux) Trolley Report -- Analysis

Does this morning's story provide yet more evidence that Little Lord Godfrey has finally lost his marbles (to adopt highly-technical psychiatric terminology)?

The Standard-Examiner reports this morning that "[Ogden] city has compiled a ridership report that shows about 26,000 passengers have used two trolley-style buses that have looped around the downtown area for 10 months," and that the report "has been submitted to the Wasatch Front Regional Council and the Utah Transit Authority for analysis." This analysis would ostensibly determine whether a permanant "streetcar cirulater" (which would "loop" through two [easily walkable] blocks within the downtown area, and would soak the Ogden taxpayers with a cool 5 million bucks in "upfront money," plus $1 million per year in operating costs), might (in some wacky alternate universe) qualify for a grant of $25 million in federal funds:

• Next stop for trolley report -- analysis

Three questions:

1) Who will be paying for this percipient UTA analysis? (not the beleaguered Ogden taxpayers, we hope).
2) Does this "loopy" Godfrey project belong right up there near the top of the "short list" of other boneheaded Godfrey projects, right along with "crackpot flatland gondola" and "the loonybird ice tower"?
3) Does this morning's story provide yet more evidence that Little Lord Godfrey has finally lost his marbles (to adopt a highly-technical psychiatric term)?

Have at it, O Gentle Ones...

Salt Lake Tribune: Two "Kinetic" Candidates Vie for Mayor’s Seat in Ogden

An invitation to all WCF readers to lodge their remarks and observations about how well The Salt Lake Trib's new "Ogden political beat" reporter has performed on his reportorial "maiden cruise."

We'll put the spotlight a Weber County Forum-topical story this morning, wherein Salt Lake Tribune reporter Christopher Smart provides a 700-word writeup, adding grist to the 2011 Ogden City Municipal Election discussion mill, with profiles of the Ogden mayoral candidates, Caldwell and Stephenson:

• Two kinetic candidates vie for mayor’s seat in Ogden

For those WCF readers who were unaware, by the way, Mr. Smart has been recently assigned by the Tribune editors to the "Ogden political beat," inasmuch as ever-savvy veteran SLTrib reporter Cathy McKitrick has been moved over to the "business beat."

This is Mr. Smart's first contribution under his new assignment, so we'll invite all WCF readers to lodge their remarks and observations about how well he's performed on his reportorial "maiden cruise."

The floor's open for your comments. Who'll be the first to offer their compliments or critiques?

Don't let the cat get your tongues, O Gentle Ones.

Standard-Examiner: Rotary Invites Public to Meet Candidates

An opportunity to listen to the Ogden City mayoral candidates, whilst gulping down a delicious rubber chicken dinner, with the political elites of Ogden's Rotary Club

For those Ogden City voters who still haven't had a chance to watch our 2011 Ogden City mayoral candidates, Caldwell and Stephenson, strut their stuff, we're delighted to announce yet another Ogden City Mayoral Candidate Event, this time an opportunity to gulp down a delicious rubber chicken dinner with Ogden's Rotary Club, which has scheduled the eleventh consecutive such event for next Wednesday (10/26/11), over at the ritzy Marriott Hotel in Ogden. The Standard has the story, which is mercifully brief, so we'll incorporate the text in full:

OGDEN -- The Rotary Club of Ogden is holding a "Meet the Ogden Mayoral Candidates Luncheon" at noon Wednesday at the Marriott in Ogden.

Cost of the luncheon is $16 per person; RSVP must be made by Monday. Rotary Club RSVPs can be directed to Maresha Bosgieter at 801-510-0596, and Chamber RSVPs can be taken by Kat Shane-Marble at 801-621-8300 or by sending an email to Kat@OgdenWeberChamber.com.

Candidates Mike Caldwell and Brandon Stephenson will present their vision for Ogden and answer questions. The event is open to all Chamber of Commerce members, business and civic leaders and other service organizations

Yeah. We know that attending this event, (unlike the eleven other similar previous events), will cost you sixteen bucks. But we're sure you'll get your money's worth this go-round, especially since you'll be chowing down and rubbing elbows with Ogden's elite "Chamber of Commerce members, business and civic leaders and other service organizations," right?

We'll leave the lights on in our lower comments section as usual, of course, for any readers who'd like to comment before, during or after this event.

Weber State Game Day Thread: WSU Wildcats at Home v. SUU Thunderbirds

Hopefully the Wildcats' stingy defense will be ready for the T-birds' hot young SUU junior quarterback BYU transfer

The Weber State Wildcats are back at home this afternoon for the second straight week, in what Big Sky Conference muckey-mucks are hoping to be the beginning of a big cross-state conference rivalry. Here's the lede:

OGDEN -- This rivalry is about to get rebooted.

Weber State and Southern Utah have met 17 times over the years, the last time in 2006, but today marks the final time the Wildcats and Thunderbirds will meet as non-conference opponents.

SUU officially joins the Big Sky Conference on July 1, 2012, making today's 4 p.m. contest at Stewart Stadium the first of what will become an annual showdown for in-state FCS supremacy. Once in the expanded 14-team Big Sky, the Cedar City-based T-Birds will be one of two league-designated rivals (with Idaho State) to appear on the Wildcats' schedule every year.

And that's not merely humdrum pre-game hype, as Coach Mac expands a little more on the WSU/SUU rivalry concept:

Weber State coach Ron McBride has a grand vision for what 'Cats-'Birds rivalry could become.

"I could see in the next couple of years that this thing with Southern Utah will be a huge game in the state," McBride said. "I could see them possibly moving the game to a central site where both sides of the ball, the fans could get there and make it convenient for both sides. I could see it becoming a real windfall for both programs as far as financially and every other way because they have a very good team and I think they're going to continue to have a good team. It should be a positive for the conference and it should be a positive outcome for both schools."

Read the full SE story here, just to get your pre-game juices going:

• Wildcats vs. T-Birds rivalry gets reboot

Don't neglect to check out this SLTrib story, by the way, which hypes up the significance of today's grid battle a little bit, at least:

• Weber-Southern Utah game could have had national significance

Hopefully the Wildcats' stingy defense will be ready for the T-birds' talented young "SUU junior quarterback Brad Sorensen, a BYU transfer who has the T-Birds ranked 10th in the country in passing offense."

For those Wildcats fans attending the game, don't forget that it's WSU's annual "blackout game," (which is NOT a reference to the lack of a video broadcast, but rather a reminder that WSU is asking fans to wear black attire today, rather than the usual purple and white).

For those fans who are stuck at home, work or anywhere but Stewart Stadium, be sure to catch the online audio via the Wildcats' new radio station flagship, KZNS-AM 1280:

• KZNS (1280 The Zone) Live Broadcast

And here's the WSU Athletics Twitter feed, for what it's worth (somebody's been asleep at the switch so far this afternoon, wethinks):

• WSU Athletics Twitter Feed

See ya'll around here at or about 4:00 p.m.!

Go Wildcats!

Update 10/22/11 7:12 p.m.: WSU delivers the SUU T-birds a very gracious reception at Stewart Stadium, in a game littered by ten dumb WSU penalties, among many other blunders, resulting in a final score of SUU 35, WSU 28!

What a bummer, eh?

Update 10/21/11 10:00 a.m.: The Standard provides the game post-mortem:

• Southern Utah rallies past Weber State

Close...but no cigar.

New Ogden City Mayoral Candidate Poll

Wow! Taking yesterday's WCF article into account, it looks like it's time for another 2011 Ogden City Mayoral candidate preference poll! How's this, people?

Vote in our latest poll:

• Ogden Mayoral Candidate Poll #3

Remember the olde American tradition... vote early and often, heheheh (but no cheating, please).

And yeah! The poll's also up in the right sidebar, where you can continue to vote on it for the next 4-5 days.

And while you're in the process of casting your votes, howbout lodging your thoughtful remarks in our lower comments section, justifying your candidate selections? Blogs are supposed to be reader-interactive media of course; and we're sure that everyone can benefit from your political wisdom.

Standard-Examiner Mayoral Candidate Interview Videos

A challenge to the loyal followers of the Caldwell and Stephenson camps, respectively (and a possible public service to the heretofore otherwise mystified voters of Ogden)

Good news for Ogden City political wonks. The Standard's 2011 Ogden City Municipal Election mayoral candidate interview videos have just now been uploaded to the SE site, and are now available for your critical analysis:

• Mike Caldwell (The ostensible political "outsider")
• Brandon Stephenson (Boss Godfrey's "Sockpuppet")

We'll keep the lower comments section open for anyone who like to offer their comparisons or contrasts between these two "lackluster" (shall we say) candidates and their platforms. Extra credit will go to any WCF reader who can point out a dime's worth of difference between these two mayoral candidates' views... Let's call it a challenge to the loyal followers of the Caldwell and Stephenson camps, respectively (and a possible public service to the heretofore otherwise mystified voters of Ogden City).

Thanks in advance.

Have at it, O Gentle Ones.

Standard-Examiner: Godfrey Bashes Streetcar Proposal to City Council

Mick Crandall: "If every transportation project that didn't have enough funding at this stage were to be abandoned, we would have no transportation projects at all and we'd be getting around on foot."

The Standard is reporting this morning about Boss Godfrey's reaction to a new UTA streetcar proposal, which was apparently discussed at last night's City Council meeting as a non agenda,"new business" item. Here's the lede:

OGDEN -- Mayor Matthew Godfrey is questioning what he describes as a radically different proposal from Utah Transit Authority to build a streetcar system from downtown to Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital for $35 million less than originally projected.

Read the full story here:

• Godfrey bashes streetcar proposal to city council

With a mere 2-1/2 months remaining until the lame duck Boss Godfrey's ushered out of office, you'd think he'd give his feverish opposition to a cross-town streetcar system a rest. But no, the streetcar proposal wasn't his idea and he'll therefore rage against it forever, we suppose.

Kudos to the city Council for keeping the concept alive, by the way. So long as the project isn't deep-sixed, we can expect clever designers, engineers and numbers-crunchers to continue to tweak the design and financing parameters, just as the UTA people seem to have now done. If the project had been put to rest as Boss Godfrey had earlier demanded of course, the issue of further prospective cost savings would be a dead letter.

Remember, as the UTA's Mick Crandall said at a Streetcar Stakeholders meeting in early July of this year, "If every transportation project that didn't have enough funding at this stage were to be abandoned, we would have no transportation projects at all and we'd be getting around on foot."

That's it for now.

Who'll be the first to chime in?

Carl Wimmer. Utah's New Mr. Big?

The picture kind of says it all

Via Mike Ridgway:

This picture kind of says it all, when it comes to how redistricting is done in Utah, (via the Salt Lake Tribune):

Carl Wimmer: Utah's New Mr. Big?

Big guy with finger on map, Carl Wimmer. Smaller guy being read the riot act, Chris Herrod.

Any questions?

Standard-Examiner: Two Companies Expand in N. Utah

Good news for the Ogden economy and something to cheer about... or something else?

Red meat political news is again in desperately short supply this morning, so we'll turn to the trusty WCF back burner to scrape up a SE story/puff piece which didn't quite make the cut over the weekend:

Friday's Standard-Examiner breathlessly announced that the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) has successfully "greased the skids" with sufficient taxpayer payoffs incentives to motivate the imminent arrival of two new businesses to Northern Utah, one of which will be an 80,000-square-foot HomeDepot.Com "online customer service center in Business Depot Ogden that will employ 691 workers":

• Two companies expand in N. Utah

We dunno about the rest of ya's, but Boss Godfrey's certainly crowing about landing the Home Depot phone bank gig:

Mayor Matthew Godfrey said the recruitment of The Home Depot is a major economic development accomplishment for Ogden.
"We couldn't have been more impressed with The Home Depot team and are thrilled they selected Ogden," Godfrey said in a prepared statement. "We are confident our work force will exceed their expectations and help them achieve the success for which they are renowned. It's been a pleasure working with them, and we look forward to a very long-term relationship."

So what about it O Gentle Ones? Good news for the Ogden economy and something to cheer about? Or just more crappy, Godfrey-style, lo-pay call center jobs?

Standard-Examiner: Re-examining Ogden’s ‘Treasures’ - Updated

This highly competent researcher has assembled an impressive array of facts relating to Ogden history, and Ogden's Historic 25th Street, in particular

We'd like to open the discussion this morning by shining the Weber County Forum spotlight on an upcoming WSU on campus special event (or pair of events) which ought to be of interest to Ogden City history buffs. The Standard carries the Becky Wright story in this morning's SE "Life" Section; and here's the lede:

Many stories about Ogden’s Historic 25th Street have been forgotten. “The early history, from the coming of the railroad in 1869 through World War II — for most of it, there’s no one alive who remembers it,” said ‍Val ‍Holley, who’s working on a book called “25th Street Confidential: Drama, Decadence, and Dissipation Along Ogden’s Rowdiest Road.”

Some stories and pictures have been saved in Special Collections at Weber State University’s Stewart Library.

“I’ve been there many times over the last three years,” he said.

Holley presents some of his research at 7 p.m. Tuesday [October 18, 2011] in the library’s Hetzel-Hoellein Room. His lecture is part of the 6 p.m. opening reception for “Treasures Brought to Light,” an exhibit celebrating the 40th anniversary of WSU Special Collections. Admission is free.

Read the full SE Digital Edition story here:

• Re-examining Ogden’s ‘Treasures’

Your blogmeister had occasion to hook up with Mr. Holley a couple of months ago, while he was in town researching his book; and we can assure you that this highly competent researcher has assembled an impressive array of newly-revealed facts relating to Ogden history, and Ogden's Historic 25th Street, in particular.

If you're an Ogden history buff who'd like to have a sneak peak preview of some of the information contained in Mr. Holley's soon to be published book, we encourage you all to mark your calenders and plan to sit in on his Tuesday lecture.

Update 10/20/11 4:53 p.m. (Via Ron Atencio): Val Holley gave an awesome presentation at Weber State University Tues eve to a full house in the library's special collections dept presenting a talk and insights from his upcoming new book about our Historic 25th Street. Full house to capacity and so many great and interesting tidbits. Thanks Val!!! Looking forward to that book!!!

WSU Game Day Thread: Weber State v. Idaho State

It's homecoming week on the Weber State campus; and the Standard-Examiner has the story about this afternoon's gridiron battle. Here's the lede:

OGDEN -- It's homecoming for Weber State fans and alumni, but for defensive line coach John Zamberlin, it's a chance to welcome some old friends to his new home -- and hopefully send them away with a loss.

Zamberlin, who last year was the head coach at Idaho State, will be in purple today as a host of Bengals he recruited to Pocatello come to Stewart Stadium for a Big Sky battle with the Wildcats. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.

Read the full SE story here:

• WSU Zamberlin will face a familiar foe

And how are they viewing today's big game up in Bengals Country? Read this morning's Idaho State Journal stories to find out:

• ISU takes on Weber State today
• Despite it all, Bengals still have what it takes to win

Fascinating contrast in offensive styles. WSU will mainly run the ball, while ISU will almost exclusively air it out, it appears.

Of course the very best way for Wildcat fans to catch the game is to buy a ticket and join the throngs of of loyal WSU fans in Stewart Stadium. But if you're laid-up in the hospital or stuck for the day in a cubicle at work, be sure to catch the online audio via the Wildcats' new radio station flagship, KZNS-AM 1280:

• KZNS (1280 The Zone) Live Broadcast

And here's a the WSU Twitter feed (which we're finding to be quite useful when trying to simultaneously keep up with more college games than one):

• Twitter Results for @weberstate

There'll be no live video broadcast today; sorry, folks.

We'll leave the lights on for your thoughtful comments, as per usual, Wildcat fans.

Go Wildcats!

Update 10/15/11 6:59 p.m.: Final, final... WSU over ISU... 39-12! Wildcats move to 3-1 in Big Sky action in front of 11,297 fans!

Update 10/16/11 8:00 a.m.: The Standard and the Idaho State Journal are carrying these post-game stories this morning:

• WSU efficient in Homecoming rout
• Idaho State falls to Weber State, 39-12

Gotta say that winning's a heckuva lot more fun than losing, innit?

10/12/11 Council Candidate Debate Now Available For On-demand Viewing Via YouTube

We've also added this video to our right sidebar election module (Videos)

For those WCF readers who've been sitting on the edges of their seats in eager anticipation, we're delighted to report that Ogden Channel 17's video recording of last Wednesday's (10/12/11) Ogden City Council Candidate Debate is now available for viewing via Youtube:


We've also added this video to our right sidebar election module (Videos).

Don't let the cat get your tongues.

Standard-Examiner: Friday Open House Celebrates Physics at Weber State

A little birdy tells us that WCF Contributor Dan S. will be delivering a talk on photographing the night sky is at 7:30 in room LL 130

Here's another Friday (10/14/11) event you're surely not going to want to miss, per this morning's Standard-Examiner GO! Section Announcement:

OGDEN — Weber State University’s physics department will have an open house on Oct. 14.

The open house will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Lind Lecture Hall, on campus at 3848 Harrison Blvd.

Activities and demonstrations include “Circus of Physics,” involving things like levitating billiard balls and glowing pickles. Hospitable planets in other parts of the universe will be explored, and professor Ron Galli will answer what everyone has always wondered: Why do cats always land on their feet?

Admission to the open house is free, though there is a canned food drive being conducted for the Utah Food Bank.

For more information, call 801-626-7030.

For even more information, click these links:

• WSU Website - 5th Annual Physics Open House: 2011
• Facebook - 5th Annual Physics Open House: 2011

A little birdy also tells us that WCF Contributor Dan S. will be delivering a talk on photographing the night sky at 7:30 in room LL 130. That alone is more than enough reason, wethinks, to make it a point to sit in on this event.

Standard-Examiner: Mayoral Debate Today at Ogden High School

This afternoon's event presents a doubly useful opportunity

Good news from The Standard this morning for political procrastinators... Still another(the eleventh) mayoral candidate debate is on today at Ogden High School:

OGDEN — The Advanced Placement government class at Ogden High School is sponsoring a mayoral debate between candidates Mike Caldwell and Brandon Stephenson from noon to 1 p.m. today in the school auditorium.

The school is at 2828 Harrison Blvd.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Questions for the candidates were compiled from suggestions made by students.

We swear the Ogden City citizenry can never get enough of these interesting guys.

This afternoon's event presents a doubly useful opportunity we think, to check out the mayoral candidates in the flesh, and to take a gander at the results of $9 million in renovations, if you haven't already done so already.

We'll leave the lower comments section open, as per usual, for any WCF readers who'd like to offer their comments before, during or after this event.

Update 10/15/11 7:16 a.m.: The Standard-Examiner carries the post-event story this morning:

• Ogden students get election savvy on mayoral race

Miraculously however, Mr. Schwebke manages to deliver a story which is entirely devoid of any substantive information about specific student questions or candidate responses.

Big City Council Candidate Forum Set For Tonight

A must-see event for Ogden City political wonks

We're delighted to issue a reminder of tonight's Council Candidate Forum, which will be "will be held at 7:00 pm. [this evening, 10/12/11] in the Ogden City Council Chambers at 2549 Washington Boulevard ." Check out this 10/5/11 Council News Advisory for the full particulars:

• Council Sponsoring Ccandidate Forum, To Be Aired On channel 17 And Available Online

Tonight's event is most significant inasmuch as it's the first (and perhaps the last) General Municipal Election council candidate showcase event for the very important contested races for At-Large Seat "C" and Municipal Ward 2. Thus, this is a must-see event for true Ogden City political wonks, we believe.

We'll leave the lower comments section open, of course, for any WCF readers who'd like to offer their comments before, during or after this event. A little live blogging would be "to kill for," of course ... (hint, hint, hint).

Update 10/13/11 4:00 a.m.: Finding no takers upon our readership request to report on last night's City Council Candidate event, we'll dutifully link and rely upon this morning's all too brief Scott Schwebke story instead:

• Ogden council candidates face voters in forum

We'd still love to hear from any WCF readers who attended last night's council candidate forum, however.

Update 10/13/11 4:15 a.m.: Oops! Looks like we were a mite hasty in our observation that none of our WCF readers have offered their own reports on last night's event, inasmuch as we've just now stumbled upon this Facebook link, taking us to this partial report by none other than frequent WCF contributor and Ward 2 Council Candidate Jennifer Neil herself:

• Partial Q & A from Council Sponsored Forum

Pretty good stuff, indeed!

Provo Herald: Lawmaker Looking at Taxing Carbonated Drinks to Fund Education

Welcome to the expanded "nanny state," people

In local Emerald City news, The Provo Herald is reporting that Ogden GOP Leg. 10 State House Representative Dixon Pitcher is working his fingers to the bone to run a bill which would create a new Utah "Sin Tax."

Here's the lede:

A Utah lawmaker is once again looking at creating a tax on carbonated beverages to help fund Utah's education programs. Rep. Dixon Pitcher, R-Ogden, is in the early stages of drafting a bill that would levy a tax on soda pop, energy drinks and sports drinks. Pitcher introduced the bill during the 2011 legislative session but the bill was never given consideration. Pitcher now is working to bring it back in the 2012 session.

"I've had a really good response to the idea," Pitcher said. "A lot of people say to me, 'I really shouldn't be drinking the poison.'"

Pitcher said he is working to line up a coalition of medical professionals who will give support to his plan to put a tax on soda. Local medical experts say if the tax can truly deter people from drinking the sugar-based drinks, it could mean an increase in healthy Utahns.

Read the full story here:

• Lawmaker looking at taxing carbonated drinks to fund education

It won't be long before Utah "soda pop junkies" will be making weekend runs to Evanston, West Wendover, Mesquite and other Utah border towns to stock up on "poisonous" and evil brews like Mountain Dew, Diet Coke and Seven-up, along with the usual booze, cigarettes, fireworks and lottery tickets, we suppose.

Welcome to the expanded "nanny state," people, brought to you courtesy of another wacked out Utah GOP legislator.

Surely at least a few of our gentle readers will be motivated to comment about this. Don't let the cat get your tongues. (We know you're out there; we can hear you breathing.)

"These people must be stopped," according to GOP Rep. Pitcher:

Evil "Coke-Heads"

Tuesday RDA Work Session: Progress Report on Pending RDA Projects

Check out this week's council packet to find out more

Not much is happening with the City Council/Redevelopment Agency this week. As a matter of fact, this week's regular RDA meeting has been cancelled. On the other hand, there is something on calender which we found to be quite interesting, namely Tuesday's RDA work session agenda, which includes a September RDA project report highlighting "new activity on notable projects or other activities undertaken by the RDA."

Curious about the progress of the heavily taxpayer-subsidized SouthRiver LLC River Project, the status of the similarly taxpayer funds-dependent Kevin Garn "Hot Tub Hotel" or some of the other projects simmering on the Ogden RDA front burner? Check out this week's council packet to find out more:

• 10/11 City Council-RDA Work Session

Kudos the the City Council/RDA for placing this project status report conspicuously within public view and scheduling these matters for formal work session discussion. Hopefully these project status reports will be issued on a regular basis in the future, as a concession to those political wonks (like us) who savor the most open and transparent government possible.

Comments, anyone?

2011 Ogden Municipal Election Update

Last Thursday's mayoral debate video in now available for viewing via YouTube; and The Womens' Legislative Council announces yet another upcoming mayoral candidate showcase event

Here are couple of notable 2011 Municipal Election developments for Ogden City political wonks, both concerning the Mayoral Race, as our right sidebar Election Countdown Clock mercilessly ticks down to within 29 days of the November 8 Election:

1) Channel 17's video recording of Last Thursday's (10/6/11) Ogden Mayoral Debate is now available for viewing via Youtube:


We've also added the link to our right sidebar election module for your convenient future reference, of course.

2) The Weber County Women's Legislative Council announces yet another upcoming mayoral candidate showcase event, the particulars of which we'll incorporate from this morning's Standard-Examiner sidebar snippet:

OGDEN — Mayoral candidates Brandon Stephenson and Mike Caldwell will speak to the Women’s Legislative Council of Weber County at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The two will make presentations and answer questions from the audience.

The meeting will be held at the South Ogden Senior Center, 580 39th St.

This will be the tenth mayoral event this election cycle, by our count folks. Lest some of you might argue that this year's weird abundance of mayoral candidate events is an indulgence in overkill, we'll make the observation that this very well might be the last chance for Caldwell and Stephenson, candidates who've heretofore failed to demonstrate a dime's worth of difference between their respective platforms during their first nine attempts, to clearly and finally differentiate themselves, one from the other.

"The tenth time's the charm," according to the old ax... no? [wink] Well who knows? Maybe this time these bumbling candidates will finally get it right, this tenth (count 'em, 10th) go-round.

The floor's open for your ever-savvy remarks.

Two Chewy Ogden Municipal Election Stories Which We'll Gleefully Reel Off For Your Morning Consumption

Nobody likes a whiner, Mr. Safsten -- Write that down so you don't forget it

This morning's Standard-Examiner carries two chewy Ogden Municipal Election stories which we'll gleefully reel off for your morning consumption:

1) Who's that scowling fellow whose sad mug is plastered right up there on the SE front page this morning? Why it's Comrade Rick Safsten, of course, the Rosie Ruiz of the 2011 Ogden Council At-Large "C" race, whining that his intentionally late-filed write-in candidacy's exclusion from the October 12, 2011 City Council Candidate Forum "isn't fair":

• Safsten excluded from Ogden City forum

Here's what's unfair, Mr. Rick "Drama Queen" Safsten: What's unfair is your intentionally and willfully cooling your heels for the first 3-1/2 months of the 2011 municipal election cycle, sitting on the sidelines waiting until half of the other well-qualifed At-large "C" candidates had already gotten bumped off by the voters in the primary, and then suddenly jumping into the race with a weird, psuedo-messianic Godfreyite deliverence message, expecting at that point to be treated on an equal footing with the last two surviving General Election candidates who'd played by the rules, prevailed in the primary and had been slugging it out on the campaign trail since mid-July, unlike you.

If you'd wanted to benefit from the perquisites and exposure of a real registered candidate, you should have entered the race at the outset, just like all the other city council candidates did. Instead, you acted in bad faith and chose to adopt the "lazy" approach.

That's our take; and we're stickin' to it. So what say our WCF readers about all this?

2) SE Davis County Bureau reporter Bryan Saxton reports on yesterday's command performance event, where the politically muscular Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors (NWAR) hosted an Ogden mayoral debate, featuring Mike Caldwell and Brandon "Sockpuppet" Stephenson over what we imagine to have been a yummy Davis Conference Center rubber chicken lunch:

• Ogden mayoral candidates talk business

Between candidates Caldwell and Stephenson, these NWAR folks have a serious $10 grand ($5 thousand per candidate) invested in the the Ogden City Mayoral Race, so it makes perfect sense that they'd host these guys for an old-fashoned NWAR barbecue grilling, no? These NWAR folks need to know they're getting their money's worth, right... and to check out condition of the horse-flesh that they bought?

Oh and one other thing. We'll make the observation that mayoral write-in candidate Patrick C. Conlin wasn't invited to yesterday's above-mentioned NWAR pig-out either; yet we don't find him plastered all over the SE front page this morning, whining about the snub. Nobody likes a whiner, Mr. Safsten. Write that down so you don't forget it, please.

That's it for now.

So who'll be the first to chime in?

Standard-Examiner: Dedication Set for 1.1-mile Stretch of Ogden River Project - Updated

If you have a little free time in your afternoon calenders, why not get on down to this afternoon's ribbon cutting ceremony and give the Little Lame Duck Lord a nice pat on the back?

Here's something special which our WCF readers might want to consider adding to their Friday calenders. The Standard-Examiner provides the story; and here's the lede:

OGDEN -- The city is sponsoring a dedication ceremony Friday commemorating completion of the first phase of a $6.3 million effort to clean up a polluted downtown section of the Ogden River.

The aim of the daylong celebration is to highlight the transformation taking place along a 1.1-mile stretch of the river between Washington Boulevard and Gibson Avenue.

The public is invited throughout the day to wander along paths, visit exhibit booths and participate in kayaking and fishing demonstrations on the river.

Volunteers will work on various service projects along the waterway, and Mayor Matthew Godfrey will conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. on the river's banks at Childs Avenue.

Read the full Scott Schwebke story here:

• Dedication set for 1.1-mile stretch of Ogden River project

City Engineer Justin Anderson aptly describes the Ogden River Restoration Project as having "... gone from a nuisance and eyesore to a treasure right in the middle of town;" and Boss Godfrey (in a rare instance of non-hyperbolic understatement) sez that Friday's ceremony will mark "a significant accomplishment." It's in this connection that we'll speculate, of course, that the Ogden River restoration could very well prove in time to be the most significant achievement of Godfrey's entire 12-year reign of terror mayoral administration.

So if you have a little free time in your afternoon calenders, why not get on down to the ribbon cutting ceremony and give the Little Lame Duck Lord a nice pat on the back?

Update 10/7/11 7:42 a.m. (per Dan S.): The Trib also has a nice writeup, complete with a tally of how the project was funded and some historic, archival photos of Robert Kennedy and Gadi Leshem, four years ago. Check out the captions on the Leshem photos!

• Ogden river segment reopens with new trail, plants

Update 10/8/11 8:00 a.m.: The Standard carries this Scott Schwebke post-event story this morning, which describes yesterday's deliriously joyful ribbon cutting event:

• City celebrates cleanup, vibrancy of Ogden River

Check out the happy campers, folks:

Prominent Godfreyite "High Muck-a-mucks" frolic beside the Ogden River

Yet Another Mayoral Debate Tonight!!

Watch out for the input of Chief Administrative Officer (Mark Johnson, who answers to Mayor Godfrey); who also has ultimate control over all content that is broadcast on Channel 17

Per Rudizink, via Dan S:

"Don't forget that the mayoral candidates are having yet another debate tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the city council chambers". This one will again be televised on Channel 17. Here are the time/date/location particulars:

Thursday, October 6, 2011, 7 – 8 p.m.
Ogden City Council; Chambers, Ogden Municipal Bldg, 3d Floor.

According to city policy, City Chief Administrative Officer (Mark Johnson, who answers to Mayor Godfrey) also has ultimate control over all content that is broadcast on Channel 17, so it'll definitely be interesting to see how it all shakes out with this bureaucratic Godfrey aparatchik in charge of everything:

• October 6, 2011 - Mayoral Debate - Channel 17

We'll again keep the lights on for any pre/intra/and/or post-debate comments and/or rants.

Don't let the cat get yer tongues, O Pretty Please (with sugar on it.)

Update 10/6/11 7:00 p.m.: Listen up folks! Dan S. is now live blogging from the mayoral debate.

Ogden City Council: Council Sponsoring Candidate Forum, To Be Aired On Channel 17 and Available Online

Late in September we posted an article announcing that two write-in candidates had been certified as "valid" by Cindi Mansell's Ogden City Recorder's Office within the 2011 Ogden City Municipal Mayoral and Council At-Large "C" races, respectively. During the course of a fairly robust reader discussion, one gentle reader broached this thorny issue: "It'll be very interesting to see if either or both of the write-in candidates is invited to participate in the upcoming city-sponsored debates. Just one more ethical pitfall that would be avoided if the city would quit sponsoring debates."

In that connection, we've just now received a City Council news update from Council Communications Specialist Amy Mabey, and the Council's position on allowing late-arriving write-in candidate Safsten to participate in the 10/12/11 debate now becomes crystal clear. We'll cut to the chase with the relevant text:

The purpose of this forum is to provide citizens an opportunity to become familiar with those who have been certified through the primary election as City Council candidates. In order to encourage full participation in the entire election process, Council leadership determined that write-in candidates will not be invited to participate in candidate forums sponsored by the City Council.

Council Vice Chair Neil Garner said, “The Council wants to honor all of the time, energy andexpense of those who went through the primary process. Full participation in both the primaryand general election processes shows that candidates are fully committed to running for office.”

We'll go on record right now to say Weber County Forum is in complete agreement with the City Council's highly rational approach to this problem. Looking back a few years to the time (not that long ago) when write-in votes were cast on election day via paper ballots, we'll make the observation that, historically speaking, the American-style write-in ballot process never contemplated allowing johnny-come lately candidates to participate in the full campaign process against other candidates who played by the rules. It would be a critical mistake to allow these sloppy write-in candidates to participate in any way in the formal campaign process until election day, wethinks.

So in closing we'll just say that we'll doff our WCF hat to the Ogden City Council, for their extremely wise decision in this matter.

That doesn't mean, of course, that the invitation for "off the cuff reader commentary" isn't at all closed to that ideologically wide array of WCF Readers of all political stripes who may (imagine this) wish to express their contrarian opinions.

Have at it, O Gentle Ones.

Should Politicians Wear Uniforms Like NASCAR Drivers...???

You know... to identify their corporate sponsors?

Via Maury Grimm:


Looks like a pretty danged good idea to us...

So who's ready to give this idea a hearty thumbs-up?

Deutsche Mark Back in Print?

Will the more economically-stable European powers... like Germany... bail from the socialistic European Union, and flee from the debased EURO?

I could be wrong about this, I guess; but somehow I do not think that this story is good news for the Euro-backed European economy, or for the European Union (or for the world economy in general):

• Deutsche Mark back in print?

A story like this seems to hint that the Germans are tired of propping up the rest of Europe with their relatively thriving economy.

So get this! Here's another revealing story, which zeros right in on the most important point of all:

• Germany will leave the euro, says leading commentator

As the entire world economy continues to collapse of its own debt-ridden excess, will the more economically-stable European powers... like Germany... bail from the socialistic European Union, and retreat to conservative financial measures designed to protect their own local German (and other) currencies, economies and national sovereignty? Seriously, why wouldn't they do that?

Don't let the cat get yer tongues, O Gentle Ones.

Dan's Diary: The Probability of Zero

A short collegiate-level lecture on applied probability theory and statistics, delivered to you entirely tuition-free

For a little topical change of pace this morning, we'd like to highlight the most recent and fantastic Dan's Diary blog article, which spins off Sunday's Standard-Examiner story, (bearing the the headline, "Killings down in Ogden"). Within this new below-linked DD blog article, frequent WCF contributor Dan S. examines the full range of "possible" and "law enforcement-claimed" causes of the SE's reported "unprecedented drop in Ogden killings" under the microscope of "Poisson statistics". All-in-all, it's a pretty enlightening read. We'll start off by incorporating Dan's tantalizing lead paragraphs:

Good news: Ogden has had zero homicides so far in 2011 (probably).

Bad news: Journalists don’t understand statistics (still).

“Killings down in Ogden,” proclaimed the headline across the top of Sunday’s front page, with a great big zero on one side. Pending a final ruling on whether a fatal July shooting was accidental, Ogden has probably gone for nine months without a murder or automobile homicide. This isn’t just great news; it’s historic.

The article falls short, though, in discussing the possible causes of this unprecedented drop in killings.

You can read the rest of Dr. Schroeder's highly-instructive Dan's Diary article here:

• The Probability of Zero

Count your blessings, gentle readers. It ain't every day you get a short collegiate-level lecture on applied probability theory and statistics from one of the Top Dogs in the mighty WSU Physics Department, delivered entirely tuition-free.

Standard-Examiner: Mayoral Debate Today at WSU - Updated

Hopefully the morning scheduling of this event will prove convenient for those Ogden voters who've been heretofore unable to attend the other previous evening-hour mayoral candidate showcase events

We'll let this morning's brief Standard-Examiner announcement serve as a further reminder of this morning's WSU student-sponsored 2011 Ogden Municipal Election Mayoral Debate, as is more particularly set forth below:

OGDEN -- Weber State University will host a debate between Ogden's mayoral candidates at 10:30 a.m. today in the Wildcat Theater, Shepherd Union Building, WSU, 3848 Harrison Blvd.

The hourlong debate between candidates Mike Caldwell and Brandon Stephenson will be run by students and will feature questions asked by students.

The event is free and open to the public.

Hopefully the morning scheduling of this event will prove convenient for those Ogden voters who've been heretofore unable to attend the other previous evening-hour mayoral candidate showcase events.

We'll leave the lower comments section open, of course, for any WCF readers who'd like to offer their comments before, during or after this event.

Update 10/6/11 8:00 a.m.: The Standard-Examiner is all over the post-debate story this morning with this hard-copy edition, front page Scott Schwebke report :

• Mayoral candidates tackle issues facing Weber State University

KSL News: Ogden Teen Seemingly Vanishes After Leaving Babysitting Job

The City Club and Brewskis is offering a $1000 REWARD for information leading to this young girl's safe return

Per Wm M Parker III

I think it's bullshit that this missing girl is not plastered all over the news... why?

• Ogden teen seemingly vanishes after leaving babysitting job

Where are the Amber Alerts? Where are the press conferences? Where is Alexis Rasmussen?

The City Club and Brewskis is offering a $1000 REWARD for information leading to her safe return.

Please contact the Ogden Police Department, if you have ANY information at all about young Ms. Rasmussen's possible whereabouts.

Whatever you do, don't let the cat get your tongues!

New Financial Disclosure Statements Publicly Released - Updated

Mike Caldwell continues to rake in the dough, raising more campaign contribution cash than all other candidates combined

Submitted by Dan Schroeder

A new set of 2011 Ogden Municipal Election financial disclosure statements is now posted on the city's web site:

• 2011 Contributions and Expenditures

Caldwell has raised an additional $19,650; Stephenson only $1890.

Editor's Addendum: These documents have now been added to each individual Candidate Information Page within our right sidebar election module General Election Candidate Roster.

Update 10/7/11 6:37 a.m.: The Standard-Examiner carries Scott Schwebke's report this morning:

• Ogden mayor's race: Caldwell raises 10 times more than Stephenson

Standard-Examiner: Van Hooser Backs Caldwall for Ogden Mayor

Lots to talk about this morning concerning what could amount to an endorsement which could trigger a sea-change in Ogden City mayoral candidate support

There's highly significant news this morning in the 2011 Ogden City Mayoral Election race, wethinks, as Mr. Schwebke breaks the story to its hard-copy readership that Susan Van Hooser, a mayoral candidate who finished a close third (but nevertheless out of the running) in the September 13, 2011 Primary, "announced Saturday she's supporting Mike Caldwell for mayor in the Nov. 8 general election":

• Van Hooser backs Caldwall for Ogden mayor

Ms. Van Hooser's been Brandon Stephenson's council colleague since September of 2006, when the Council appointed Van Hooser to fill Bill Glasmann's vacated At Large "A" Seat. She's been rubbing elbows with Stephensen on and off for most of the time since then. She knows Brandon as well as anyone in government knows Brandon. Yet when it comes time for an endorsement, who does she endorse? She gives her ringing endorsement to the newcomer, Mike Caldwell; that's who.

So what does that tell ya's about Brandon, O Gentle Ones?

That's it for now. Who'll be the first to throw in their own 2¢? Within the group of WCF readers who supported Van Hooser in the primary race, how many of you will follow Van Hooser's lead and jump aboard the Caldwell bandwagon? If not; why not? Lots to talk about this morning concerning what could amount to an endorsement which could trigger a sea-change in Ogden City mayoral candidate support.

Don't let the cat get your tongues.

Weber State University Game Day Thread: WSU v. EWU - Updated

We think it's fair to speculate that winless defending national champion EWU will be taking the field this afternoon with serious blood in their eyes

The WSU Wildcats are back on the road for the second straight week, where they'll be butting heads this afternoon with Big Sky Conference rival Eastern Washington University at Cheney, Washington's ghastly red-turfed Roos Field, at 1:30 p.m. (MT). Yikes!:

Roos Field, Cheney, WA

In addition to the league rivalry, EWU is also the FCS defending national champion, although they've suffered some hard times this year, coming into today's game with a winless 0-4 record. Since another EWU loss would mathematically eliminate EWU from the 2011 playoffs, we think it's fair to speculate that they'll be taking the field this afternoon with blood in their eyes, hoping to put a dent in the Wildcats' perfect 2-0 conference record (and to keep their own playoff hopes alive.)

Just to set the stage with a little pre-game hype, WSU fans can sink their teeth into this week's two Standard-Examiner stories:

• Wildcats hope to bleed purple all over EWU's red turf
• Wildcats not overlooking defending champs

And here's a pretty decent pre-game setup from EWU's "home town" newspaper, the Spokane Spokesman-Review:

• Weber State figures to run against EWU

Once again it looks like there'll be no online streaming video this week, but here's the KZNS internet audio feed:

• KZNS (1280 The Zone) Live Broadcast

According to this morning's Standard-Examiner, live game video will be broadcast on the Altitude network (ALT), which is channel 61 on Comcast Cable and channel 410 on the Dish Network.

We'll keep the lower comments section open, of course, for WSU football fans who'd like to chime in before, during or after the game.

Go Wildcats!

Update 10/1/11 6:19 p.m.: Final score: EWU over WSU, 27-21.

Update 10/2/11 7:30 a.m.: The Standard has the post-game story:

• Wildcats fumble chances at EWU

WSU's not the only school, by the way, to have been handed their hat by a team from the State of Washington. This morning's Standard also carries the story yesterday's Utah v. Washington debacle, where the U of W cruised to an easy 31-14 victory over the locally vaunted U of U, due to an ugly series of University of Utah miscues (five turnovers). The headline says it all:

• Stinky start for Utes

Plenty of humble pie to go all around this morning, we guess.

WSU to Host Ogden Mayoral Debate

With the plethora of debates and candidate forums that have been scheduled this election season, there's no excuse for any conscientious voter to have failed to meet up with Ogden City Election candidates "in the flesh"

For those Ogden voters who still haven't had the chance to catch a pre-election live performance from Ogden City Mayoral candidates Caldwell and Stephenson, we just received word that a convenient daytime debate venue is now on the WSU calender. Here's the story in a nutshell:

OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University students and the public can learn more about Ogden’s mayoral candidates during an hour-long debate Oct. 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater.

Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society, and the Richard Richards Institute for Politics, Decency and Ethical Conduct are cosponsoring the debate between candidates Mike Caldwell and Brandon Stephenson.

Click the link below for full details:

• WSU to Host Ogden Mayoral Debate

With the plethora of debates and candidate forums that have been scheduled this election season, there's no excuse for any conscientious voter to have failed to meet up with Ogden City Election candidates "in the flesh."

(We've also added this event to our election module, within the category, "Election Events.")