Throckmorton joins Congress race again

Former state representative Matt Throckmorton announced Saturday that he will challenge fellow Republican Chris Cannon in Utah's 3rd Congressional District.

This is his second go-round — Throckmorton finished behind Cannon and radio talk-show host Tom Draschil at the Republican Convention two years ago. By eliminating both GOP challengers, Cannon avoided a primary and ended up beating Democrat Nancy Jane Woodside to win a fourth term.

In his announcement, made in front of a group of about 100 family and friends Saturday morning, Throckmorton said he will focus on immigration reform, the economy, education and the No Child Left Behind act.

"We need to secure our border," he said. "I support legal immigration but not illegal immigration."

And this time around, Throckmorton said he thinks he will have enough backers at the Republican Convention to reach a primary election. Candidates who receive 40 percent of convention delegates or more go on to a primary.

No other candidates have said they will run yet.

As for funding his congressional campaign, Throckmorton said his committee hopes to have $10,000 raised by next week and a total $50,000 raised by the Republican Convention May 8.

The Springville resident works as a flooring contractor but also offers political consulting. Throckmorton served four years as a Utah state representative from Springville.

"I've been in public office," Throckmorton said. "The people are desperate to have someone go back to Washington with these ideas. . . . I'm very consistent and Republican."

Cannon is now in his fourth term in Congress.

For more information on Throckmorton's candidacy, visit www.matt4utah.com.

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E-mail: jburke@desnews.com