From Deseret News archives:
Change archaic election law
Nancy Workman, the incumbent, won the Republican Party nomination for re-election this year before she was charged with two felony counts of misusing public funds. But once the candidate filing deadline has passed and there is only one party candidate, state law says the party can't replace the candidate unless she dies, runs for president or vice president of the United States, or is certified by a physician to be physically or mentally disabled.
As it's difficult, not to mention unseemly, to fake death or physical disability, and since a sudden run for the White House would seem a little bizarre, a candidate who has become an embarrassment faces an unpleasant choice: Either stay in a doomed race that may hurt the party, or find a doctor who will declare you mentally disabled.
Sixteen years ago, Salt Lake County Commissioner Dave Watson did just that after he was arrested for driving drunk and for carrying a vial of cocaine in his pocket. Under pressure from his party, he obtained a doctor's statement saying he was suffering from stress that had led to a mental disorder. The Democratic Party replaced him on the ballot and lost anyway.
We don't know whether Workman would have dropped out of the race if she had other options. We do know that she has said she would have considered it and that she also has said she won't stoop to having herself certified as something she's not.
But if the Republican Party had other options, it could have replaced her on the ballot whether she liked it or not. Then the party wouldn't be put in the position of supporting a write-in candidate while the woman with legal problems retains the "official" imprint of the party's approval.
This would be easy to fix. State lawmakers should amend the law and add the option to replace anyone who has been charged with a crime.
Some may worry that this would lead a zealous and politically motivated district attorney to charge someone falsely just to upset a race. Some in Workman's camp say that is what happened this year. But the district attorney is himself an elected official, and voters will hold him accountable. The proof is in the evidence presented.
Meanwhile, it's hard to argue that anyone is served by the mess that has become this year's race for county mayor.
Comments
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...


You can be the first to comment on this story.