From Deseret News archives:
On civility, common sense
Utah's gubernatorial race, by contrast, was a gentlemanly pursuit. Candidates Jon Huntsman Jr., the Republican, and Scott Matheson Jr., the Democrat, each made his case to voters in a civil, respectful manner. Shortly after Huntsman's victory speech at the Hilton Hotel downtown, the two men greeted one another in the hotel lobby with a hug.
Matheson, though disappointed, said he was proud of the campaign, which is considered one of the least contentious in Utah history. Both men are to be congratulated for taking the high road in a high-stakes game that easily can turn ugly.
While negative campaigning might carry the day elsewhere, Utahns tend to recoil at repeated attacks. Most can read through the nasty rhetoric and code words the first time they see these messages. By the 20th time, they're absolutely fed up.
For the most part, Utahns stuck by incumbents and issues in their comfort zones and rejected proposals they deemed unclear. For instance, the wildly popular ZAP tax was reauthorized in Salt Lake and Utah counties. Voters here joined those in 10 other states in approving a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage. And after much consternation about adding fluoride to the public water supply in Davis County, a slim majority of voters elected to keep the cavity-fighting mineral in their drinking water. But voters rejected an open-space bond initiative, presumably because of concerns over imposing a statewide sales tax or control over the tax revenue. Early poll results suggested the initiative would pass a trend reported on these pages Wednesday but the final returns spelled defeat.
The vast majority of incumbents were re-elected. In Salt Lake County, where Democrat Peter Corroon was elected mayor and Democrat Jenny Wilson ousted incumbent Republican Steve Harmsen for an at-large seat on the Salt Lake County Council, voters may have been saying they wanted fresh faces after a political season marred by controversy and scandal.
For the most part, Utah voters are a loyal and predictable lot. But the people elected Tuesday to represent Utahns must now do all in their power to continue to earn their constituents' respect and as Utah's gubernatorial race demonstrated keep the debate on issues rather than personalities.
Comments
- Ex-editor sues paper, Rev. Moon 2:36 p.m.
- Obama urges major new stimulus 2:34 p.m.
- Storm pounds Utah for 2nd day 2:22 p.m.
- Market drops as dollar strengthens 2:12 p.m.
- Peter Gammons leaving ESPN 2:09 p.m.
- Uganda mulls death penalty for gays 1:58 p.m.
- Woods' mother-in-law released 1:52 p.m.
- Iraq sets parliamentary elections 1:51 p.m.
- New policies on water at schools 1:38 p.m.
- Five players miss Jazz practice 1:37 p.m.
- BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
- Witness: Mitchell stalked victims
- Yet again, we learn BCS is a big joke
- Williams' late jumper tops Spurs
- Cougars in better mood about bowl
- $2M error could mean layoffs
- Ranking the bowl games
- Storm pounds Utah for 2nd day
- BYU eager for crack at Oregon State
- Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
270 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
203 - Letters: Global warming a lie
191 - Cougars going back to Vegas
147 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
140 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
130 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
119 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
101 - Harpring's NBA career is over
98 - Store planning for Palin crush
84
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
Red Shirt, Your response at 12:15 p.m. is exactly why we should be scared to...
Yes, let's google Kurt Bestor and get totally accurate information on his...
What Anderson did was wrong. Yes, he lied, and should be held accountable....
I hope they go against the Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists now too.
I wonder if our beloved Pres. Obama will tell the Iranian students (as he...
This is hard to understand, that JW's are hard working, tax paying, community...
Sorry to say this BUT guess what?. We were BORN into this world,...
To "thanks redshirt | 12:31 p.m. " what conspiricay have I touted?
Abortion can legally only be performed by a physician. To seek the assistance...
BCS - how do we deal with these BCS buster teams? Just let them play each...


You can be the first to comment on this story.