3 candidates in a vigorous race for House District 53

For the first time in 14 years, voters along the Wasatch Back will elect a new representative to the Utah House in District 53.

Three candidates are vying for the position. And despite the lack of an incumbent — longtime Rep. Dave Ure, R-Kamas, stepped aside to pursue a bid at a state Senate seat, which he lost — it's still a race where the focus is on experience versus change.

Republican candidate Mel Brown, a former speaker of the House and 14-year lawmaker, is the man touting experience. His opponents, Democrat Laura Bonham, and a surprisingly active Libertarian candidate, Gary Shumway, want to change the Republican-dominated Legislature.

"Everyone is frustrated that they're not being listened to and their needs are not being addressed," said Bonham, a mother of two and member of the Coalville Planning Commission. "I am an actual advocate for the people and for preserving our representative government, which serves the people and not special interests."

Bonham, 48, has made two unsuccessful bids for office, one as a Green Party candidate. She's raised $16,960, according to the most recent financial disclosure reports. Much of that money, about $11,000, was an in-kind donation from Rob Weyher, the head of the Summit County Democratic Party.

Weyher is facing misdemeanor charges, accused of offering to pay for a Democratic candidate to step down from office.

If elected, Bonham said she wants to work on initiatives to fund education, foster economic development and preserve open space. She considers herself a "country girl," and has lived most her life in rural communities.

"I would describe myself as pragmatic, reasonable, someone with lots of common sense and hardworking," Bonham said.

But Brown, who lives in Coalville and works with his family's dairy business, said Bonham lacks the political and party connections to get something done constituents in Daggett, Morgan, Rich, Summit and Wasatch counties, all part of House District 53.

"The bottom line is that my candidacy offers our district an opportunity to be part of the decision making process," he said. "I can promise, that aside from their vote on the floor, neither one (of his opponents) will be part of the inside decision making."

Brown continued: "If you want representation, you've got to be in the majority party."

If elected, Brown, 68, said he would work on education, tax and transportation initiatives. He is also interested in a leadership position again. In 1998, after four years as Speaker, Brown lost a third bid at the position because of a lobbyist/ethics scandal. He was later exonerated by an internal ethics committee.