Some highlights and lowlights of 2007

Most discouraging (and disgusting) event: Former Arkansas governor and presidential aspirant Mike Huckabee is a dangerous man. He is a charismatic, intelligent, witty, religious tyrant. The Christmas commercial he aired in selected markets is an insidious attack on the U.S. Constitution. (Remember: Our Founding Fathers/mothers rejected a religious test for office.) During his holiday greeting (where he mentions Jesus Christ), the bookshelf in the background is lighted in such a manner to emphasize a cross. This is no accident, and anyone who claims otherwise is either a fool or disingenuous. Further, the ultimate targets of this bigoted advertisement are Mormons — especially Mitt Romney. Millions are praying Iowans reject this affront to our national conscience.

Webb: 2007's most long-awaited political event: The end of the Rocky Anderson reign. Salt Lake City's irrepressible mayor will go down in history as one of Utah's most colorful politicians. But after eight years, even many of his supporters are happy to see the chapter close. The period ahead will see a new level of cooperation, with less rancor.

2007's nicest campaign: The four major Salt Lake City mayoral candidates demonstrated how to run honorable campaigns that focused on issues and ideas. Ralph Becker showed how to gain traction and emerge from the back of the pack, teaching the timeless political lesson that a hard focus on grass roots and neighborhood campaigning pays off in local races.

2007's biggest disappointment: Education vouchers didn't just lose; they got thrashed, trounced and stomped. Which was too bad, because vouchers provided part of the solution to Utah's long-term public education funding challenge, providing the most direct route to higher per-pupil spending, smaller class sizes and higher teacher salaries. You heard it here first: When Utah's economy slows, public education funding will become a true crisis. All in all, despite the big loss, the voucher battle was a just and noble cause, well worth fighting.

2007's hottest race: The presidential contest started as one of the most interesting ever and just got more fascinating as the year went on. We're witnessing history in the making, with the first real chance for a woman, a black or a Mormon to be elected president. Few presidential races have been so wide open in both parties with 10 months to go.

The race holds special interest for many Utahns because of the unprecedented focus on the LDS Church as a result of Mitt Romney's candidacy. The attention only intensified as the year went on. As a dramatic acknowledgement that the church is in the spotlight, a top LDS official, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve, delivered two high-profile speeches in the last months of the year encouraging LDS members to learn how to talk about and defend the church. He sounded like a PR professional, asking members not to allow others to define the church.

2007's biggest winner: The Utah economy. All in all, 2007 was a very good year for Utahns. We have enjoyed the hottest economy in the country, with plentiful jobs and big budget increases for education, transportation and other pressing needs. Utah is the best place in the world to live, work and play, and we ought to count our blessings as 2007 comes to an end.

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Republican LaVarr Webb was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and Deseret News managing editor. He now is a political consultant and lobbyist. E-mail: lwebb@exoro.com. Democrat Frank Pignanelli is a Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser. A former candidate for Salt Lake mayor, he served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, six years as House minority leader. Pignanelli's spouse, D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli, is a Utah state tax commissioner. E-mail: frankp@xmission.com.