Utah political races shaping up

Utah Democrats have solved their major candidate challenge this year, finding long-time Democrat Bob Springmeyer to run against GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. And now a Cache County LDS seminary teacher will oppose Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop in the 1st Congressional District.

Still left unfilled as of Wednesday, however, was a Democrat candidate to run in the 3rd Congressional District. There, Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, is being challenged by two legitimate Republicans, David Leavitt and Jason Chaffetz. In 1998 Democrats couldn't find a candidate and Cannon ran with no Democratic opponent.

There is no U.S. Senate race in Utah this year; Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, both R-Utah, are in mid-terms.

State Democratic Party leaders say they should have more Democratic candidates for the Legislature than they did two years ago — hoping to pick up some seats from retiring Republicans or GOP incumbents who have barely won in the past.

With several extra staffers, funded by the National Democratic Party, Utah Democrats are in mid-stride of a statewide rebuilding process. And their 2008 test may well be seen in Salt Lake County and legislative races, rather than in top-tier contests where Democrats have little chance of unseating GOP incumbents, and where U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, a moderate-to-conservative Democrat, hopes to win his fifth term in the 2nd Congressional District.

Matheson is challenged by Republicans Merrill Cook, who once held that seat; Bill Dew and Kenneth Gray.

In the 1st District, Democrat Morgan Bowen filed Tuesday. Taking a conservative stance, Bowen in a press release said his campaign will focus on three issues: "Traditional family values, energy independence and eliminating the national debt."

"Under our current congressman (Bishop), the national debt has been increased by $4 trillion. Every man, woman and child in this nation owes $31,000. Much of that debt is owed to nations in the Middle East and China."

Tax law should help, not hurt, the American family, he added. And Bishop and President Bush have "squandered" the nation's resources by having no clear energy policy.

Bowen lives in Hyde Park, Cache County, with his wife, the former Kristen Matheson, and their six children. For 15 years he worked as the CEO of "an international sustainable agricultural consulting firm," and now teaches religious classes in Richmond and Logan.

Bishop faces an intra-party challenge from Republican Alan Hansen from Morgan, Weber County.

As reported previously, state Sens. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price; and Bill Hickman, R-St. George; and Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake, are retiring.