From Deseret News archives:
Who didn't make list?
Media bosses, Hansen, Cannon all are absent
In the Deseret News' study of influence and power in Utah, there are some interesting names that don't show up, along with the names that do.
The Power Players Top 20 has only two women, no minorities, only one old-line businessman.
Media managers are conspicuously absent. A 1980 study of power brokers conducted by the San Jose Mercury News found both the newspaper's publisher and editor in the top ranks of the most influential people in that city.
But not in Utah.
Neither the publishers nor top editors of The Salt Lake Tribune or Deseret News were among the Top 20 most influential people, either in a list compiled by 30 community insiders the newspaper used in naming the Power Players or in a public-opinion survey conducted by Dan Jones & Associates. Neither were the top bosses of local TV stations named.
Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, was noticeably missing from the names compiled by the 30 insiders the newspaper relied upon. Hansen, a 20-year veteran of the House from the 1st Congressional District, is the longest-serving Utahn ever. Hansen got but eight mentions out of 600 people interviewed in the Jones poll.
Likewise, Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, was not listed as one of the most influential Utahns. Cannon represents the 3rd Congressional District and is entering his third term.
Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, was leading in his race last fall when the newspaper's surveys were completed, but he had not yet been elected. But in any case, since 1990 two Democrats and two Republicans have held Matheson's 2nd Congressional District seat so no one has lasted long enough to amass much influence there.
While Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is in the top 10, no other local government official is on the list, and rarely were they even mentioned by the 30 panelists or poll interviewees.
In various interviews the newspaper conducted for the series, newly installed Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman was mentioned as an up-and-coming power in the Utah Republican Party. But Workman is now a mostly untested entity.
Only one local financier former First Security Bank chairman Spencer Eccles was named. No other bank, investment-house or credit-union president was mentioned.
No traditional community leaders made the list no Chamber of Commerce president, labor union leader or trade association executive secretary.
University of Utah president Bernie Machen made the Top 20 list, but no other educator or university president was named.
E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com ; lucy@desnews.com
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