Fluoride feud brews anew

Let the fluoride fight begin — again.

For most of next year, expect the pro- and anti-fluoride sides in Davis County to be out in force extolling and excoriating the substance that has been flowing through taps there for a year but is refueling a new debate, now that county commissioners have put it on the 2004 ballot.

Both groups say their campaign funds are coming mostly from private sources — although they can't say how much they'll get. They quickly note that passion, not the amount of money, will drive their efforts.

Beth Q. Beck, chairwoman for pro-fluoride Utahns for Better Dental Health, said her group will be advertising closer to the election, adding her group believes that because people are now drinking fluoridated water "and not experiencing any dire consequences" means they are accepting of it.

The mineral was added to the water a year after a slim majority of voters approved fluoridation in 2000.

"Just as we predicted, it's simple, safe and doesn't cost much," Beck said. "Every day that people drink fluoridated water they become fans of it."

David Hansen, chairman of Citizens for Safe Drinking Water Davis, said he won't discuss how much money his group will spend or its message at this point because most of it is yet to be decided.

"We have our organization pretty much in place," Hansen said. "A few people have contacted me and asked how they can help get this thing going. We plan on hitting the agency issue and that Kentucky and other areas have found it doesn't work."

By agency, Hansen means his group believes it isn't proper for people to force their neighbors to drink fluoridated water. "A majority shouldn't be able to dictate to a minority something they shouldn't be able to do on an individual basis. Neither should they be able to do it on a community basis," Hansen said.

"Clearly we're going to run a campaign here," Hansen said. "We plan on billboards and ads, depending on the money we have."

Beck has a position paper saying her group is disappointed — but not surprised — by the Davis County Commission's action.

Her paper states fluoride is safe, effective and makes sense both fiscally and medically to continue fluoridating the county's water supplies.