Persistent Lampropoulos makes candidacy official

SOUTH JORDAN — Fred Lampropoulos spent a year and more than $1 million getting his tongue-twister of a name out to the public before announcing his candidacy for governor Tuesday.

So, of course, one of the first campaign billboards that goes up doesn't get it right.

"They spelled it wrong," he said. But he says it with a wink and a toothy grin.

A drive to about 1350 West on 7800 South reveals in bold red letters the intentional misspelling: Lampersistent.

Expect more plays on Lampropoulos' alliterative Greek surname in the coming months. He intends to put up some 100 billboards statewide. And he is already on the campaign trail, having barnstormed Tooele, Ogden and Logan on Tuesday. Today he is making a swing through southern Utah.

"If they don't know me, they're going to," he said. "We just want to get the word out."

Lampropoulos, 54, joins a crowded field seeking the Republican nomination. Announced candidates include former Rep. Jim Hansen, Speaker of the House Marty Stephens, former ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr., state Sen. Parley Hellewell, former House Speaker Nolan Karras and Utah County Commissioner Gary Herbert. Gov. Olene Walker is mum on her plans.

Political newcomer Lampropoulos announced his bid at Merit Medical Systems Inc., which he founded in 1987 and where he is chairman and chief executive officer. The publicly traded company of 1,300 employees makes devices used in cardiological and radiological procedures. It is on pace for a record year in 2003. Sales through September totaled $100.8 million with a net income of $12.6 million. Year-end reports aren't out until February.

Merit Medical broke ground last month on a new South Jordan manufacturing facility the company says will employ 300 to 500 people.

Kent Stanger, Merit co-founder, said Lampropoulos has great vision. "He's had the ability to see opportunities, to see what could be, not only for business but for people," he said.

Job creation and economic development would be Lampropoulos' top priorities as governor. "We cannot just sit around and hope that Utah's economy will grow if the national economy takes off," he said.

Business experience, he said, sets him apart from other candidates. "I'm the guy who created the jobs, not just talked about it."