Walker just may slip past the good ol' boys

Gov. Olene Walker's entrance last Saturday into the governor's race this year stirs the already troubled GOP waters.

Most political observers didn't think she'd do it.

But as her husband, Myron, told reporters at her announcement press conference, "Don't underestimate Olene."

He's been her partner for years, seen her raise seven children while getting her college degree, a master's degree and a Ph.D.; seen her serve eight years in the Legislature, then as a state department head, run for Congress, then give that up to serve 11 years as lieutenant governor.

Before Walker's entrance, the GOP field of men running for governor seemed to be running to the right. A browse of their Web sites stands on issues, or some knowledge of their voting records in public office, could lead one to see that their campaign strategy involves conservative appeal.

While Walker said Saturday that she's as fiscally conservative as any of them, I think most Utah political watchers would agree that Walker is a moderate — especially on education, Human Services and other "people" issues.

Last summer, Walker, then preparing to become governor as then-Gov. Mike Leavitt moved through the cumbersome Senate confirmation process to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, told me that she thought it unlikely that any GOP gubernatorial candidate could make it out of the 2004 Republican Convention if he or she opposed tuition tax credits for parents who send their children to private schools.

The idea of school choice is part of both the Utah and national GOP platforms.

But the tide may have turned on tuition tax credits — at least briefly.

Walker won't have to veto a tuition tax credit bill this year — Rep. Jim Ferrin's bill died in the House Rules Committee after GOP moderates joined with House Democrats to refuse to hear the bill.

And while Walker hinted that she would veto Ferrin's bill, should it have gotten to her desk, she ultimately didn't have to take a public stand. She would say only that she "hadn't seen" a tax credit bill that wouldn't harm public education — which she says she steadfastly refuses to do.

Is there a chance Walker can survive the May 8 GOP convention and make it to a June 22 primary?

Yes.