Primary will be special-interest battleground

Pignenelli: The Republican gubernatorial primary will be more than a contest between two men and their running mates. The election will provide another battleground for special-interest groups to wage war against each other.

Banks vs. credit unions. The Legislature is too small a mat for their wrestling matches and the credit unions are now playing in other venues: electing Rob Bishop to Congress in 2002 (against bank president Kevin Garn) and distributing an attack piece against banker Marty Stephens before the convention. Both candidates claim neutrality on the issue, but many key advisers to Nolan Karras are the brains behind the credit unions' success. Campaign leaders for Jon Huntsman Jr. anticipate the credit unions will flex their political muscle in behalf of Karras.

State employees. As a legislator, Karras garnered the affection of public employees for openness to their concerns. Conversely, Huntsman has promised to implement a "flexible hiring freeze" to cap the total number of state employees, but allow departments to exchange vacancies (a concept loved by taxpayer and business organizations). Karras is a known commodity for state workers and the Huntsman program causes concern. Employee associations are actively assisting Karras.

UEA and vouchers. The Huntsman family generosity to public education is appreciated by teachers but does not dampen concern for Huntsman's support of the Carson Smith Scholarships Bill that was vetoed by Gov. Olene Walker. (Huntsman has not endorsed a comprehensive voucher program.) Karras has been careful in articulating his public education platform — he espouses conservative ideals for efficiency but avoids using the dreaded "v" word. Any activity remotely related to tax credits and vouchers to benefit private schools is a call to arms for the Utah Education Association. Teachers claim some credit for the Karras convention success and will weigh in for the primary, with voucher enthusiasts defending Huntsman.