Stephens is endorsing Bridgewater in the 2nd District

Breaking with a tradition of not getting involved in intra-party primaries, Utah House Speaker Marty Stephens is endorsing the 2nd Congressional District candidacy of Tim Bridgewater.

The endorsement is unusual in that Stephens, R-Farr West, is not supporting Bridgewater's GOP opponent John Swallow, who served a half-dozen years with Stephens in the state House.

"I've actually known Tim longer than I've known John," Stephens said.

Stephens, who lost his bid for the governor's race at the May 8 state GOP convention, said he met Bridgewater around 14 years ago when Stephens had a business office near Bridgewater's office.

"I think Tim has the best chance of being successful this fall" against Democratic incumbent Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, said Stephens.

In 2002 Swallow and Bridgewater were in a crowded 12-person GOP field against Matheson. Like this year, they survived the state GOP convention. Swallow beat Bridgewater 52-48 percent in the 2002 primary, but lost to Matheson by less than 1 percentage point in the heavily Republican 2nd District.

Stephens said he kept out of the 2nd District GOP race in 2002 "because I didn't live in the district, and I didn't feel comfortable endorsing anyone."

Rarely does a leading, sitting, partisanly-elected Republican take sides in a race before the GOP nominee is picked.

Stephens still lives in the 1st Congressional District. But he admitted he's out of politics after his gubernatorial defeat earlier this month and now feels "more free" to let his opinions be known.

After watching how Swallow ran his 2002 campaign against Matheson, Stephens said, "I feel Tim has a better chance this year."

"Few people understand Republican voters like Marty Stephens does," said Bridgewater. "I know this decision did not come lightly, as Marty and John served together in the state Legislature. However, like the majority of state delegates, Marty knows that I can connect with people, I can excite them about this process, and I can passionately articulate why we Republicans are right."

Did Swallow get involved in the eight-person GOP governor's race this spring, perhaps angering Stephens?

"No," said the speaker. "To my knowledge, the (congressional) candidates neither helped nor hurt any of the candidates" for governor. The issue is electability, said Stephens.

"Utah's 2nd Congressional District is 68 percent Republican. Two years ago, more than 19 percent of traditional Republican voters chose Democrat Jim Matheson over our nominee. As one who has spent years serving this state and the Republican Party, I want to see this seat returned to Republican control."

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com