Stephens weighs in on 2nd-district race

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.