ST. GEORGE — A visibly upset John Swallow denied Wednesday that he was running a negative campaign against his GOP primary opponent for the 2nd Congressional District, Tim Bridgewater.

"Where I come from, the intimation that anyone is running a negative campaign is negative," said Swallow, who was responding to a question from the audience during a debate held on the Dixie State College campus. "Where I come from the intimation is negative, and I don't understand it. I just don't understand where this question is going."

Bridgewater pointedly said he has a reputation for running a clean campaign.

"Unfortunately my opponent hasn't done that," said Bridgewater, who turned and asked Swallow whether a flier his campaign office sent out was truthful or full of misinformation.

Aside from that tense moment, there was little sparring between the two Republicans who each want to oust Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, from office.

A June 22 primary election will determine which one will take on the two-term Democrat in November.

Several times during the debate, Swallow told the audience of around 100 people that he spent several of his formative childhood years in Dixie.

"I'll be a southern Utah congressman. I'll fight for southern Utah. I still have red sand in my shoes," said Swallow. "I will work hard for what's right for southern Utah. My roots are here."

Bridgewater dropped the name of former President Ronald Reagan several times during the evening.

"The federal government is not part of the solution, it's part of the problem. Ronald Reagan reminded us of that," he said. "I served in the Ronald Reagan administration and learned about public service from him. That's the difference in this race. I have experience working within the federal bureaucracy with Ronald Reagan."

Matheson's voting record on abortion, taxes, energy and immigration was touted as one of the biggest reasons why voters in the 2nd District should put a Republican in office.

"While I wouldn't say Jim Matheson is an extreme liberal, he has voted for and against so many issues that he's not sure what he believes in," Bridgewater said.

Bridgewater squeaked past Swallow's challenge during the 2002 election by less than one percentage point. That loss, said Swallow, proves he is the man to vote for in this month's primary election.

"I am better known, more seasoned, and better financed this time around," he said. "The question is: Who is in the best position to win? I believe I am."

Funding homeland defense, education, transportation and the Lake Powell pipeline project, in addition to stopping the flow of illegal aliens into the country, should be top priorities, the candidates agreed.

"Giving people amnesty is not a good idea. We need to enforce the rule of law," said Bridgewater.

Immigrants who enter this country illegally should not be rewarded with benefits that ordinary citizens now enjoy, Swallow said.

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