Compassion helps Babka as cop, dad, political candidate

PLEASANT GROVE — The neighbor's boat parked in front of his house sorely tempted 5-year-old Beau Babka.

He finally climbed inside to play, prompting his father to erupt, grab the boy and throw him through the air.

Olympic silver medal-winner Rink Babka, a former world-record holder and one of the first men to throw a discus more than 200 feet, became the first and only man to throw Beau Babka 15 feet.

Eventually, little Beau became a massive football player and a police captain. But as he grew, the scar on his right arm from landing on a drain pipe after his father threw him remained, as have others above and below the skin.

But they haven't stopped him from pursuing a desire to make life better for himself, his family and others. And it's that desire, in part, that prompted him to challenge incumbent Republican Chris Cannon to represent Utah's 3rd Congressional District.

Polls indicate Babka is, however, trailing in the polls. The most recent Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV survey shows him 28 points behind. But it wouldn't be the first time Babka has been beaten, and it doesn't discourage him. He's survived and overcome worse odds.

"I remember getting beaten to a pulp, till I was 13 or 14 and my parents split up," he said.

Soon after, the growing son stepped between Dad and Mom and called an end to the physical confrontations. He was on his way to becoming the no-neck, 330-pound lineman who would play for three college football teams and would draw the attention of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League.

Babka, family and friends say that instead of engendering bitterness or hopelessness, his troubled home life didn't dent the compassion both his parents now say he had from birth. And they believe it made him a better cop and father and an open, honest candidate.

"He's very, very altruistic and has it in his heart and mind that he can make a difference in people's lives," said state Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley.

Babka's first foray into politics was a run against four-term incumbent Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard. Babka no longer is missing a neck and can't approach his old bench press, but he proved a strong candidate. Though badly outspent and losing 55-45 percent, He collected more than 96,000 votes.

As of June campaign finance filings, Cannon, who has served more terms than anyone in the history of the 3rd District — four — had outspent Babka $432,000 to $15,000, in part because of a tough primary race. The congressman and his staff, despite a comfortable lead, remain wary because Babka did so well in Salt Lake County, which makes up nearly half of the voters in the 3rd District.