Elections, Urquhart, Legacy provide food for thought

Webb: No overarching theme seemed apparent in the Utah municipal election. Voters weren't in a "throw-the-incumbents-out" sort of mood, as some incumbents won, and others lost. A number of big-box stores and development issues had voters riled up, but there wasn't a consistent pro-development or anti-development theme. Voters, for the most part, seemed pretty happy with the direction of their cities. So the individual races really hinged on local issues and the quality of candidates.

One interesting development is the sophistication and expense of some of the municipal races. If you want to become mayor of one of Utah's large to medium-size cities, you had better plan to raise a lot of money and use the latest campaign techniques and tools.

A number of campaigns used sophisticated targeting to reach likely voters in a low-turnout election. Recorded automated voice messages were fairly common. A number of campaigns produced e-mail newsletters, and e-mail blasts with recorded audio pitches. Big get-out-the-vote efforts were mounted on Election Day.

Being a former stake president and having an old-time family name just doesn't cut it any more in a lot of Utah cities.

On the national level, Democrats won big last Tuesday. Since we're now in the 2006 cycle, we Republicans ought to immediately begin spinning the 2006 congressional races: Given the sad and sorry state of the Republican Party on numerous fronts, if the Democrats don't have an enormous victory in 2006 and win control of both the House and Senate, then the Democratic Party really is a puny and feeble political force.

Hatch vs. Urquhart

Pignanelli: "The owners of two NBA teams were involved in this intraparty struggle. Larry Miller of the Jazz donated $2,000 to Orrin Hatch and Steve Urquhart received $1,000 from the Dallas Mavericks' Mark Cuban." Such was the simple but compelling observation of a veteran analyst regarding Urquhart's withdrawal from the Senate race. Hatch easily fostered monetary donations and endorsements from important Utahns. Although well-liked by high-tech activists and entrepreneurs across the country (i.e. Cuban), Urquhart could not transform this affection into deep support among local GOP.

Webb: I predict we haven't seen the last of Steve Urquhart. His foray into big-time congressional politics hasn't damaged him long-term. He can readily recover and will continue to be a force in the Legislature. He gave Hatch a needed wake-up call, learned a few lessons, and will emerge a better political leader for the experience.

The Legacy settlement