Despite warnings from their party leadership, all of the Utah Democratic challengers for congressional seats have responded to a questionnaire distributed by a Montana-based voter information group.

In fact, a larger proportion of candidates in Utah responded to the survey from Project Vote Smart, which posts their answers online, than those running for office in many other states. The group, which is nonpartisan, polls federal and state office candidates from every party in all 50 states.

All together, 63 percent of the congressional candidates in Utah responded to the group's survey. Only 22 percent of the legislative candidates responded.

In general, those responding were challengers. None of the congressional incumbents responded, and only about a half dozen incumbent legislators will have their answers posted on the groups Web site at www.vote-smart.org.

The questionaire is comprehensive, covering hot-button issues such as abortion or gun rights to more technical topics of foreign aid and budgets. The candidates are given multiple-choice answers but can expand or explain their answer as well.

For a candidate like Democrat Steve Olsen, who is challenging Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, in the 1st Congressional District, the group offers a forum for his opinions that is respected and, just as important, free. Because he can explain his answers and the group does not represent a particular special interest, he felt comfortable with responding.

"If they allow me to explain, I do almost all of them," Olsen said. "I've got to take advantage of any free publicity."

That attitude runs contrary to advice from Utah's Democratic Party, which has advised candidates against responding the Project Vote Smart's requests because their answers can box a candidate into a position. For instance, party leaders contend the survey's question on abortion doesn't accurately reflect the position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, something important for Mormon and Democratic candidates who do not want to be perceived as pro-choice.

Some Republicans responded, including LaVar Christensen, who is running in the 2nd Congressional District against Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, although not as many as Democrats and third-party candidates. But very few incumbents, many of whom are Republicans, responded.

Richard Kimball, Project Vote Smart's president, said in a news release that the declining response to the group's survey is disappointing because it suggests that candidates are simply not interested in educating the voters.

"If candidates are afraid of letting their opponents know where they stand on key issues, how can they possibly let the voters know how they will handle the job if they are hired? Candidates have lost sight of who their prospective employers are," he said.

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com