From Deseret News archives:
Election may be a confusing 'one'
The family has political signs posted outside urging residents to vote "Yes on One" and "No on One" in November.
The signs have drawn a few comments and questions from passers-by, Pitt says, but he and his wife are unified in their opinions.
Still confused?
You're not alone.Like voters scattered around Utah, most Davis County residents who go to the polls in November will be faced with two ballot measures designated "No. 1."
One is the Citizens Statewide Referendum No. 1, which would provide public money in the form of vouchers to parents so qualifying children could attend private schools.
Pitt and his wife, an educator, are against that.
But they're in favor of Davis County Opinion Question No. 1, which asks if the Davis County Board of Commissioners should implement a quarter-cent sales-tax increase to pay for further transportation and transit projects and corridor preservation in Davis County.
Pitt, president of one of the Chambers of Commerce that have teamed up to promote a similar opinion in Davis, Weber and southern Box Elder counties, has supported the sales-tax increase since January.
On top of those two questions, Syracuse residents will be voting on another No. 1 — the Citizens City Referendum No. 1, which, if passed, would approve of a City Council ordinance that has been on hold since February.
The ordinance would remove the description of chief executive officer from the mayor's title and would promote the city administrator to city manager, making the city manager the chief executive officer.
Officials across the county are urging residents to get informed on the various issues facing the state, county and local governments and to read the ballot language carefully when they go to the polls.
The signs give a pretty good synopsis of the issues, but seen from a passing car, the signs' messages are difficult to read.
Syracuse city recorder Cassie Brown said most Syracuse residents probably have a good idea of how they're going to vote on the form-of-government referendum.
Syracuse resident Jim Loock said his sign supporting his city's referendum hasn't drawn any questions or confusion. But residents shouldn't rely on signs anyway, he said.
"You have to read what you're voting for," Loock said. "Vote blind, and you might as well stay home."
Lisa Peterson, who lives in unincorporated Davis County, said the election for a single issue, such as the voucher referendum, can be confusing, because both sides say they're supporting schools.
She appreciated that her sign opposing the voucher law, which she posted Monday morning, has a clear message with a stop sign on it.
E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com
