Democrats set up challengers for 2008 races

Would-be candidates have until 5 p.m. Monday to file for various public offices around the state, but already some interesting match-ups are coming based on filings as of Wednesday afternoon.

Those include:

• GOP state Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy, is not seeking re-election but has filed as a Republican for state treasurer. State Treasurer Ed Alter is retiring after more than 20 years in office. Alter's top assistant, Richard Ellis, has also filed to be the Republican treasurer nominee. Dick Clark has filed as a Democrat.

Walker, a Zions Bank employee, barely won re-election in 2006 to his Sandy seat, a seat that is targeted by Democrats again this year.

• House Majority Whip Gordon Snow, R-Roosevelt, is retiring. At the end of the session there were rumors that Snow would not return, but he told the Deseret Morning News that he was planning on running again. Instead, Republican David Labrum, also from Roosevelt, has filed for Snow's seat.

• Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Sandy, will be challenged for her seat by Rep. Karen Morgan, D-Holladay. Walker, too, had a tough race four years ago.

• Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, is being challenged by fellow Republican Ronda Rose.

• Sen. Darin Peterson, R-Nephi, is being challenged by Eddie Cox, a Republican.

• Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, will likely be challenged within his party by Margaret Bird, who works for the state's trust lands office. Hughes is chairman of the House's Conservative Caucus. Democrat Lisa M. Johnson is also in the race.

• Salt Lake City Councilman Carlton Christensen, a west-side Republican, is challenging Sen. Fred Fife, D-Salt Lake. Democrat Luz Robles has also filed for that Senate District 1 office. Robles was Huntsman's head of ethnic affairs but then took a job with Zions Bank. Robles could prove a real challenge to Fife within the Democratic Party. She is already endorsed by Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson.

"As in all cases like this," said Democratic Party executive director Todd Taylor, "we sit down with all (intra-party candidates) and talk it out. And in most cases we look for a fair, clean fight."

• Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, will have opponents within and outside his party. Buttars made headlines during the 2008 Legislature by referring to a school district bill as a black baby, a dark, ugly thing. Buttars is opposed by urban planner Gary Armstrong within the GOP and by Democrat John Rendell, a vice president of a physician staffing firm.

• Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, will be challenged by Democrat and former Utah Highway Patrol administrator Ken Peay.