Corroon campaign criticizes Herbert for injecting religion in guv campaign

SALT LAKE CITY — For the second day in a row, the race between GOP Gov. Gary Herbert and his Democratic challenger, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, focused on religion.

Corroon's running mate, Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, criticized the governor Friday for saying the Democrats' call for increased high school graduation requirements was a threat to Mormon seminary classes.

"It's unfortunate that a religious wedge has been interjected by Gary Herbert because the discussion is about the future of our children and preparing them for the 21st century," Allen said.

She said "bewilderment" was her reaction to Herbert's statements this week about the Corroon campaign's new plan to improve public schools.

Herbert's initial response to the plan released Monday was to call Corroon "hypocritical" for sending his children to a private, Catholic school while claiming support for public education.

And Thursday, the governor warned that Utah students would be forced to give up elective arts classes and release time to attend religious instruction in the LDS Church if an additional year each of math and science were required as proposed by Corroon.

Corroon has already responded to both issues, calling it "unconscionable" to bring a candidate's children into the debate and saying he hoped the governor, who is LDS, wasn't playing the "religious race card."

Allen said the campaign had heard from a number of Utahns who agreed with the need to boost graduation requirements as well as some who were unhappy with what they heard from Herbert.

"A few people certainly came to that conclusion," she said when asked if they expressed concern about the governor bringing religion into the discussion.

"I don't think the religion of our governor should affect the decision that people make on who they vote for," Allen said, noting the state has had governors who were not Mormon. "I would hope the public would always focus on who's going to provide the best leadership."

Herbert's campaign spokesman, Don Olsen, said again Friday the governor was not attempting to make the faith of the candidates an issue.

"It's the Corroon campaign that's calling the press conferences. It's the Corroon campaign that's bringing up religion," Olsen said. "We have never, ever said that Peter Corroon is a Catholic. That is not the issue."