Three hot legislative issues about which we just can't agree

The state's toughest issues percolate up to the Legislature every year. Here are three that arouse a fair amount of passion — especially between us:

Should school board elections be partisan?

Webb: Yes. Think for a minute. Do you remember who represents you on state and district school boards? Did you know the school board candidates on the ballot? Do you have any idea how your school board members feel about key issues? Having school board candidates run as Republicans or Democrats will provide a great deal more exposure for candidates, will put them through a screening process to win their party nomination, and will result in better candidates who are more accountable.

Yes, candidates will have to work the grass roots in preparation for party caucuses and conventions. That's a good thing. Talking to average citizens and asking for their support is where candidates learn the most and really prepare to serve. Building coalitions at the grass-roots level is great training for effective governance. And, believe me, the far right will not always dominate the nominating process. Mainstream Utahns, who are in the majority, simply need to turn out to regain control of Utah politics. We might just see a mainstream uprising in the 2012 caucuses.

Pignanelli: "God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board." — Mark Twain. Without a doubt, the worst job in American democracy is the local school board. These poor souls suffer a thankless existence until they actually make a decision, then half of their constituents hate them, while the other half ignores them. Therefore, LaVarr is just plain cruel by wanting to force them through Utah's antiquated delegate/convention process, dominated by left- and right-wing extremists. Partisanship does not offer the answer. Many of Utah's inventive thinkers in education are Republicans, but the most innovative school system harbors thousands of liberals — the Salt Lake City School District.

LaVarr is just too old and decrepit to remember the compelling needs of younger, more vibrant parents ... like me. We want the best candidate to determine the education of our children and do not care if the school board representative is Republican, Democrat, Independent or Martian.

Why haven't legislators raised the issue of education vouchers as a way to reduce class sizes and provide more per-pupil money for public education?