From Deseret News archives:

Huntsman and Shurtleff lead state GOP sweep

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008 12:22 a.m. MST
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Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Attorney General Mark Shurtleff both coasted to re-election Tuesday night, along with Auditor Auston Johnson. The state's new treasurer is Richard Ellis.

All of the statewide elected officials are Republicans.

Huntsman, who pledged to limit himself to two terms as governor, barely campaigned. He had nearly 77 percent of the vote to just more than 20 percent for his Democratic challenger, Bob Springmeyer, with more than 81 percent of the vote reported.

Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Dell "Superdell" Schanze had less than 3 percent.

The governor told the Deseret News he has tried to represent all Utahns, regardless of their party affiliation. "I listen to all ideas," Huntsman said. "I hope people recognize we are putting the citizens first and foremost and not some political orthodoxy."

Huntsman ran on his record, especially his efforts to strengthen public education, boost economic development and reform the state's tax structure by establishing a flatter income tax rate and rolling back the sales tax on food.

Springmeyer, a business consultant, tried to counter the governor's claims about increased education spending and tax reform while promising he would use his skills to make state government run more efficiently.

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In his concession speech, Springmeyer told his fellow Democrats gathered at the Radisson Hotel downtown that "we need to take those challenges on and push against the unjust and unbalanced in Utah politics."

Springmeyer never came close to Huntsman's strong showing in the polls and was hampered by a lack of campaign cash. He had collected less than $75,000 by the end of October, compared to more than $914,000 for Huntsman.

Huntsman ran only a few television commercials in the final days of the race and even donated some of the time he'd purchased to the state Republican Party. Four years ago, he spent $3.5 million to defeat a much tougher opponent, Democrat Scott Matheson Jr. Shurtleff won a third term with nearly 69 percent of the vote. Democrat Jean Welch Hill, an attorney for the state Office of Education who fought with the attorney general during the controversial debate over private school vouchers, had less than 28 percent, and Libertarian Andrew McCullough, less than 4 percent.

Hill went after Shurtleff on several issues, including polygamy and ethics, and announced her own ethics reform package. Shurtleff reminded voters of his accomplishments in protecting children and families.

Recent comments

And it's about time too!

To Complete Change | Nov. 5, 2008 at 8:58 a.m.

Now with Sen. Obama elected, Gov. Huntsman can now finish his...

Complete Change | Nov. 5, 2008 at 7:53 a.m.

Image

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff sings the Aggie fight song with Utah State Young Republicans Tuesday night.

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