Politicians offer a few resolutions for coming year

It's a brand new year, time to start anew and set resolutions to make 2009 profitable, successful, disciplined, less fattening, more honorable and more spiritual … or something like that.

To inspire all of us to be the best we can be, we invited a couple of dozen Utah politicians to share their 2009 resolutions. We didn't make 'em up … honest! (except for a few at the end).

Sen. Bob Bennett: Political: "Make health-care reform a priority, not just an empty slogan." Personal: "Turn down all requests to appear on 'Dancing with the Stars.' "

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.: "I resolve to declare war on Nevada if they continue their threat to steal our west desert water. But then again, their value as a state may soon be where we can just buy them!"

Sen. Orrin Hatch: "Like President-elect Barack Obama, I will talk a lot about hope and change: I HOPE the Jazz can CHANGE their 2-year streak and win the Western Conference finals."

Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert; "My resolution is to increase my effectiveness as lieutenant governor, so I will be legally changing my name to 'Mitt Huntsman' "

Congressman Jim Matheson: Political: "To put Utah first." Personal: "To beat my previous best time in the Capitol Hill Challenge 5K race this spring."

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon: Personal: "Get myself in shape (I mean it this time!) and spend more time with my family." Political: "Work collaboratively with our state and local officials to get through these tough economic times."

Provo Mayor Lewis Billings: Political: "Hope for the best, but continue to strategically position Provo so as to not only survive but thrive through this time of economic challenge and question." Personal: "Find a warm, dry, sunny day to ride my road bike from Salt Lake to Provo with Mayor Ralph Becker after the Cougars defeat the Utes next fall."

State Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack: "My resolution is to discover the actual math concept that allows bonding for $2.5 billion of roads with $50 million."

Congressman Rob Bishop: Political: "Help D.C. bureaucrats finally realize there's an energy problem and that Utah can solve it — if they could just find us on the map." Personal: "Get at least one favorable article from Pignanelli/Webb this year, and finally find a way to make old, fat, short and gray look good."