Utahns launching 2 ethics initiatives

Two new initiatives are being launched as a less-complicated alternative to the controversial citizens petition drive on ethics reform.

Sponsors of the new "Anti-Bribery" and "Anti-Corruption" initiatives said Thursday their proposals are easier to understand than the petition currently being circulated by Utahns for Ethical Government.

"One's just a little more straightforward and simple than the other," said Wayne Crawford, a Constitution Party candidate who ran unsuccessfully against former House Speaker Greg Curtis in 2008.

But the two initiatives, which can't be circulated until a required series of seven statewide public hearings are completed next week, aren't as far-reaching.

That concerns Kim Burningham, the chairman of Utahns for Ethical Government. "We do believe everything needs to be addressed," Burningham, a state school board member, said.

Plus, he said, additional initiatives could create confusion in the voters' minds. Each initiative requires the signatures of 95,000 voters in 26 of Utah's 29 Senate districts to qualify for a spot on the November 2010 general election ballot.

"Anything that will improve the quality of ethics in the state is something I seriously applaud," Burningham said. "I will need to know more about what's in there. Are they really good proposals?"

Crawford said he doesn't believe the two new initiatives will confuse voters. "I've been talking to various people," he said. "Most of the people seem to be able to understand and distinguish between them."

Although the two new initiatives were filed in late November, their sponsors kept quiet until the release of the public hearing schedule, available at www.elections.utah.gov.

Crawford said he saw the need for reform while running for office. Curtis, who lost his re-election bid, still had nearly $265,000 in his campaign account when he left office. Crawford spent less than $2,000 on his race.

"That kind of opened my eyes to some of things that happen in politics," he said.

The other sponsors include Steven K. Maxfield of Herriman, who failed twice to unseat Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, and his son, Steven G. Maxfield of Kanosh, also an unsuccessful candidate.