Reader comments
High court rejects Ellis request to force action

Save Some Taxpayer money | 12:32 a.m. June 14, 2008

WHy have a Lt Governor's Elections office if he won't monitor a fair, legal and ethical elections process? Save us taxpayers some money and close the office!

Start a Real Campaign | 12:39 a.m. June 14, 2008

Yeah Walker, start a real campaign by taking a crash course in finance, investing, and the LAW! Maybe you'll be slightly more qualified to manage $12 billion of taxpayers' money than you are now. Signing up RC Willey customers for low interest loans on their dining room set isn't the expertise needed in the State Treasurer's office. Of course you know that. That's why you offered Ellis big bucks to stay.

qwerty | 12:41 a.m. June 14, 2008

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UTAH Bill | 7:40 a.m. June 14, 2008

At least this struggle between Ellis and Walker has drawn attention to what is usually a routine race.

Voters are actually looking at both candidate's qualifications and experience this time around. As a result, Walker will not have the easy ride he expected just because Republican leadership supports him over Ellis.

Voters will hopefully see this race for what it is - an attempt by Republican leadership to gain a political ally rather than a competent Treasurer.

Walker has the least financial education and experience I've seen in a candidate for this office in my lifetime. He'd probably qualify to be an intern in the Treasurer's Office - but not its leader. Even the Treasurer's line staff have more financial experience than he does.

Ellis Admits Political Motives | 8:15 a.m. June 14, 2008

Ellis admits in this article that he is doing this for political motives.

"Not being able to let voters know if the lieutenant governor believed his complaint against Walker warranted further investigation may have an impact on the primary election, he said."

That's right Ellis! It won't have the POLITICAL impact you wanted!

The alleged incident happened in mid-March. There is only one reason to wait as long as he did to make the allegations, to have a POLITICAL impact in Ellis's favor.

If he is really so concerned about the voter's knowing if it warrants an investigation, why wasn't he concerned about the Republican delegates knowing if it warranted an investigation before their May convention?

It is obvious Ellis deliberately waited and timed his allegations so that there would not be enough time to conduct a thorough investigation and come to a conclusion.

Being able to say my opponent is currently under investigation for bribery does have political impact, a favorable political impact for Ellis.

Good on the Lt. Gov for realizing the motives behind all of these last minute allegations and not playing into Ellis's dirty political plans.

Waiting to investigate doesn't hurt anybody.

Mike | 8:34 a.m. June 14, 2008

If Ellis had any brains at all he'd take all his evidence and publish it so the voters could actually read the emails from Walker. Once the evidence is out there where the public can see it. They will then be able to make a choice between the two deadbeat Republican candidates.

Jason | 9:22 a.m. June 14, 2008

I've been wondering why Ellis didn't file his petition sooner.

It would seem according to Ellis' own logic, the Republican delegates would have deserved to know if an investigation was warranted before the convention in May just as the voters now deserve to know before the June primary.

Something seemed amiss here about the timing of the violations which allegedly occurred in March.

So I did a little research and found out that Ellis' star witness, Carl Empey is a long time contributor to his campaign.

All of a sudden it all made sense. Ellis didn't file his allegations earlier because he's afraid the investigation would be found without merit, which would look bad on his candidacy.

This seems like a case of he said, she said. Except for one conflicted middleman who gave Ellis a contribution of all the way back on September 20th of last year.

Ellis could have, should have, and would have filed his allegations sooner, IF he thought they had merit.

The last minute timing of his filing tells me that he doesn't think an investigation would support his allegations.

I'm made up my mind. I'm voting for Mark Walker.

Walker = Financial Incompetence | 9:40 a.m. June 14, 2008

The office treasurer demands a highly regarded, sought after and specific skill set. It is neither an entry level position nor a place for financial incompetence.

Ellis has over 20 years of financial and treasury experience, a BS in Finance, an MBA, is basically doing the job now, and even works as an adjunct professor teaching graduate students about cash management, etc. Throw into the equation that he is man of integrity and he isn't a "yes man" and you have the perfect candidate. Actually, you have the most qualified, experienced and competent candidate.

As for Walker, he was selling furniture at RC Willey four years ago, most recently worked in a sales position at Zions Bank and has a political science degree. If they guy didn't embellish his resume (i.e. making claims that weren't true, which were exposed), he wouldn't have anything to talk about. Walker has ZERO experience!

When it comes to managing billions of taxpayer dollars, Richard Ellis is the only qualified choice. Vote for Ellis!

Walkers might miss the point | 11:37 a.m. June 14, 2008

If I was Walker I would want it to be resolved so people like me dont' think he is a criminal, which he is. Herbert should be the same. Get it out in the open so it doesn't cloud his wonder boy. I know the delay is politically motivated so I will be supporting the candidate that knows something about finance and isn't just a teller.

Stewart | 9:58 p.m. June 14, 2008

I voted for Ellis at the Republican Convention, but since he wants to use this as the main issue rather than his own qualifications, I think I will vote Walker in the primary.

Jason and Clones | 12:07 a.m. June 15, 2008

To Jason and others of like mind. Y'all are a little misguided in your analysis. If Ellis had come out (not as in "out of the closet", Ellis has six boys and four missionaries, I think.) with his allegations before the convention what do you think would have happened? The same BS you're throwing around now, I'd say.

So Ellis waits, hoping enough delegates will have some brains, which they don't. All they hear is some neocon hype about Walker having a nice family and being a good party man. I think the cartel from Utah Co. was really surprised that Walker couldn't win at the convention. Not quite enough sheep there, aye?

Regardless, Ellis was probably smart in waiting because he got another offer after the convention which is noted in his published complaint. No wonder two guys named Greg are lying low right now.

And... What do you have to say about the constitution's disqualification of Walker to begin with? I thought guys like you and Walker thought very highly of that document?

moneybags | 12:17 a.m. June 15, 2008

Shurtleff and Walker are like two peas in a pod.
Collecting large sums of money from sources most run of the mill taxpayers would question. But who knows, with Walker's experience (lack of) all he needs to do is run to Shurtleff who can hook him up with his payday lenders and he can loan them the state's money and get the returns he claimed he was able to obtain managing money for Zions. Not! Let's think about Walker holding fundraisers as a legislator rather than the candidate for treasurer, it seems most of his actions, starting with fundraising, overstating qualificaions right down to his visit to the Treasurer's office March 10 make you wonder what type of backroom deals would be coming from an office where trust and integrity are imperative.

what's up | 12:37 a.m. June 15, 2008

Question for Rob Bishop, John Valentine, Mark Shurtleff, Dave Clark, Greg Curtis, Greg Hughs, Stan and Becky Lockhart. All highranking in the Republican party...exactly what qualifations does your golden boy, Mark Walker have to be treasurer. I would love one of you to respond and tell me what I am missing here. Utah is highly regarded in the financial world, and much of that credit goes to those mananging the state's money. How can you endorse a person with no skills or education to such an important office. If you don't like Ellis because he won't bow down to you, you should have at least picked a person with the necessaray qualifications to be a creditable canditate. Your actions make not only you look foolish, but the party as well. Believe it or not, more people are starting to think for themselves, and this won't bode well to those of you who believe you are above the law. The arragance of this group is disgusting.

lets debate | 9:48 p.m. June 15, 2008

Lets look forward some debates. Im guessing the true canidate will rise to the top.

Concerned | 8:52 a.m. June 16, 2008

WOW!! I have heard of political corruption before, but I didn't want to believe it could happen here in Utah. I was wrong! Just looking at the two candidates and the blind eye's that are NOT doing the civic duty of elected officals makes be ill. It becomes quite obvious to anyone looking into this situation that some of the leaders of our local Republican Party don't have the welfare of the state, its citizens and communities at heart, but would rather play the good old "Political Game" playing bed fellows with each other. Shame on the Lt. Governor for not investigating now!. I don't wnat to elect a "crook", oops looks like we already have done so with a few!!!

hmmm | 11:07 p.m. June 16, 2008

Actually whats amazing is this that Walker, and those that support him, feel that the State Treasurer's office is an entry level position.

Shouldnt this guy at least have to demonstrate he can do addition? If he ends up managing our Billons Im sure he'll have alot of practice at subtraction.

Rob Bishop, Mark Shurtleff, Dave Clark, Greg Curtis, Greg Hughs etc... need to explain themselves. Supporting someone b/c they are family friends is unexcusable.

They clearly care more about their buddy than they do the finanical welfare of our State.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Endorsements | 10:44 a.m. June 17, 2008

I am curious to see if Walker will have radio ads and letters sent out that use his key supporters, like Curtis, Valentine, Shurtleff, Hughes, Bramblehart, Clark, etc., or if they will all have seen the writing on the wall and want to distance themselves a little from the scandle that will go down once the investigation gets going.

The first radio ad I heard from Walker had only his voice. Are our fearless leaders already jumping ship? We could never have seen that coming....

Anonymous | 10:35 p.m. June 18, 2008

Let hear the debate on doug wright's show

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