The A.G. should recuse himself and his office from investigating Ellis allegations. The issue should be turned over to either the Department of Public Safety (which has filled this role in the past) or to a panel of county attorneys for investigation. The Department of Public Safety would be the quickest. However, time is short and it may be difficult to complete such an investigation prior to the primary election date.

I think they only need interview Mr Walker. He has been unwilling to date to risk perjury and I dont suppose he will want to talk now.

I have heard that a debate is scheduled on Take Two (Sunday morning 10:00am channel 2), and that Mr. Walker is not willing to participate. Sometimes you dont have to say anything to sent a message. Come on Mr Walker, let hear your view on the issues you are claiming you want to get to in your ads.

Duuh Ellis, It's too late to insist on a complete investigation now! There's no time to do a complete investigation before the election Tuesday!

Why didn't you ask for the investigation when you knew about the improper offer (over 2 months ago)?

Be carefull what you ask for. An investigation of this incident may not be too kind to your reputation as well.

More Republican slime, not surprising at all. Typical M.O. - install an under-qualified lemming so he can be controlled by Valentine, Curtis, Shurtleff and company. I expect this kind of behavior from these jokers. What is truly disappointing is the role of Zions Bank in all this. I'd like to know what Zions Bank/Mr Empey's angle is?

While the bribery charge is worth investigating the most important thing that everyone needs to know is:

Mr. Walker has neither the education nor experience to qualify to be the State Treasurer. Just vote Ellis (B.S. Finance BYU, MBA University of Utah, several years experience in the office of the state treasurer) and perhaps we can move on past this tawdry mess.

The only reason that the powers in the Republican party have supported Mr. Walker is because he was a "Yes Man" in the legislature, always voting just like they wanted him to. So what he has been getting from them is simply the political payback for his strict obedience.

I thought that Walker wasn't even eligible to run because he voted for a state treasurer salary increase when he was in the legislature?

The Republican establishment doesn't like Ellis because he told them that school vouchers in Utah was not "sound fiscal policy."

That's why they want Walker in there as their man - so they can tell him what to do and not the other way around.

You can either by played as a sucker by Walker and the people that support him or you can be a part of the solution by voting for Ellis in the primary on June 24th. The probability is extremely high that if Walker wins the primary that he will become the next Treasurer. Talk about a catastrophe.

Voting for Ellis will accomplish a few things:

1) It ensures that the most qualified and competent candidate is on the ballot in November.

2) It sends a message to people like Curtis, Clark, Valentine, Shurtleff, and Herbert that the voting electorate is not as naïve, blind and stupid as they believe them to be.

3) It will stop the total sham that these people are trying to perpetuate, which happens to come at the expense of the financial health and well-being of the state.

As a conservative, I would encourage all Republican and unaffiliated voters who subscribe to common sense and fiscal responsibility to hit the polls en masse, vote for Ellis and be a part of the solution. Don't allow these people to pull off one of the biggest cons in Utah election history and play us for suckers.

So Ellis solicited a job (securing his existing position), a violation of election laws. Empey readily admits to being a go-between, another violation of election law. Why Ellis only looking for Walker to be investigated? Sounds like Ellis should also have himself and his supporter, Empey, investigated (if he really cares about the truth). Let's get it all on the table instead of just slinging mud.

How do you just most qualified and competent? If I were looking for a tax and spend bureaucrat, then Ellis would be the most qualified. Thankfully, I am not. I want a treasurer that remembers who pays the bills -- us taxpayers.

Correction to your post: Ellis did not solicit a job from Walker to remain as Chief Deputy Treasurer. Ellis claims that Walker approached him and offered a substantial raise to withdraw from the race and remain on the staff as the Chief Deputy Treasuer. You need to read this article more carefully, and other prior articles on this subject to view the correct picture. Regardless of what the real story is, this much I do know. Retiring Republican State Treasurer, Ed Alter is endorsing Ellis - not Walker. Since I personally know Ed Alter, and know his integrity is above reproach, this conservative Republican will be following Ed's recommendation - I will vote for Ellis.

I think some posters have it a little backwards - Ellis is the one in the position of long-term beauracrat and we can benefit from a fresh thinker in the treasurer's office. Thanks to the poster above for posting Ellis' position on vouchers on this thread - I was afraid he was a "yes man" for the teacher's union and now I'm glad to know I was right in voting for Mark Walker - someone who is willing to think independently. Go Mark!!

It is amazing to me that Ellis continues to push this instead of spending his time and money campaigning for himself. It leaves us voters with an impression of desperation, which doesn't inspire confidence. I also have to question someone who hears from all of our state's authorities - Lt. Gov, Supreme Court, and STILL pushes to get his way. Not someone I think I would vote for. Just doesn't demonstrate temperance, prudence, etc. Important characteristics for a treasurer.

I have found everyone refusing to help.
Your Attorney General is not interested in taking care of the people.
Seems he does not have any time........
I have been to a dozen places.
The Judicial Conduct Comissionn refuses to act as well.
Where do these people get off that has been elected to serve the people????????
To many incumbunts

Would someone, anyone, please tell me what real quailifications Mr. Walker has. My accountant is a CPA and I go to specialists when I have health issues. Why should I vote for Mr. Walker? What real experience does he have?

Bill: This is from Mark Walker's website,

"At Zions Bank I was a Manager of
Government Finance. In my capacity at Zions I dealt with municipalities, counties,
and other government agencies on the investment and management of their money.
All money invested by Zions Bank for public entities was invested under the
regulation of the Utah Money Management Act—the same law under which the
Treasurer’s office invests public money.I have dealt with the negotiation and
implementation of multi-million dollar banking contracts."

I don't know enough yet to say whether that's enough experience to qualify for the job, but at least there is some.

the moderator is obviously a walker fan, none of my posts supporting Richard Ellis are going thru... Maybe this time. huh?
Vote for the man with integrity and experience RICHARD ELLIS

I think Ellis is justified in trying to see this through. To me it shows that he has a strong conviction that his allegations have merit.

For those who would like to get a feel for the job Ellis has done in the Treasurer's Office, I would encourage you to contact your city or county Treasurer's office. They almost unanimously will support Ellis. (they often invest idle funds with the State Treasurer's Office).

I had the opportunity to speak with Mark Walker about his choice to run for State Treasurer. We asked he why he was not running for the legislature again and why he wanted to become treaurer. His response was underwhelming. He said his wife would go crazy because the the job at the legislature was too demanding of his time and effort. He also said that he just wanted to give something new a try. He seems to have little to no passion for being the state treasurer other than for political and family expediency. If elected, Walker will be the yes-man puppet of the Legislature

Richard Ellis is the man for the job. He knows what he is doing. The only argument against Ellis is the standing republican trick when they can't think of anything else, call him a libral.

You suggest asking the city or county Treasurer's office. Of course they will support Ellis because HE is their buddy and the "Good O'l Boy" in this race.

How do you Ellis supporters keep portraying Walker as the "Career Politician" when Ellis is the one who has worked in politics for decades and Walker (until recently) has worked in banking?

And the job-scandal goes both ways. If Walker did something inappropriate, All Ellis had to do was quit talking to Walker, instead he met with Walker several times to discuss this topic (and didn't report it until the press exposed it). If Ellis wants to look "Clean" HE should have reported the problem when it happend (and the AG could have investigated it). Instead he said NOTHING for 2 months and then when the press exposed it... called for an immediate investigation of Walker (but now there's no time to do the investigation because he didn't report it when it happend)!

If the Walker-Ellis discussions of future staffing were illegal, they BOTH are implicated. Not just Walker.

Vote for anybody BUT Walker or Ellis. Neither deserve our trust.

I have a master's degree in accounting, I am a CPA and work for one of the Big 4 here in SLC. Trust me when I say that the office of State Treasurer requires someone with solid technical skills. Mark Walker is so very underqualified for this position. Ellis is a political 'lifer', true, but he has the credentials needed to keep the tresurer's office operating efficiently. This is one of the few political positions that you cannot talk your way through. My vote is for Ellis!

And as far as the email release goes. I think it is great timing on Ellis' behalf. 2 months ago no one was paying any attention to the Treasure's race. If he would've released it then, Walker could've spun a response by the time the public took note. Now Walker must draft a response with everyone watching. . .it's politics. And it was a great move.