Comments about ‘Utah candidates comply with new law on disclosing conflicts of interest’

However disclosing this information has little to do with open and ethical government. There is nothing in this legislation that says they must abstain from voting in such conflicts so unethical government as usual. There is still no accountabilty for the trust that elected officials carry to office.

We still need the UEG version of ethical behaviors from our elected government officials and those getting appointed positions in government departments. Anyone being appointed to positions should also be required to fill out and make public their conflicts of interest. Any person appointed must be held accountable and responsible to the people. Too often elected officials deny responsibility for those they personally appoint to circumvent responsibility themselves.

If a legislator cannot return to lobbying for at least a year after they leave their postition in the legislature, wouldn't it make sense that they cannot run for office in the legislature if they have been a lobbyist within a year before they run?
This appears to be a definite conflict to me.

So you think every single thing in the world is a conflict? Ok, fine - not file and run for office using that as your platform. There's an easy solution. Granted, it's not as easy as whining anonymously, but easy nonetheless.

Look at his disclosure - he lists a home based business (that has no phone number or any other listing other than his campaign filing).

It would appear that he gets his money from the Patrick Henry Caucus PAC - that he founded....

I think the reporter should do a bit more investigating here.

We really don't care about conflicts. As republicans, we really care only about the central issue: are our republican representatives "family values" republicans -- like Senator Killpack and Representative Kevin Garn. The slow, subtle creep of corruption and hypocrisy that now dominates the Utah Republican Party is not really of concern to us. Thanks.

Running as a lobbyist is most definitely a conflict of interest. Hopefully voters will be tuned in enough to realize this sort of politics as normal from lobbyists like Chet Loftis et al.