Comments about ‘Rep. Mel Brown battling major challenge in House’

Pulling for the challenger in this race.

Brown has no true convictions other than looking out for his own power and ego. Typical politician.

Hope the challenger wins the primary, and the general election.

I don't have a dog in this fight, but it is sad when you can't be too conservative. What happened to pragmatism? Being uber-conservative is not such a great thing.

One question that is not being asked in this campaign is the candidates' position on illegal immigration. We know Rep Brown's position from his time as speaker where he very effectively opposed any legislation that would restrict illegal immigration in Utah. Many think that this is because the dairy farmers have become so dependent on illegal alien workers. Least you think that these workers are good people just trying to make a living, don't forget that the killer of Deputy Fox in January was a drug dealing illegal alien working for a dairy farmer.

On the other hand can we expect pretty much the same from Mr. Hellander. He has no record, but what has he said? Those in the construction business, especially home builders are also guilty of using illegal labor. Illegal immigration in Utah needs to become an issue in this campaign.

Mel lost me back in 2000 when he had his problems with the Lobbiest that lead to his divorce, and other things.

I cannot speak for the Hellander campaign but I know Jon. He is very firm on illegal immigration. It's illegal and the thing that people don't realize is that it actually hurts the illegal as much as it hurts the legal immigrants and other Americans. This is something we must address, and with the problems in Arizona, Jon is very aware that the flood of illegals will travel to Utah. We must enforce our laws.

To bad they can't get Dave Ure(sp) backto fill this seat. Brown was the one that created the city incorporation of rural areas that resulted in all the urban choas for development of rural areas. Don't know about the othe guy, but Dave Ure was great. Get him back.

We have enough far right wing estremists as it is. Enough is enough.

'Rep. Mel Brown, a former House speaker, is fighting for his political life. He's challenged in House District 53 by Jon Hellander, who describes himself as more to the right politically than Brown.' - Article.

So, it's not a question of WHO is on the right, just how FAR they are too the right.

Isn't that like children arguing who likes candy...more?

I would have to agree with the sentiment of Esquire at 8:17 a.m.

Regan was not a uber-conservative.

Good to see that Jon Hellander is not a cheap labor employer and supports AZ type of law for Utah.

On the other hand don't wish Dave Ure back. He is a supporter of illegal immigration like Rep Brown. No more dairy farmers please. They seem addicted to illegal cheap labor.

Let me try to understand this. Mel Brown supports legislation that prevents irresponsible parents from poisoning their kids with cigarette smoke and that makes him a liberal? Utah has some of the most restrictive laws regarding alcohol in the nation, including state run liquor stores, and I don’t consider Utah any the more socialist for it. When someone is drinking they don’t spray ethanol in your face the way a smoker in an enclosed car does. But lobbyists for cigarette companies see it differently and there’s campaign gold in those hills.
If you want to see a real to goodness example of socialism, it’s Carl Wimmer’s repeated calls for capital equalization of school funding. It seems like when a government program benefits someone else it’s always socialism but when it benefits his district its ‘fairness to all Utah children’. Mel Brown has always opposed capital equalization and this is the Patrick Henry payback. I for one am proud that Mel has kept the likes of Rep. Wimmer from carting my tax dollars off like plunder to support mismanaged school districts like West Jordan’s.