Deseret News | Race for state treasurer sparks rumors and accusations

Reader comments
Race for state treasurer sparks rumors and accusations

Watchdog | 2:18 a.m. June 2, 2008

The Treasurer's office has been exceptionally well managed, which speaks well of those who work there. But I bristle when those who work in appointed positions somehow think they have a right to continued employment if the boss changes. Merit employees have protection, but the appointed positions are intended to be changed with a new treasurer. Now, after so many years of status quo, we have a great chance to retain stability with the permanent employees, but infuse the office with new breath from the new leadership. We lose that opportunity if no changes are made.

herewegoagain | 6:58 a.m. June 2, 2008

It seems like every time someone looks like they are losing they allege wrong doing. Come on Mr. Ellis run a campaign and don't use the media to attack your opponent. Shame on you.

Wrong info in article | 7:40 a.m. June 2, 2008

I think Andrew Kirk got a little confused while writing this article. Walker did NOT win the Republican nomination at the state convention with 58% of the vote. That's why there's a primary between Walker and Ellis.

Comments continue below

Re Wrong | 8:16 a.m. June 2, 2008

He did win by 58%, you have to have 60% to get out of convention without a primary.

one state delegate's view | 8:37 a.m. June 2, 2008

Expect problems if Walker wins. Besides the extravagance of his pre-convention campaign, unseemly for someone running for treasurer, what was more unseemly was the gleefulness of the legislators who nominated him. Although perhaps no technical violation of the republican principle of separation of powers, their excitement on stage for Walker gave me the impression that these older legislators were looking forward to telling Walker, their junior, what to do if he is elected.

tigerwoods | 8:39 a.m. June 2, 2008

Mr. herewegoagain, have you seen the evidence? I don't think so. So don't go spouting off about nothing you know about.
Watchdog, Have you looked at Walker's background? You wouldn't hire him with after looking at his resume. His website is just a bunch of lies.

Kev | 8:59 a.m. June 2, 2008

I have an Idea vote for the Democrat Mr. Clark he is well qualified and not an insider

Mister T | 10:12 a.m. June 2, 2008

Walker was going to loose his house seat to Laura Black so he decided he needed a bigger paycheck.

He has no experience and he is known to be lazy.

But, he's a "good conservative" because he hates gays so lets vote for him.

Concerned | 11:39 a.m. June 2, 2008

It is a 3rd degree felony to offer a bribe regarding elections. This is serious allegation and should be investigated. I hope the AG's office will do so even though Mr. Shurtleff has supported Walker. I commend anyone who had anything to do with the reporting of the allegation. It must be thoroughly investigated.
All voters need to consider this office seriously. Experience and competence are critical to the fiscal soundness of many investment funds with the Treasurer controls. In my opinion, Mr. Ellis is the only candidate with the necessary experience and competence.

James | 1:49 p.m. June 2, 2008

Considering the scope of this job, having a highly qualified candidate is very important.

I would almost support ending this one from being elected. It is a very technical position where having the oversight of the Governor, and the ability to quick change department heads if something goes wrong is something to consider. Imagine, if the politically well heeled get's elected and blows it, it would cost Utah tens of millions and we wouldn't be able to do anything about it for four more years.

In any case, I have also heard the stories about Walker being less than enthused about hard work. And his background does not lend to essentially being a Fund manager on Wall Street controlling hundred of millions of dollars. Nice guy though.

concernedtoo | 2:07 p.m. June 2, 2008

This is about experience not a popularity contest. Lets do what is best for the tax payers and not feed the self-serving cronies in the legislature. It will be interesting to see if the AG has the courage to properly investigate this matter.

Archie Conservative | 2:25 p.m. June 2, 2008

I was struggling with who to vote for at the convention because Ellis is obviously more qualified and capable, yet Walker better reflects my conservative family values. Then someone explained it to me that an incompetent conservative is actually perfect for the Treasurer's job. An excellent Treasurer will just generate more interest income for the government to waste and spend on programs that take away our freedom. An incompetent Treasurer will make less interest earnings on state funds, and may even squander huge sums of principal. Good. That's less taxpayer money for schools and bureaucrats and other government monopolies.

taxpayer | 8:17 p.m. June 2, 2008

Anyone who knows what Mark Walker did at Zions will know his website it a huge fabrication of his abilities. So, it doesn't surprise any of us that he is now denying offering Ellis a job. Interesting how he told the D.News he wanted to assure the employees in the Treasurer's office they wouldn't lose their jobs, but told the Trib Ellis was getting desperate. But hey, if you can scrape $500 bucks together you can go to a Walker fundraiser sponsored by Shurtleff, Valentine and Curtis. Need I say more. And you really believe Herbert is going to look into the complaint? Ellis is a man of integrity,too bad the same can't be said of this group. Hey Mark, are you sure there wasn't a fly on the wall when you visited the Tresurer's office?

The Chat | 8:21 p.m. June 2, 2008

Walker's memory of the chat with Ellis seems to be changing. In a Trib article Walker said "We discussed our campaign plans and if we were really committed. We wished each other luck, agreed to run clean campaigns and go afer it." In this article it says his meeting was to dispel rumors that he would fire Ellis and his office if elected. Seems like he is changing his story around a bit.
In any case, Ellis is the only qualified candidate for this job. On June 24th I will be voting Ellis!

honestyisthebestpolicy | 8:32 p.m. June 2, 2008

As an Independent voter; and one that believes honesty is the best policy. Walker should bow out of the race. From my analysis, after reviewing all of the literature from both camps, he is unqualified to perform the duties as State Treasurer. I do not want my tax dollars being invested by a novice.

I am deeply concerned that the republican leadership has completed missed the boat and is willing to entrust billions of our hard earned tax dollars in someone who is as unqualified as Walker. If Walker is interested in finance or accounting to this magnitude, I would suggest an advanced level degree in finance may be a good starting point. A Political Science degree will not help in this office as the treasurer does not pass legislation. It is a completely independent branch of the government. Cronyism and religion aside, Walker is not the most qualified for the position. If you were selecting a CFO for your company, wouldnï¿½t you select the candidate with the most financial experience? Edge to Ellis

theboyz | 8:55 p.m. June 2, 2008

So,what is really going on in this treasurer's race?
Driving home tonight I saw a Walker billboard on i-15. Are you kidding me? Where is he getting his money? Who is pushing so hard to get him in the treaurer's office? He had more than one booth at the state convention, costing 1,000 each. Ask the question, why are Shurtleff, Curtis, Hughes, Bramble, Clark excited to get him in the treasurer's office, could it be they really want to promote charter schools, raid the School Trust Fund for their pet projects? Some pretty deep pockets are behind this, there is something rotten in Zion. Fiscal conservative? I think not.

responsible.. | 10:29 p.m. June 2, 2008

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, you disgust me, how can you honestly support someone who is a Lair. I am so very disappointed in you. I will no longer be a republican because of the people who represent me (curtis, valentine, shurtleff). They are all greedy, power hungry, men who need to be stopped.

GWBC | 11:04 p.m. June 2, 2008

The issue is not who is the most experienced. Of course, a lifelong bureaucrat will have tons of experience. What I want to know is who can lead the staff with new ideas and who can get the tough political work done. State Treasurer is a political job. He or she hires staff for the details. The mistake Walker made was not going to the papers from the outset, after the filing, and stating unequivocally that if his opponent ran a dirty race that he would absolutely not work with him in the Treasurer's office. Why should anyone be forced to work with a malcontent? If there is evidence that Walker actually did something wrong, and I'm not talking about what Ellis or one of his supporters said he did, then lets hear it. I've read everything and talked to insiders and it seems to me that the Ellis supporter started this by visiting with Walker at Zions bank and then ran to Ellis. Grade school politics! Was that the plan from the beginning? Ellis is not lilly white in this thing. He was behind and desperate. Enough said. Unless there is hard evidence, no more whining!! Let's vote!!

Another question | 12:28 a.m. June 3, 2008

Why is Walker saying that back in March he was trying to assure the State Treasurer's employees that they will still have a job if he's elected? In March he didn't have the job that starts in January, 9 months later. He had not gotten through the hurdles of the Republican State convention, the primary election or the general election. He's either lying now or was so smug to think that the position was his before the delegates and the voters decided. Either way, he's not worthy.

(and to theboyz: good questions! I'd like to see Walker answer your questions. Maybe he'll answer them differently each time he's asked.)

Answer me this Mark... | 2:57 p.m. June 3, 2008

How can you look people in the eye and say this is "dirty politics" and "slinging mud" when you know you did it? How do you hold a $500/plate fundraiser with Curtis, Shurtleff, and Valentine when you know the only way you could ever win the election is if Herbert/Shurtleff take so long to open an investigation that nothing is public when people vote on June 24th?

Be a man! Own up! Don't make a mistake and then repeatedly lie about it! Show some courage by doing the right thing!

Also, you paid to put up a freaking billboard??? Have you no shame?

disgust | 5:32 p.m. June 3, 2008

As a lifelong Republican, it is very disappointing to see the direction of the party. Stan (party chair) and Becky Lockhart at the convention standing side by side with Mark Walker telling all who would listen that Ellis is out of touch with the party, Curtis, Valentine, Bramble,Hughes and Shurtleff are often seen socializing together, and there is talk going around that lobbyists have been told they are not to contribute one cent to the Ellis campaign or their projects will not see the light of day. When did such a small group start dictating what will and will not happen in this party? Have their egos become so big they forgot they are to represent the people, and not their own agendas? Is Walker a yes man for this group? It seems that Ellis speaks his mind and has the education and experience to back his words, this group must be contained. The treasurer cannot be a pupput to this group. No wonder the public is getting sick of this group and their closed door meetings and mentality. The democrats are looking better and better.

mirror/mirror | 5:43 p.m. June 3, 2008

I just read the trib story (sorry d. news) regarding the job offer. Mark, have you no shame?If in fact as people are implying, your experience is limited at best, no education in a field that will help you be a better treasurer, and now we learn you offered to give a big raise to the current deputy! Wall Street is not kind, if you do not have Ellis on board to hold your hand, you better hope whoever put you up to this doesn't hang you out to dry. The truth will come out, and let's hope you can look in the mirror when it does.

justice | 6:11 p.m. June 3, 2008

Herbert and Shurtleff looking into the job offer, that's a good one. If there is a paper trail, and it looks like there is one, and if walker is not kicked out of the race, they make a mockery of the laws. If laws are not enforced, why have them.

Foot dragging.... | 1:02 p.m. June 4, 2008

Herbert got the complaint on Friday. His office said they'd probably have something to say on Monday. Now it's Wednesday and they're saying they hope to have something to say by the end of the week.

I'm no genius, but my guess is that Herbert won't have anything to say. Just drag your feet, and Walker can get elected all before the complaint is made public, the sources (all of them, not just the one referenced in the articles) are interviewed, and we all learn to what dire lengths leadership will go to so their "yes" man can run the treasurer's office.

It should be as simple as asking Walker, "did you do it?," but if the man can't be straight with himself the process needs to set him straight.

But we all have reason to fear that with Curtis, Valentine, Shurtleff, etc. running the show, nothing will happen here. I can guarantee you that if Ellis had been at fault, they would've called a press conference that day to announce their investigation, standing on their moral soap boxes. Where are they now?

puppetman | 9:13 p.m. June 4, 2008

Mark my man; have you checked out your CTR ring lately? Buying into the Curtis, Bramble, Hughes, Clark and Shurtleff camp will someday bring you down. Why not just have one of them hire you? Oh yea. I forgot, they and Zions need you in the Treasurer's office to promote their charter schools and bad business decisions. I expected better from you knowing who your dad is. People in positions of authority and respect must set a higher standard and know all they do will come under public scrunity. Your dad knows this, and he and you need to sit down and talk about what your true qualifications are and your job offer to Ellis. In the end, people will have more respect for you for admitting to being sucked in by legislative leadership than by going along with the gang. Again Mark, set the right example. You'll sleep better.

Uncle | 10:23 a.m. June 9, 2008

I do not know either candidate personally. However, I have worked with Mr Ellis a few times, and can say he is a man of integrity and honesty. He works hard, and knows his profession.

And I know the State Republican Party leaders. They tend to display none of the above attributes. Which is probably why they want someone else in the position. It is the whole birds of a feather thing.

govt employees | 3:21 p.m. June 11, 2008

Wow. There are a lot people here that work in the treasurer's office that are worried about their jobs if their deputy-boss isn't elected.

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