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Election 2009: Shurtleff hires former GOP candidate Swallow

rising star? Swallow is a has been.

I voted for Shurtleff once, shame on me. I won't be fooled again. He speaks out of both sides of his mouth on numerous issues, for example claims to be tough on illegal immigration and then attends rallies supporting illegals.

These political hacks are all the same.

Can anyone not question the timing and ethics of this? Payday lenders and supplement companies dump thousands of dollars into Shurtleff's campaign fund account. Then the payday ripoff/supplement lobbyist gets a cushy job because Shurtleff can't find anyone competent in his own office? There has to be at least one good lawyer that he could have put in as the civil division head. The more likely story is that Swallow bought this job with lobbyist contributions, probably through third parties, and now he gets the payoff.

And why would Swallow, who continues to lose elections, buy a spot on Shurtleff's staff? Golly, could he have cut a deal with the Governor to take over the attorney general spot when Shurtleff has to resign to run in the primary election against Bennett and Bridgewater?

How long did Shurtleff think, about as long as it took the check to cash? How much is the rising star going to cost taxpayers?

This paper and commentors seem to have a bias against the Attorney General. There is no evidence that John Swallow "bought" this job. Just circumstantial isn't enough in a court of law and it should not be in the newspaper, either. John Swallow lost his elections to someone with a strong family name. I'd say that he made a pretty good showing against Matheson. This is a political job that Swallow is getting. Shurtlef should be able to pick a politician. It isn't like Swallow is going to be doing lawyer work. The Governor has a chief of staff who lobbies for him and Shurtleff needs a lobbyist too. At least Shurtleff is up front about who he gets his money from. Swallow knows about multilevel marketing, vitamin scams and the payday thieves. He can help Shurtleff's people learn how to actually do something about these criminals. Bennett and Hatch get beer and tobacco money. How is that any different than Shurtleff hiring a payday money collection lawyer for his top administrator. If voters don't like it, they can not elect him again!

Swallow is and will continue to be pulling all of the strings in Shurtleff's race for the Senate. Swallow has been in charge of fundraising since day one, and is one of Shurtleff's closest advisors. This move is merely one that allowes taxpayers to pay Swallow's salary while he continues to advise Shurtleff in his losing effort to unseat Bennett. Swallow was barely a mediocre attorney before he stopped practicing law years ago. The plan is for Swallow to run for Shurtleff's job as AG is Shurtleff is lucky enough to get elected to the Senate.

I think the best thing to do is give support to Swallow, and trust in Shurtleff's decision. Swallow is a good and honest man, give him a chance to prove himself. The pressure must be great, but I believe he will be a great Chief Deputy. Sure, he has a lot to learn and he fully admits it, but I believe Shurtleff made a good choice. Swallow did not buy this job or ask for this job, he was chosen for it because of his record and experience and work ethic. At the same time it could be a good opportunity for a good man to get back into politics. I support you John.

Anyone that thinks that Mr. Swallow going to work for the Attorney General of Utah has nothing do do with the 2010 Senate race is politically naive. Mr. Shurtluff has always had his political future in mind in everything he does as AG. Mr. Shurtluff and Senator Bennett are cut from the same political cloth. I hope that we get a different candidate than either of these two.

A side note on Tim Bridgewater. As was mentioned in this article Mr. Swallow lost the 2002 election to Matheson by less than one percent. I wonder if Mr. Bridgewater had not continued to sabotage Mr. Swallow after the primary that the results of the election would have changed, and Rep. Matheson would not be the 2nd District congressman today? Just wondering.

Just another way to have the State pay for his Senate race. My bet is he will spend more time on the campaign than on Civil Rights for the invisible poor people

Cronyism and the ol' boys club. Swallow has no litigation experience. His sole claim to fame is that he is an also-ran. He lost to Bridgewater in convention, twice, then tore apart the party by blasting out negative and misleading mailers about his opponents, one after another. It's his fault he lost, and good riddance. If Bridgewater ever did anything to stop him, it never made a dent or actually made the news: Swallow lost to a better candidate.

And now? Without any real job prospects, he's managed to lobby for the snakes who lend money at exorbitant rates to people who can least afford it, and then had them donate to the right guy's campaign: Shurtleff. So now Shurtleff has been bought, Swallow has been paid, and Utah loses out twice.

Throw them both out. Give us someone who has merit, puts the needs of the state first, and not their cronies.

Swallow was fundraising chair for Shurtleff. How can this be anything less than a reward for job well done raising money for Shurtleff's campaign?