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SALT LAKE CITY — Since the Utah Republican gubernatorial primary was winnowed down at the April 25 state convention, the final four candidates have participated in a couple of debates via videoconferencing technology.
But on Thursday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes, former Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright and former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. met at the Grand America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City for a socially distanced forum hosted by the Salt Lake Chamber and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah.
The topic? As with much else these days, the focus was on the COVID-19 pandemic and Utah's economic recovery.
Taking the first question about the short-term path to recovery, Cox said it's a "false choice" to pit health and safety against economic survival. "We reject that notion," he said. "We believe that we can, by saving people's lives, by flattening the curve, we could open up sooner than anyone else in the country."
Cox chairs Utah's coronavirus task force and, speaking next, Hughes made no secret that he disagrees with the state's actions under Cox and Gov. Gary Herbert. "You can't burn down this village to save the village," Hughes said. He said businesses should follow safety precautions by their own volition, "but getting back to work has to happen today — not a month from now."
Wright laid out four things the state would do immediately under his plan, including slashing budgets to meet decreased revenue and enacting a freeze on hiring and capital projects. "As a small business owner, I uniquely know how to do this," Wright said. "I understand the challenges. I've lived this life for 12 years, where I've looked at balance sheets and financial statements, and I know the decisions that I make every day not only affect me and my family, but they affect my employees and their family, and their ability to provide for them."
Huntsman said the pandemic provides Utah with the "opportunity for a rebirth."
"Out of adversity comes greatness," Huntsman said. "And out of failure and catastrophe often comes the greatest innovation and change this nation has seen."
He said the state should tap its ample rainy day fund to assist businesses. "We don't need lectures. We don't need more working groups. We don't need green, yellow, red indicators. We need cash. That's what businesses need, plain and simple."
During the debate, Huntsman frequently cited his experience as governor and the international relationships he's developed since leaving that post as key to helping Utah revive its economy. While some people will "never forgive" him for leaving the job to become U.S. ambassador to China, he said, some will appreciate the service and the lessons learned.
"I would hope that there would be enough there to say, 'Huntsman's maybe learned more than he knew before, and that may have some applicability here,'" he said.
Wright, meanwhile, sought to emphasize his business experience as a realtor in contrast to the "professional politicians" running against him — never invoking the president by name, but drawing parallels to the White House occupant who also never held elected office.
"I'm the only businessperson in this race," Wright said. The others "have served the state and the country well," he said, "but I'm from the private sector. I'm a businessperson. I know how to get businesses back on track."
But Hughes said he approaches "a lot of these issues as a small business owner" as well. "Our state constitution wisely has a legislative branch that's part-time," he said. "It doesn't pay the bills. What supports my family is my small business."
Hughes touted his work in the Legislature, including his involvement in projects like Operation Rio Grande and medical cannabis compromise, as examples of leadership ability.
Cox said he would hold his record under Herbert "up against any other administration anywhere in the country."
"Together, we built the strongest economy in the country, and together we're going to do it again."
Cox and Huntsman have appeared at the top of statewide polls on the race, though Cox far outshone Huntsman at last month's GOP convention, which he won. Perhaps referencing Huntsman's curtailed second term as governor, Cox said he and running mate state Sen. Deidre Henderson are "here, we've always been here, and we aren't going anywhere."
The forum wrapped up a busy day for the four aspirants to the governor's office. Hours earlier, the candidates met for a Zoom debate hosted by the Washington County Republican Women. They also debated virtually on April 29.
The winner of the June 30 Republican primary will advance to the November general election and face University of Utah law professor Chris Peterson, who advanced outright from the state Democratic convention.
