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Richard Piatt ReportingA Utah think-tank hopes it's 'Top Ten' list of the hottest issues will add spice to the 14-way race for governor. The candidates already have those things, and more, on their minds.
The Utah Foundation's Top Ten are things you might expect, including education, jobs, growth and crime.
Jennifer Wade, Voter: “The taxes are important to me. I don’t like paying so much. I like tax cuts, that’s important to me.”
The foundation's poll of the top issues adds friction to the already warm 14-way governor's race. The candidates are scrambling to get their word in edgewise in response to the top two--education and jobs.
Parley Hellewell, Candidate For Governor: “We also have private schooling and we have home schooling, we have charter schools.”
Gov. Olene Walker: “I’m pleased to see the top priorities of the people of Utah because they are certainly my priorities.”
Fred Lampropoulos, Candidate For Governor: “I think I have a unique perspective on how these issues affect businesses, which I think is a huge issue in this campaign.”
In fact, most people haven't seen some of these candidates address anything before. But that's no accident. Most are working behind the scenes to woo party delegates; those help decide who gets cut from the race first.
Nolan Karras, Candidate For Governor: “We’re not worried about a public retail campaign right now. It’s simply a campaign to work on delegates.”
Finding interest in the general public is kind of like trying to find a leaf on a tree these days: It's just a little early.
Fitzgerald Peterson, Voter: “I usually don’t pay attention until it gets a lot more specific. After the caucuses I’ll pay a lot more attention.”
Vanessa Wiggins, Doesn't Vote: “I don’t read the papers. I don’t watch the news. I just kind of do my own thing.”
But don't let this tone of early disinterest fool you. For a lot of reasons, there is a lot at stake this election year---enough to have some people already predicting record turnout.
Here's a look at the results of the Utah Foundation's poll of Utah Priorities:
1. Education
2. Jobs
3. Water Supply
4. Health Care
5. Crime
6. Higher Education
7. Taxes
8. Dealing with Growth
9. Environment
10. Parental Rights
