Davis County Watch: Guest Bloggers

Becky Edwards responds to opponent's mailers

2010-06-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

I received this in my inbox today, and I thought it was important enough to pass on. I am glad Representative Edwards is taking the opportunity to respond to some of the attacks on her.

Friends,

The other day I received an email from one of our neighbors who was concerned about the negative mudslinging and false accusations being made about me during this campaign.

I wrote him back clarifying the truth, dispelling the rumors, and assuaging his concerns. Below you will find the information he forwarded to many of his neighbors.

If you know people who might appreciate knowing the truth about me and the issues I stand for, one way you can help is by sending this email to your friends and neighbors in our District. Time is of the essence as the primary is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 22nd. Please encourage those who may have concerns or questions to contact me directly at 808-0805 cell, 295-2950 home, orvotebeckyedwards@gmail.com. My website, www.utahbecky.com, has additional information and a link to my legislative blog.

Thanks,

Becky

Becky Edwards’ Strong Conservative Record and Positions. Becky has consistently voted in line with your mainstream conservative principles:

· Effective -- 100% pass rate for all bills she presented
· Conservative -- voted “yes” on bills dealing with states rights, eminent domain, and opposing illegal immigration
· Fiscally responsible – voted to reign in reckless spending and responsibly limit the size and role of government
· Our Leader in the Legislature – Becky leads out on our behalf, on issues that are important to us. All Becky’s legislation was generated directly from the people of our District
· Held the line on taxes -- consistently voted against tax increases and voted for balanced budgets both years. The tobacco tax she voted yes for, was also supported by 84% of the people of our District. It helps protect us against higher health care costs in Medicare and Medicaid associated with smoking-related illnesses. It also increased health care availability for all citizens by increasing the number of spots at the UofU Medical School (from 82 to 102).
· Protected taxpayer dollars – voted for legislation reforming teacher union pensions, saving billions in taxpayer money
· Supports legislative process and the Utah State Constitution over outside lobbyists -- Opposed the HJR24 legislation pushed by California lobbyists to change the Utah Constitution to make it easier for public contractors to take taxpayer money in public contracts
· Protects children and families -- sponsored legislation that cracks down on sexual crimes against children

Becky is a tough, but ethical, fair, and courteous legislator who stands up to lobbyists and special interest groups outside of our district.

Becky is committed to transparency and accountability. She has a daily blog during the session where she records each of her votes, writes about what happens during the legislative session, and encourages feedback from people in her district.

Becky is fiercely loyal to the people of OUR area and you and your neighbors truly are her lobbyists and her special interest groups.

TAXATION:

Becky is a sincere and devoted fiscal conservative who has not voted in favor of income or other tax increases.

Her decision to support raising the tobacco tax to the national average was based on her belief that those who use government services, such as Medicare and Medicaid, ought to be responsible for paying for those services. Smokers cause high costs for society through their choices and those costs are shared by all taxpayers. Individuals should be accountable for the costs of their choices, and the tobacco tax helps achieve that in a modest way. The tobacco tax is a common sense way to further the conservative principles of individual choice and accountability.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION:

Becky believes that all people should be given the same opportunities to succeed. Some say, without justification, that she support affirmative action. The truth is, however, that Becky does not support quotas and her action on this resolution is both conservative andcourageous in it’s support of a constitutional legislative process.

The affirmative action controversy stems from her actions opposing a proposed resolution called “HJR24.” HJR24 was a pet project of a powerful California lobbyist seeking to change the rules for public contractors to make it easier for private companies to get taxpayer money. HJR24 would have radically changed the Utah Constitution and may have been an impediment for Utah’s fine public universities to deliver scholarships and other programs to deserving students. It needed more study to fully analyze the implications and unintended consequences, which always exist even with the most seemingly straightforward legislation.

The sponsors of HJR24 here in Utah wanted to ram the bill through the legislature without allowing the Constitutional Revision Commission to hear it. Becky, however, expressed concerns about this legislation out of a sincere conviction that the legislative process should not be abused. Due consideration is necessary before passing constitutional amendments. In the end, her principled stand in support of proper legislative procedure won out, and the HJR24 sponsors withdrew their resolution recognizing that they did not have sufficient Republican support for it to pass. It will now be studied by an interim committee and will be up for consideration again in the 2011 session.

BECKY’S PERSONAL VOTING RECORD:

In answer to the allegations about her voting record perpetrated by her opponent, the simple truth is that during the Presidential Primary of 2008 Becky supported Mitt Romney. She worked on his campaign and Becky and her husband held a fund raiser for Mitt in their home.

Becky has never been registered as a Democrat and did not support Obama.

This is what she says:

“While I am committed to 100% transparency with votes I’ve taken as your elected official, I have always defended an individual’s right to a secret ballot.

When I became a voter 30 years ago I was a registered Republican, voted in several states through the years, and even served as a county delegate here in District 20. When the Republican party required voters to be registered as Republicans in order to vote in the party primary I became an unaffiliated voter. That never changed the principles, people or issues I voted for and supported.

When I went to vote as an unaffiliated voter in the presidential primary in Feb. 2008 I could not receive a Republican ballot. So, I took and voted on a democratic ballot, the only ballot available to me that day. I have never hidden this or denied it. And because I believe in the sanctity of a private ballot, I have never stated who I voted for. Nevertheless, you can be confident that I placed my vote thoughtfully and with careful consideration of the issues, as well as a reliance on my conservative principles, to make that important decision.

In hindsight, I may regret being an unaffiliated voter at that time and missing the chance to vote for the candidate I was so strongly supporting, Mitt Romney. However, participation in the process of voting is something I take very seriously. I consider it a patriotic responsibility of all Americans, and I was not willing to pass up an opportunity to vote, even on a democratic ballot. Participation in the political process and consistently casting a vote is not something my opponent can make reference to because there is no record with the County Clerk of his placing a valid ballot, ever, since moving to our district in 2006.

In conclusion, my focus will continue to be on my conservative voting record as your elected official. For nearly 1000 votes I have been transparent and truly represented the people of this district. Over and over again I have supported the mainstream conservative principles we all hold dear. Check out my blog for a complete list of my votes and a daily account of activities during the legislative session.”

DJ Schanz's Financial Disclosure

2010-06-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

The most recent financial disclosure shows that the challenger in Leg 20, DJ Schanz, took over $2,000 from Parents for Choice in Education.

Also, on a related note, all those that think Becky is a 'tool of the UEA,' please note that she received a 73% grade on the Parents For Choice Legislative Scorecard for the 2010 session. That's a higher grade than 18 Republicans in the house, including Davis County Republican legislators Paul Ray, Doug Aagard and Roger Barrus. On the UEA scorecard, Becky received a 67%. My conclusion? Becky Edwards is thoughtfully representing our district, not the teachers' union or the pro-voucher Parents for Choice.

The Davis School Board is INSANE!

2010-02-01T07:13:00.000-08:00

This showed up in my inbox this morning. I am posting it with a hearty AMEN!

The Davis School District Board members are insane! At least according to Albert Einstein who defined insanity as, “doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.”

This upcoming week, against great opposition, the Board members are expected to pass a proposed junior high boundary change. This change moves kids from the communities west of Redwood Road (North Salt Lake and Woods Cross) out of Millcreek Junior High, into Muller Park Junior High. The reason the District Board members are insane--they did the same thing less than four years ago; moving the children of the same area, out of South Davis Junior High, into Millcreek Junior High. The District’s solution to overpopulation obviously did not work four years ago; otherwise this needless disruption to the kids, families, and communities would not have been necessary. Moreover, the same solution will not work this time. When the numbers of students’ enrolled full time are evaluated, it shows that the overpopulation problem will only be temporarily solved; in a few short years, the incoming students will overpopulate Muller Park. Why do the board members of Davis School District think that doing the same thing this time will produce different results? They must be insane!

Davis School District has a history of underestimating the population of the aforementioned communities. In the past four years, the children and families of these communities have overpopulated one elementary, one junior high, and one high school, evidenced by the fact that in the past four years the children and families of these communities have already endured the boundary shift of one elementary, one junior high, and one high school. When are the Davis School District Board members going to stop defaulting to the quick and easy solution of disrupting, displacing, and discarding the kids of these communities? When are the Davis School District Board members going to require more of themselves and the District staff by finding a more permanent solution? Will Davis School District staff and Board members perpetuate their insanity? Will they continue to disrupt and displace the children of these communities, causing them to feel disposable? If so then Albert Einstein was right, "The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education".

An important property tax fairness point...

2008-09-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

that I forgot to mention.

The residents of the unincorporated areas currently pay $350,000 in property taxes. The sales tax revenue the county was using to offset the burden for the incorporated residents was $700,000. It reportedly costs $1,500,000 to service the area.

350+700=1,050. Where is the other $450,000 currently coming from?

I think it's coming from the portion that city residents pay to the county.

And, even if the unincorporated resident's taxes are doubled, the revenue gathered will be $700,000. Where will the other $800,000 come from?

Can someone clarify all this?

Unincorporated residents still getting a bargain, at our expense

2008-09-04T15:19:00.001-07:00

I have been really bothered by something I read in the Clipper a few weeks ago.

In an article published on August 21st, entitled "Taxes may double for non-city residents," reporter Tom Busselberg states that, "The relative tax bargain that has been in place for the 2,500 people living in unincorporated Davis County likely will go away within the next year." The reason? The county has been using sales tax money to reduce the tax burden of unincorporated residents. The problem? Some of that sales tax money was supposed to go to cities instead of the county. The state has found the mistake, and is correcting it.

Apparently, it costs $1.5 million to service the unincorporated areas of the county. Currently, those areas pay $350,000 in taxes. The tax burden of unincorporated residents has always been much less than the burdens from the adjoining cities. That's why, even though state law says that these areas should incorporate, they don't want to. Who wants to pay more taxes?

The problem? The obscenely low and unfair amount that unincorporated residents are paying. The article states, "Even if the current property tax rate were doubled, it would be less than that charged to homeowners in Layton and Fruit Heights, among other communities."

How much of the tax that city residents pay to the county is currently being used to benefit the unincorporated areas?

My solution? Incorporate the unincorporated areas. Including the Chevron refinery, which is paying the low county rate instead of the fair North Salt Lake rate.

How I am voting tomorrow

2008-06-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

By Natalie

Not a lot of surprises here...

State Treasurer: Richard Ellis. He's got the experience, he knows how to do the job, I know him and trust him. Walker seems intent on expanding the role of State Treasurer. We don't need that - we just need someone that knows how to invest money. Ellis does, Walker doesn't.

State Senate: I will be voting for Dan Liljenquist. This letter explains my concerns with Ron Mortensen. The tone is harsh, but it is all true.

State House: Becky Edwards. South Davis County needs a representative that is a leader; someone that will fight for our schools, our children and our families. Our current representative has not led out on these issues. I trust Becky. We get to choose between business as usual or something new. Business as usual isn't working for anyone except Greg Curtis. And, people keep talking about how responsive our current representative is. I was a state delegate. I never heard from him. Not a letter, not a phone call. Yeah, I get his email updates, but he doesn't answer my letters, or the letters from my friends. I'm ready for a change.

Davis School Board District 1: This is an easy one now, but a hard one in November. We get to vote for two candidates to advance. I am supporting Barbara Smith and Polly Tribe. Both are honest, hard working, intelligent women who want the best for our schools.

North Salt Lake Easter Egg Dash

2007-04-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

The North Salt Lake Youth City Council is holding their annual
Easter Egg Dash
on Saturday, April 7th
10 am at Hatch Park in North Salt Lake (corner of Main and Center)
Free for children ages 2-12
Come with easter baskets ready!

Don't be late, because it only takes a few minutes for the kids to pick the fields clean. It's like the Swarm. I hope to see everyone there! The NSL Youth Council has put a lot of time into getting ready for the event. We have around 4000 easter eggs filled with candy and prizes.

Utah PTA President Carmen Snow on Vouchers

2007-04-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

I saw this over the weekend and thought it was very well done. I know Carmen Snow, and I admire her passion and intensity. Take a read. It was originally published in the Sunday edition of the Salt Lake Tribune.

Voters deserve a voice in the voucher debate

Carmen Snow

People may have different opinions about the value of vouchers, but Utahns are clear about wanting to be heard. People have said they want a chance to vote on this private school voucher experiment, but a few politicians - with their megaphones and media buys - are working overtime to try to dissuade people from participating in the democratic system. From the moment a group of concerned parents began to try to put the brakes on this misguided idea, some lawyers have been scuttling to find the loophole that says that voters don't really get a chance to question the judgment of "the political class."
I hope no one is discouraged from signing the referendum petition to repeal vouchers because they think it won't matter. It always matters when the voters make their voices heard.
Voucher advocates say the law can't be repealed. They say only parts of the bill can be repealed (elements such as funding and accountability). They say the only ones who will be hurt by the repeal would be the public schools.
The opinions of lawyers, even attorneys general, can be wrong. I know lawyers with arguments and evidence just as compelling who say an act of the people can overturn a law. They also tell me that amendments to a law can't stand alone when the law itself has been repealed, and that seems to make common sense.
The attorney general is right when he says this matter will end up in court. Hopefully this legal wrangle will help us determine whether or not the people of Utah have the right to be heard when the Legislature has made a mistake. Already the referendum petition process calls for an extraordinarily short amount of time to gather an extraordinarily large number of signatures. It would be a shame if the politicians win because the petition effort falls short.
I agree with the vast majority of Utahns: We ought to have a full and open debate about whether or not subsidies for private school tuition are right for Utah. We ought to have a chance to examine whether vouchers have fulfilled their promise in the places they exist. We ought to look more closely at the long-term consequences for public schools and families and communities across the state, and always keep the children's best interest in mind.
It's important to people living outside the state that Utah has a voucher system. Many believe it would help restore momentum to a "movement" that has seen voucher systems in Colorado and Florida rejected by state courts. They hope it helps people forget that despite vast amounts of money spent to promote them, vouchers or tuition tax credits have been defeated every time they've been on the ballot nationwide in the past 30 years. The national voucher movement has expended enormous capital over the past three decades, and has to show something for its money.
They need this voucher experiment to go forward in Utah. Some are afraid that a vote of the people will stop vouchers from happening. After all, in 1988, when Utah citizens had a chance to vote on income-tax credits for tuition paid by students already in private schools, they rejected the subsidies by 70 percent to 30 percent. Utahns for Public Schools believe there ought to be a counterforce to out-of-state money and interests. We believe that parents and others who care about the future of Utah's public schools and our children are that counterforce, and we believe we ought to be heard.

CARMEN SNOW is president of the Utah PTA.

If you want to sign the petition...

2007-03-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

Calling all South Davis County Residents!

If you want to sign the petition allowing a public vote on the voucher issue and haven't had a chance yet, email me at go.natalie@gmail.com and I'll arrange a chance for you to sign it!

Sorry for the subversion, Tyler! You may now go back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Why I yelled at Tyler yesterday

2006-11-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

by Natalie

Let's say there is an honest, hardworking family, living below the poverty limit, because the head-of-household works somewhere that refuses to pay a living wage. Unbeknownst to this family, someone has accessed their bank accounts and is taking $25 a week from them.

When it is discovered, some people get angry that this poor family has not been receiving enough, and has then had money stolen from them. They believe that we should continue to fight for a living wage, so hardworking families can achieve their full potential. Others believe that this money being stolen from this family just goes to show how they really were receiving enough, and now, with that extra $25 a week,they should be able to do a lot more - maybe they're actually receiving too much? If they survived without that $25 a week, maybe they don't need it.

The situation regarding the embezzlement from the Davis School District is much like the analogy above. It depends on your perspective. I think Tyler's perspective is wrong.

Many of us believe that our system of public education in Utah is being slowly starved to death. The powers-that-be believe that our teachers are worth less than teachers in neighboring states, and should teach here without leaving or complaining, because they love to teach. And that we should have only the highest qualified people teaching, when the wages in Utah are so low, comparably. They believe that sharing textbooks and not being able to bring them home to do homework is acceptable, and that children can learn to read in a class with 28 other children, or can learn trigonometry in a class with 44 other students.

This is why I took offense at Tyler's comments - the question isn't that we can do more with less - we already know we can. Our luck is running out. We shouldn't have to do more with less. Those are OUR CHILDREN in those classrooms. And the accused embezzling is bad, and it makes me angry. But the attempt to starve my children's school in the name of unfunded federal and state mandates, getting even with the teacher's union, competition, so-called parent choice, or even asking the school district to do more with less is wrong. Should the district be responsible and accountable for the money it is given? Yes. Is the district given enough? No.

The days where Utah could have a great education system, regardless of the amount spent per-pupil, because of dedicated teachers and involved parents are coming to an end. There is a crisis on the horizon. It cannot be solved only with money, but money is definitely part of the solution. To imply that it is not is naive. And offensive.

North Salt Lake is going High Tech...

2006-11-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

I've read some controversy about the new electronic sign that is going in in the roundabout as you head up the hill. The controversy was over having something so distracting in the center of an already confusing non-intersection.

My concern is also with placement. Why in the world would the city put a sign that is supposed to announce important city-related things in an area where huge portions of the city will never see it, or even possibly be aware that it exists?

It's not something that you could see easily (or read at all) from highway 89, if you happened to be coming into the city that way. It's obvious that no location would ideal for all city residents, but placing it at the CITY BUILDING sure would have made a lot more sense.

I hate to get into "the hill people" versus "us low landers" types of arguments, but this seems a case where the city council was not thinking about all of the people they represent. I know there are good, honest people on our city council, but it is interesting that there are no city council members living below orchard drive. Seems like "us low landers" need to get a little more involved...

Can't decide who to support for State School Board?

2006-11-02T08:35:00.000-08:00

Well, you're not alone. Chris Barden's campaign director wasn't sure, even after he'd taken the job with the Barden campaign.

Ben Horsely (who, incidentally, is a staffer for Rob Bishop) received a payment of $1,400 from Barden on September 22nd for his campaign director duties. On September 28th, he came to a meet the candidate event I had organized for Kim. I asked him if he supported Kim. He said he wasn't sure - that he'd just come to get some information to help him decide which candidate to support. I hope he's figured it out. Kim Burningham is the best choice for Utah's schools.

Kim Burningham

2006-10-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

Posted by Natalie

As you may know, I am very passionate about public education. I believe that our democracy is strengthened when we have an educated populace. And, so, I advocate for a quality education for every child.

On my education policy blog, Education in Utah, I am endorsing Kim Burningham for the State School Board in district 5 (South Davis County). I have received an email from Mr Burningham answering many of the concerns that are raised by Christopher Barden on the website Tyler has linked. I have posted it on the blog. Feel free to check it out.

Kim Burningham or Christopher Barden?

Thanks!

A Letter to the Editor...

2006-10-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

Editor:

A recent news story about Rob Miller, a Democratic candidate for the Davis County Commission mentioned my endorsement of his candidacy. Since then, our County Clerk, Mr. Steve Rawlings, has asserted to various and sundry folks, based on that endorsement, that I am not really a Republican. I’m not aware that the County Clerk determines who is or isn’t a Republican, but I believe his concern about that story to be symptomatic of a larger and more serious problem which afflicts Davis County government.

It was not so long ago that our County Commission proposed an unnecessary 138 percent property tax increase, for which the head cheerleader was (and still is) – Steve Rawlings, the County Clerk. I lent my name to Rob Miller’s campaign, because that proposed 138 percent property tax increase was the product of three things: arrogance, hubris, and too many years of one-party government. That tax increase was reduced, but I note a 45 percent county tax increase announced for this year.

Most Utahns – and most Davis County voters – vote a split ticket now and then. I was a Republican legislator in the 1970s, which was a different political age. It was an age of bi-partisanship and cross-party political cordiality, and I think Utah was better-served by that mutual respect than it has been by the hard-edged, personalized, one-party variety of politics that has come to replace it. One of the Cal Rampton Democrats, whose political cordiality I valued, was Michael Miller – Rob Miller’s father. By a twist of family destiny, Rob’s grandparents were two memorably prominent Republicans – Vernon and Helen Romney.

The Republican Party for which I was the Davis County Chairman (in the Jurassic Age) stood for limited government, balanced budgets, and efficiency. That Republican Party would have been mortified at a single year’s 138 property tax increase. It would have been embarrassed at the disparity between the growth rate of commissioners’ salaries (now at $96,000 and a $7,000 vehicle allowance) and the disappearance rate of unincorporated area within the County to virtually zero.

Perhaps adding one Democrat to the County Commission would make it easier for city mayors to reach some meaningful agreements with the County Commission on elimination of duplicative services. It might invite a new assessment of the way necessary county services are provided, and it might even make the commission more concerned about whether all sides of an issue have been sufficiently worked through to assure a balanced and sensible policy decision. Certainly, the sky would not fall, and we might just get better government.

Neither political party has a monopoly on either virtue, vice, or wise policies. Decades of single-party domination tend to produce stagnation and hubris. And 138 percent tax increases.

David R. Irvine

Bountiful

Meet the Candidate: Kim Burningham

2006-09-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Posted by Natalie

Kim Burningham is south Davis County's current representative on the State School Board, where he also serves as chair. I am hosting a meet the candidate/walk your neighborhood night for Kim on Thursday, September 28th at 6:00. We'll meet at my friend Jamie's house, chat with Kim about his vision for our schools, and then divide and conquer North Salt Lake. What a great way to get involved and support a candidate who so ably supports public education! Please let me know if you are interested in attending and I'll send you more information. Thanks!

Allie:Feed the Hungry, not the Politicians...

2006-09-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

This is an email I received today from Pete Ashdown:

President Bush will be attending a fund raising dinner for my cash strapped opponent, Senator Hatch.
In response to this, I am personally buying dinner for up to 150 people at the Alta Club on August 29th at 6:00 PM. This dinner will be financed out of my pocket and will not draw from campaign donations. What I ask of the attendees to this dinner is to make a sizable donation to a charity of your choice that deals with hunger in America. I will have a list of suggested charities at the dinner and my staff will collect and tabulate and send the donations. No charity is coordinating with the campaign on this dinner, they are simply receiving the donations as designated by the attendees.

Senator Hatch, President Bush, Secretary Rice and anyone else are welcome to attend this dinner.

This is not a campaign fund raiser and donations to my campaign will not be funneled to this event or the charities. If you wish to make a donation to a hunger charity in response to this effort outside of the event on the 29th, please let me know.

If you can attend the event on the 29th, please RSVP* by Friday, August 25th. Choose chicken, beef, or vegetarian menu items.

I can't remember how to post an email link, but if anyone is interested in attending the dinner, the RSVP email address is feed-rsvp@pashdown.org.

Also, apologies to Tyler for the hijack. If he didn't want me to ever post anything, he would have taken away the ability, right? :)

Natalie:Pay Pal Donations Accepted

2006-09-18T23:34:00.001-07:00

My husband was just looking over my shoulder and wondering why Tyler has the Pay Pal link on his blog. We've clicked on it, and it just takes you to a place where you can donate to the Farrers. So, I'm wondering what Tyler's doing with the money, and also pointing out that Alice and I totally deserve a chunk of the cash he is pulling in, because we have been delightful guest hosts while he has been so busy being the family guy. So, donate today!

Natalie:From the North Salt Lake Star

2006-09-18T23:34:00.000-07:00

"The proposed name change for North Salt Lake City is still under consideration. The City Council has decided to have a public opinion poll conducted and a cost analysis completed before moving forward with a possible name change."

If you are wondering how we feel, here's my letter to the Clipper published June 22nd.

And here is Alice's letter published the same day.

Come One, Come All!!!

2006-09-18T23:33:00.001-07:00

NSL Independence Day Celebration!

Tonight, July 3rd

at Eaglewood Golf Course

in North Salt Lake

Fun!

Food!

Live Music!

The Best Fireworks Display in the

History of Davis County!!!*

The fun starts at 6:00 - make sure to stop by the dunking booth! All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society, and you might get a sight of the elusive Allie!

*has not been verified by an independent fireworks auditor

Allie:Fog and Illusions

2006-09-18T23:33:00.000-07:00

The Mr. and I attended a scout day camp with two Webelos on Friday. One of the classes we attended was called Fog and Illusions, where we learned about.... fog (what causes it) and illusions.

My family has been talking about the Culture of Fear lately, so this letter to the editor in today's tribune caught my attention.

It is so frustrating to me that there are leaders in our country who would keep us all in a fog, and distracted by illusions. As long as we are captivated, distracted, and then polarized by contrived issues, we are controlled, and the real issues can be conveniently pushed aside (until catastrophe strikes).

Would you rather worry about flag burning and an avian flu pandemic, or affordable health care for everyone.

I know what our government would rather have us worry about. Fear controls.

Allie:The Incredible Shrinking Sheena

2006-09-18T23:32:00.000-07:00

This is is no way political, but Sheena is from Davis County. She's a good friend of my younger brother.

She's an inspiration to anyone who is afraid to work hard for something.

Natalie:Senator Bennett and the Flag

2006-09-18T23:31:00.001-07:00

Woods Cross Citizen has an interesting post about the United State Senate's most recent vote on Senator Hatch's flag burning amendment.

I was intrigued by both his post, and the comments it attracted...check it out.

I posted comments on his blog, but I will repost my comments here. I think this is an important discussion to have.

I said, in part:

I am a Utah Republican, and I happily vote for Senator Bennett every 6 years! I think he is doing a great job representing me. I rank him at the top of our delegation. I, personally, respect the constitution too much to amend it willy-nilly. Are we in any way threatened by flag burning? I don't think so. I find the practice abhorent, but a lot of protected speech is abhorent. I think losing our right to disagree with our govenrment and protest each others' and the government's actions is too valuable. So, I think flag burning is bad, but I also think if you want to do it, I want to be able to tell you how angry it makes me.

I also find the practice of voting in favor of something you don't support just so you can call in favors later abhorent and dishonest, and I am glad that Senator Bennett stood his ground. I appreciate his integrity in this matter.

I guess we'll have to disagee. Isn't free speech great?

Technical Difficulties:Sorry about the pinkeye page

2006-09-18T23:31:00.000-07:00

My apologies. Here I am sitting in the Hospital, amazed that I have some free time, and I notice that in switching the blog to pink, I broke my comments. People wouldn't have noticed since they could make comments, but the second I switched back to my regular format everything would have been a mess. So, I'm partially switching back, and I'll try to repost those newer comments that will inevitably go missing anyway.

Sorry again.

-The Management (Tyler)

Natgo:Davis County Elections

2006-09-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

Here are the results of the Republican Primary and the School Bond Election.

County Commission "B"
Number of Precincts 220
Precincts Reporting 220 100.0 %
Total Votes 18984
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Micheal L. Deamer 8382 44.15%
Louenda Downs 10602 55.85%

County Sheriff
Number of Precincts 220
Precincts Reporting 220 100.0 %
Total Votes 19390
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bud E. Cox 9945 51.29%
Todd Richardson 9445 48.71%

State House of Representatives #19
Number of Precincts 29
Precincts Reporting 29 100.0 %
Total Votes 3695
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheryl L. Allen 2350 63.60%
Mark D. Jacobs 1345 36.40%

State House of Representatives #20
Number of Precincts 22
Precincts Reporting 22 100.0 %
Total Votes 2110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ronald W. Mortensen 679 32.18%
P. A. Neuenschwander 1431 67.82%

Propostion #1 For the Issuance of School Bonds
Number of Precincts 220
Precincts Reporting 220 100.0 %
Total Votes 24500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR 19371 79.07%
AGAINST 5129 20.93%

So...I think things turned out well. Mostly because it would no longer be effective to call myself a Sheryl Allen Republican if she was no longer in the picture. What's your reaction? Also, are primaries a good thing? Many members of the county Republican party think they are too costly and divisive, and that they should be avoided at all costs. What do you think? Chat among yourselves...

Allie:A very short post

2006-09-18T23:29:00.001-07:00

If I could, I surely would

Allie:A REALLY LONG POST BY ALLIE (they won't all be so long I promise)

2006-09-18T23:29:00.000-07:00

I had a friend tell me once that Davis County is a vortex. People who are born here never leave.

I can understand why. Davis County is a wonderful place to live. I grew up in Centerville and have only lived in other places during the time I was at Utah State and the less-than-one-year I spent in Idaho Falls while my husband finished up at Ricks (BYU-I, whatever, it was Ricks then).

This is my home, and I have a sincere interest in preserving the quality of life I have had here. Since today is election day, I’ll remind all of Tyler’s readers to vote. If you don’t vote you don’t get to complain if you aren’t feeling represented.

Representation is often a problem for me.

I’m a democrat. We’re rare creatures in this part of the world. Stare all you’d like, I’m used to it. I promise I don’t bite. It’s not like I’m a super-liberal-crazy-democrat (just wait until I talk about labels later). I’m really a normal, rational person, so it frustrates me there are often so few who admit to sharing my views. So few, in fact that often times the officials I elect to represent me, don’t. I can’t fault them (most of the time), they are busy representing the majority (no one has figured out yet that the world would be a better place if everyone listened to me).

(Here’s where I talk about labels) If you didn’t know I was a democrat would you be more likely to listen to what I had to say? Would you dismiss my words and say I'm one of those-crazy-democrats? (If you do it’s okay, we can all change. I regularly have to remind myself that republicans are not evil :) ) Last year during the election my husband and I had long talks with his brother. His brother was concerned that our “politics” were leading us astray. We assured him that our faith in our religion was secure. We also found this great article by Kathleen Gurr This brother is a good man, so where did he get the crazy idea that you can’t be a democrat and be religious? His parents certainly never taught that. I don’t think most parents purposely teach it. It just seems to be something that kids pick up from "unintentional teaching".

The wonderful thing about a democracy is that we don’t have to all agree, we can even disagree with enthusiasm, but we can still respect each other’s ideas and beliefs. Even when the issues are divisive, we have the power to choose whether we will be divided or not. There are two examples that come to mind…

First, Walmart in Centerville. There are many who are very upset and feel like their city leaders put greed above the desires of the people. Perhaps, but is it really worth hating over? Is it disappointing? Of course. Is it the end of the world, not quite. Life will go on and people will adapt (although hopefully not to the point of actually shopping there).

Second, the possible North Salt Lake name change. Would I be disappointed if it were to happen, yes. I think it is a waste of money. I have heard people call certain members of our city council unkind names. I have heard many people talk “us against them”, (them being the people who live up on the hill). Why do we need to be divisive? When can we figure out that it’s okay to disagree, and it is possible to do it without hating people or labeling them in a way that diminishes what they have to say so that we don’t have to feel threatened.

So we have a couple of choices, we can sit back and do nothing and be acted upon. If that is our choice, we have forfeited our right to complain (as far as complaining is a “right”) about it later. We can also get involved and try to bring about our desired result. In the case of walmart, my desired result has not occurred, although construction has been postponed. I am disappointed, but life goes on and it’s not worth being miserable over because then I would be miserable all of the time, and where’s the good in that? In the case of the NSL name change, it is not too late to get involved. As far as I can tell, the name change is not on the agenda for tonight’s City Council meeting, Natalie can correct me if I am wrong.

We as citizens of this great country have the opportunity to vote (unless you are a democrat at a republican primary of course) and to be involved. When we sit back and do nothing, we give our power over to people who may or may not act in our best interest.

Enough Rambling, Go vote.

Natgo:Congratulations Are In Order!

2006-09-18T23:27:00.000-07:00

As you can see, the blog is pink. This means that Tyler has turned the blog over to the two of us so he can celebrate the birth of their new baby with his wife Erin. Congratulations Farrer Family!!! I hope all is well with Erin and the baby (and with Tyler and Morgan, too). Al and I will try to keep the ship afloat in his absence. We're lucky - we'll get to post on the primary election and bond election results, and we'll probably take some time on our respective soap-boxes. If the Tribune doesn't publish my most recent letter to the editor, you might even get that here, too. I hope you'll stick it out and that Davis County Watch will remain the fun debate it's always been.

Also, the evil part of me hopes they didn't have time to vote, but I promise, I'm repenting right now.

Announcement: Introducing the Davis County Watch substitute bloggers

2006-09-18T23:24:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try something new.

Frequent visitors of this blog may have noticed two new names listed as contributers to Davis County Watch. Allie and Natgo. Here is what I have in mind.

I will be taking a short (probably week-long) hiatus from blogging, while my wife has our second child, but during a critical political time for this county. I just can't let this blog sleep while I'm away. I've asked my blogger friends to pitch in and help me out for a week by throwing in their own views on politics in the county. I will be brief on introductions-only to say that they are my neighbors, have a stake in what happens in the county, and that their views are worth reading. They lead their own lifes, and have a unique perspective. Please give them every courtesy. Keep your language respectful, for there are ladies present!

I feel a little like I'm sending the Bat-signal when I do this, but I will signal my departure by changing the theme of the blog to a vivid pink. When I return, the color scheme will return to normal.

Bloggers, please, watch for the signal!