Norm Springer ~ Candidate, House District 21

Norm Springer was raised in the Sugar House area and graduated from South High in 1967. He attended Rick’s College for one year before going on a LDS mission to Southern Germany. When Norm returned from his mission he attended Brigham Young University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (1976), a Master of Education (1981), and also an Education Specialist Degree (1989).

Norm married Dana Nordfelt almost 34 years ago. Together they have raised six adult children ranging from ages 31 to 18, and are now enjoying six grandchildren ranging from ages 7 to 1. Norm and Dana have been residents of District 42 (West Jordan) for over 30 years.

Norm is currently teaching sixth grade students at Highland Elementary in the Alpine School District, after already retiring from the Jordan School District as an elementary principal and teacher. Norm is also a former adjunct instructor at Salt Lake Community College Department of Education.

Norm’s hobbies and interests include golf (wish there was time to play more), running (most can beat me in a race – walking), spending time with my wife and other family, and relaxing on the bed with a good novel.

Norm has provided five relevant issues he wants to champion in the legislature:

1. The Legislature needs to increase funding and make a long-term financial commitment to public education and our state colleges and universities.

2. What do residents in the western sections of the Salt Lake Valley think about making the Mountain View Corridor Highway a toll road?

3. All members of the Legislature should be responsive and civil toward the electorate, candidates, and other lawmakers.

4. Those on Medicaid deserve compensation for dental and vision needs. The 2006 Legislature failed to pass a bill allocating 5 million dollars toward this, while granting about 45 million toward the Real soccer stadium in Sandy.

5. Owners of small businesses need a better way to purchase effective, low-cost health insurance for themselves and their employees.

Contributions to Norm’s Campaign can be sent to:

Committee to Elect Norm Springer
Jordan Credit Union
9250 South Redwood Road
West Jordan, Utah 84088

The "Glad Hand"

SLCSPIN had a post called Cool Hand Hatch. In a comment directed to another bloggerJohn Marlor brought up the term "Glad Hand", a term I have not heard in years (only John would remember it being that he is older than dirt). The above drawing by R.L. Bristol that appeared in the Verdict on April 16, 1900 better explains what a "Glad Hand" gesture is much better than I could ever try to do.

John Marlor Says:

So Tom DeLay wants his gun permit back...Yea right! Does he feel left out because Cheney got to shoot someone and he didn't? Yes once again the great Republician law-breaker thinks the law is meant for others. Seems to run through out that party, never saw a buck I would not pocket.

Emily Hollingshead ~ Candidate, Senate District 28

Emily Bingham Hollingshead was born in Ogden, Utah. Although she was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, her Utah roots ran deep. As a 5th generation Utahn, Emily spent summers and holidays with her many extended cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents in Weber County. In California, she worked with her parents Paul and Susan Bingham in the family art gallery business, and was active in musical groups, community theatre, and her church. As Emily graduated from high school, she could not stay away from her Utah roots for long. She attended Ricks College and Utah State University where she majored in theatre arts and liberal studies. She met and married her husband, Mark Hollingshead while at Utah State, and they co-chaired the USU College Democrats, and were the student campaign managers for the Frank Prante for Legislature campaign in 1988.

Upon graduation, Emily and Mark moved back to the Bay Area, where Mark pursued a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Emily began working in the high-tech industry, first as a technical support consultant and then as a stand-up trainer and marketing presenter. Her love of technology and the arts soon merged when her job responsibilities transitioned to web site design and internet marketing. At the same time she continued to work in her family's art gallery and helped them to establish the Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit organization that oversees the Maynard Dixon Summer Home and Studio in Mt. Carmel, Utah.

In 1999, Emily, Mark and their two sons, Chas and Sam, returned to Utah, making Cedar City their home. Emily set up shop as an independent web site designer, and was named Vice President of the Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts. Every summer she oversees a major art show, featuring some of America's most prominent artists. She has worked on the Jim Matheson for Congress Campaign, and has been involved in the Utah Democratic Party as the Iron County Democrats Vice Chairman. She has held many church callings and responsibilities, her favorite being the choir director, which she has done consistently for the last 12 years. As an advocate for children and families, she is a member of the Iron County Child Protective Services Citizen Review Board, and volunteers for Utah's Division of Child and Family Services. Mark and Emily were were the inspiration for 2006 House Bill HB407, which provides counseling services for veterans and their families. As they thought about how Utah's military families are affected by the Iraqi War, they thought of ways that the state could reach out to their families and the servicemen. The result was HB407, sponsored by Representative Tim Cosgrove, which passed unanimously in the State House of Representatives and Senate.

Emily is running for Senate District 28 and says "Southern Utah is a an area blessed with fabulous natural resources and a community spirit that is second to none. Southern Utah is also brimming with good people who believe in a vision for Utah, and who believe they can make, and are making, a difference. Southern Utah citizens have a right to be heard in the Utah Legislature, and I will be that voice."

The Hollingshead family enjoys exploring Southern Utah's national parks, camping, gardening, and taking family vacations together. Their most cherished time together, however, is around the dinner table, where they laugh and talk about the days events.

Emily's Web Site: http://www.emilyhollingshead.com/

To listen to Emily's opponent CLICK HERE!

Seven Deadly Sins:
lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, anger, envy, pride
by Jim Trenholm

After a cup of coffee and a quick read of "Lust: hard to resist," first in a seven-part series, in today's Deseret Morning News, I got in my Honda Ridgeline and headed for our men's monthly prayer breakfast. The radio announced that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was inaugurated, for the first time, on this day in 1933. In his inaugural address, he said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

You asked: "Is there another deadly sin that should be added to the list in modern times?
Yes, I believe FEAR, the four letter F-word, should be placed at the head of the list.
Wherever there is fear, there is never quality.

It is not power that corrupts, but fear.
Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it, and - -
Fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.
Aung San Suu Kyi
Nobel Peace Prizewinner

Americans still care about quality. The country is full of intelligent, courageous people who would change . . . if they only knew how.
W. Edwards Deming

W. Edwards Deming taught the Japanese how to build quality automobiles when Americans were more interested in new models and sales. When we got left behind and interested, we asked him for help, which he provided. Deming discovered in the USA, that before quality, we must drive out fear.

Fear, it seems, is more prevalent now than ever before. Loyalty and integrity are both admirable traits, but when we are loyal at the expense of integrity, fear abounds. A person who is loyal can only say, I did it because I was told to do so. A person who has integrity can say, I did it because it was the right thing to do.

Fear is the opposite of love - - God is love.

Peace and Understanding,

Jim Trenholm

Wayne and I ran into Jim when we were visiting Reps. Lou Shurtliff and Neil Hansen in Ogden. Jim is wearing the hat.

"Issues Divide People, Values Unite People"

Montana's Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer

Last week Ethan Millard from SLCSPIN and I reviewed the two meal choices that was served at an event held at the Alumni House at the University of Utah. The speaker was Montana's Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer. Ethan Millard wrote the following after attending the event.

"In a way, the Governor was wasted on a room full of Democrats. Governor Schweitzer's message is extremely powerful and compelling to western Americans. The Governor's vision of the mountain west rising to become America's primary defenders should ring true to Utahns who enthusiastically embrace the independence, freedom, optimism, and opportunity of the west. (then confusingly elect an east coast carpetbagger who actively tries to hobble the freedom and independence technology gives us)

I wish Utah's voters could have Governor Schweitzer's image in their heads as they hit the polls this year."

What impressed me was Schweitzer's clear vision of a future void of America's dependence on foreign oil. Governor Schweitzer says there is a solution that can be up and running in five years. What he has in mind is using a process that will turn coal into a synthetic liquid fuel or synfuel. The governor explained that there is enough coal in the U.S. to meet our fuel needs for the next 250 years, more than enough time to develop even better fuel sources. He also explained that the process that converts the pressurized coal into fuel (the Fischer-Tropsch process) is both clean and environmentally safe.

The most important statement I took from Schweitzer's speech was one that the governor asked everybody to write down. He simply said, "Issues divide people, and values unite people."

Governor Brian Schweiter embodies the spirit of optimism; a spirit our country so desperately needs to embrace once again. Why would we want to continue a path of fear and divisiveness when we could be going to Mars. Overall I agree with Ethan, it is an optimistic future we should be voting for this November. A future that is focused on solutions.

Schweitzer is the first Democratic Governor to be elected in Montana since 1988. He also has one of the highest approval ratings for a governor in the country at 69%. If he runs for president I might just grab the next bus to Montana.

SLCounty Treasurer candidate Billie Gay Larson and Governor Schweitzer

Jim Matheson's Birthday

This post should have started out with a photo of my friend Shane Giddings, his son, and Congressman Jim Matheson.

I was then going to critic the food with photos and brag about how much I enjoyed the wrapped asparagus, the fresh fruit, and the pasta salad. I also had a wonderful photo of the Jim's birthday cake.

I had great photos of Roz McGee and Peter Corroon. Photos of retiring Senator Patrice Arent who came visiting with her father, and of Leslie Reberg speaking to Norma Matheson. I had some great shots of Jim speaking too.

But of all the photos I shot that day there was one special photo, one I wanted to send to Jim. This photo captured and explained who Jim Matheson really is. After Jim was done speaking his son Will motioned for his father to bend down. As he did Will's arms wrapped around his father's neck and Jim put his arms around Will. It was really quite touching and I cannot believe that I may have lost it forever.

Today when I went to Pace's Dairy Ann I had my camera, when I left I did not. I quickly returned and searched everywhere including the garbage but found nothing.

I can always buy another camera (well someday maybe), but how can I ever replace that priceless photo of Jim and Will Matheson? I know that I cannot.

The party was a great success and I very much enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I ran into an old Olympus High swimmer, and reporter turned lawyer, Mark Quinn. Mark was on the Olympus High Thunderbolt as was Shane, as was I. Mark mentioned how he had interviewed Governor Scott Matheson to Norma Matheson. She smiled and then mentioned that our generation was propbably the last that will really remember the governor, but I do see the governor in Jim. I see the very best of him in Jim.

We Love Baskin Robbins in Bountiful!

Four years ago I had lost 50lbs and was at my lowest weight in ten years. But then something unthinkable happened, somehow, quite innocently, my oldest daugter Abby became addicted to Baskin Robbins's pistachio almond ice cream, as did I. How can we help ourselves? It is sooooo gooood!

We love the Baskin Robbins in Bountiful. I remember how my father loved to take his family to the Bountiful Baskin Robbins location . I think weatherman Mark Eubanks was the owner at that time. Everyone in the family would receive a free cone on their birthday, and it was dad's job to pay for the rest. Now it's my job.

One thing I do miss is the banana nut ice cream. Maybe I was the only one left who was buying it. Hurray for Baskin Robbins! We Love IT!

Click on any Miller kid to sign up for Baskin Robbins's Birthday Club

Rep. Sheryl Allen Wants To Share Your Message With Public Utilities

The Legislative Interim Committee process will commence for 2006 in April. I co-chair the Public Utilities and Information Technology Standing Committee.

Chairs determine the agenda and the study topics. In 2006, we will be studying several issues. We will have a presentation on technology that allows gasification of coal for electrical energy. This emerging technology produces far fewer emissions that go into the atmosphere. However, the technology is not yet reliable. The federal government is providing some research funding. In the future, this has the potential to be an excellent source of energy for Utah since we have abundant coal.

We'll also be studying U.S. trade agreements and the effect they may have on Utah's ability to regulate our utilities.

The committee will also certainly be looking at consumer representation in rate cases before the Public Service Commission. This is the commission that determines rates for regulated utilities. Telecommunications is no longer regulated.

If you have recommendations for Public Utilities and Information Technology Standing Committee to study, please let me know.

Rep. Sheryl Allen

Roasted Chicken. A Review.

The Utah Democratic Party hosted a luncheon with Montana's Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer at the Alumni House at the University of Utah. The menu included your choice of Carolina Pulled Pork or Roasted Chicken. I chose the chicken. This is my story.

Two pieces of chicken (a brest and a leg) were served with potatoes and cole slaw. The chicken seemed to be merely luke warm but had good flavor and was perfectly moist.

The potatoes were tastefully prepared, but I have to agree with Ethan Millard from SLCSPIN that a bit more cheese would have made for more spuddly home run.

The cole slaw was better than Colonial Sanders could have ever dreamed, being both crisp and satisfying.

Dessert was a peach/blueberry cobbler that was by far my favorite menu item.

Overall the meal was well prepared and very tasty. My only regret is that I was unable to finish the main course before it was taken from my table, but it was the cobbler that left me with a favorable memory of a lunch well served.

For a review of the Carolina Pulled Pork go to SLCSPIN.

And then there were two (really tall) Democrats running for the 3rd District.

The 3rd Congressional District now has two Democratic candidates, Torin Nelson and Christain Burridge.

Watch for more on both of our 3rd district Democratic congressional candidates, and from other candidates on The Utah Amicus.

All Candidates are invited to send a photo, bio, and why they are running to democratamicus@aol.com.

1st Congressional District Candidate Steve Olsen takes a moment to answer questions from the press at Tuesdays press conference. Click below to download a copy of Steve's pamphlet, Why Most Utahns Are Democrats But Just Don't Know It Yet.

Utah Senate candidate Art Douglas (District 17) speaks to reporters during a press conference held Tuesday March 21, 2006 at Utah Democratic Party headquarters. Over 30 of the 106 Democratic candidates that have filed for state or federal offices attended this event.

The energy was high as our candidates gathered together with one singular goal in mind; to bring back ethical and transparent, fiscally responsible leadership to our state and nation's capitols.

It really is time to vote Democrat.

Utah Democrats begin record election year

Democratic Candidates filed in more races, with more candidates, than seen in decades.
Salt Lake City, UT – March 18, 2006: Across the state of Utah, the 2006 Election Cycle is shaping up to be one of the hardest fought in years. Record numbers of Democrats have filed for Legislative office this year, including having candidates in every State Senate race. Several entrenched Republicans will face Democratic challengers for the first time in several years. [see below for info points]

Statement by Utah State Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland, Jr.:

“Democrats across Utah are more energized and more focused than we’ve seen in recent years. The Democratic Party has a record number of candidates and a record number of seats filed for, and that is just for state legislative races. When you look at the races on the county level, the numbers are even more exciting. 2006 is going to be a strong year for Utah Democrats.”

Support Info: 2006 Utah Democratic Party Stats

Iron County has had a 300% increase in the number of candidates in 2006 vs. 2004.
House 72, Bud Bowman, in Iron County never has a Democratic challenger.
House 42, Peggy Wallace, has not had a Democratic challenger since 2002.
House 68 Richard Wheeler or Michael Styler, has not had a Democratic challenger since 1994
Washington County has filled ALL the state legislative seats within their boundaries. The last time they did that was 1998.
House 54, Gordon Snow, has not had a Democratic challenger since 1998.
Democrats have 14 races where two or more Democrats have filed.
Democrats have 6 former Republican delegates that are running as Democratic Candidates.
House 71, Brad Last, has not had a Democratic challenger since 2002.
House 74, Dave Clark, has not had a Democratic challenger since 1998.
House 75, Steve Urquart has not had a Democratic challenger since 1998.
Tom Hatch has never had a Democratic challenger while he has been a senator.
Senate 17, Peter Knudson, has not had a Democratic challenger since 1998. He has two Democratic challengers.
John Dougal has never had a Democratic challenger.
House 60, Brad Daw and Katherine Bryson, have not had Democratic challengers since 2000.
House 64, Becky Lockhart, has not had a Democratic challenger since 2000.
House 12, Greg Buxton, has not had a Democratic challenger since 2002.
House 16, Stuart Adams (Now Kevin Garn) has only had one Democratic challenger since 1998.
House 15, Doug Aagard, has not had a Democratic challenger since 2002.
Democrats have filed in all State Senate races.
Davis County has candidates in all state legislative races in that county.

Dinner with George McGovern

In 1972 Senator George McGovern was selected as the Democratic Party nominee for president. On Wednesday March 15, 2006 KCPW welcomed Senator George McGovern to the Salt Lake City Library Auditorium to promote his new book, Social Security and the Golden Age. Afterwards he would also inspire two State Democratic officers.

I arrived just in time to be introduced to the senator by my friend, Remington Johnson. Remington was the representative from the Hinckley Institute who would have the honor of introducing the senator to a group of adoring visitors. When Remington introduced me to Senator McGovern his first question was, "how is my friend Cal Rampton?" I explained that Cal was 93 years old and doing well. McGovern then expressed that he would enjoy speaking to our former Democratic governor so I promised to arrange it.

During his presentation the senator spoke on 9-11, Iraq, public service, and social security. A most touching moment occurred while he explained how he had lost his daughter to the disease of alcoholism. It was at this point that I noticed that Wayne Holland had arrived.

Afterwards the senator signed copies of his book and allowed for some photo opportunities. While doing so he asked me if I would call his friend Cal. I handed him my phone and watched the senator smile as he both spoke to his friend while continuing to sign books. When he was finished he explained, "Cal says he is only 92."

After the crowd disperessed we went to the Little America to have dinner with the Senator and KCPW Interim Station Manager Chris Eisenberg. Wayne, Chris, and I sat at the table listening to the senator without any consideration of the time. Most interesting was his story of how he was sent in 1955 to reorganize and revitalize the South Dakota Democratic Party, from which his illustrious political career was launched. This is the story Wayne and I needed to hear, and it was a story we could relate too. He continued on about his presidential campaign and his relationship with Jack and Bobby Kennedy along with many other fascinating stories that I could have listened to all night. After dinner we walked the senator to the elevator and said goodbye. As the elevator closed McGovern said" lets stay in touch."

Two hours later I was still awake reading his book.

4th Annual
“Awakening Utah”
Walk for Suicide Prevention & Awareness
Sugarhouse Park April 22th, 2006

with Phil Riesen

The Mental Health Association in Utah along with several community partners will host the 4th Annual “Awakening Utah” Walk for Suicide Prevention and Awareness. Our hope is that through this event, the Utah Community will “Awaken” to a new public awareness of suicide prevention and a pro-active commitment to life and living.

Reason Why the Utah Community should help “Awaken” Utah to a new understanding of Suicide Prevention and Awareness

Facts:

An average of one person will commit suicide every 17.2 minutes in the United States alone.

Over 321 people commit suicide in Utah each year and the numbers are increasing.

Utah ranks 13th in the Nation in suicide rates.

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for young men between the ages of 15 and 24 in Utah, behind accidents (1) and homicide (2).

60% of people who complete suicide have undiagnosed Clinical Depression.

Suicide rates have increased 256% in Utah since 1956.

“Awakening Utah” Walk for Suicide Prevention and Awareness is an event where the general public can be educated about suicide and where friends, parents, loved ones and significant other of suicide completers will have an opportunity to heal publicly.

Please contact The Mental Health Association in Utah at (801)596-3705 for more information!)

Registration here

INTEGRITY: Steve Olsen was raised in rural Cache County. After a mission to Sweden, he married his high school sweetheart, Teri Caldwell. Steve worked his way through college while supporting a young family. Steve is currently a Principal Engineer with Autoliv Inc., and has a varied career in engineering, including work as a consultant in problem solving techniques. He was a monthly contributed to the Standard Examiner's editorial page from June 2000 to November 2005. Steve has over twenty years experience in Scouting and has served in many church responsibilities. Steve and Teri have three children (Jeni, a social worker; Chris a Navy submarine officer; and Bonnie, a paralegal) and three grandchildren.

Steve's life's work is solving problems, "I'm an engineer..., I have experience working with teams that have diverse, occasionally antagonistic ideas about the issues at hand, and then find accurate root causes and innovative solutions. Congress could use more people with good teamwork and problem solving skills."

Steve's main goal is to help save the middle class. Half of the wealth in our nation is now owned by the top 1% of our citizens, and the income ratio of the top one-fifth of the nation's wage earners to the bottom one-fifth is eleven to one and growing. Meanwhile, young couples trying to start families are finding it impossible to survive. Steve is also interested in changing the false cartoon-like images of Utah Democrats, and will work tirelessly to infuse our nation's Capitol with our good Utah values.

Steve supports President Bush's call for a line-item veto to stop wasteful pork-barrel spending, and Steve also believes that there are solutions to mending our nation's healthcare crisis. He wants to work in Congress to help find the solutions and strategies in developing an effective health care policies, and to keep Utah radioactive waste free.

The information above comes from Steve's brochure. What the brochure doesn't tell you is that Steve is currently serving as bishop of his ward in Plain City, Utah. It's my belief that our Democratic bishop is the best bishop to reperesent Utah's 1st District. He carries the true spirit of public service, and his intentions to represent Utah citizens, not special interest is absolute.

INTRODUCTION: Born and raised in Utah, Christian Burridge is the youngest of six children. His father, the late Tom Burridge was a Utah Highway Patrolman and retired as a Command Sergeant Major in the Utah National Guard. His mother, Sandra Burridge, who earned a bachelors degree while raising five children and worked as an educator and writer for several years.

After graduating from Brigham High School, Christian served an LDS mission to Lansing, Michigan. Upon returning from his mission, Christian attended Snow College where he competed on a national speech and debate team. It was a debate scholarship that led Christian to the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California where he completed his Bachelor's degree, graduating with a major in philosophy.

Shortly after graduation, Christian married Marissa Johnson of Pleasant Grove, Utah. One month later they moved to Japan to teach English in Japanese High Schools. Christian entered law school after he and Marissa returned from Japan.

While a law student a BYU, Christian taught Ethics and Values at Utah Valley State College. Christian graduated from J. Reuben Clark Law School in 2003 and started a successful law practice. As you can see from the above photo, Christian and Marissa are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters.

My first impression would be that Christian is a natural campaigner. I really enjoyed watching Christian present himself to the media last Friday. Once again we have a successful Utah native who is ready and qualified to take on any challenger and to prove that he is the best person to send to Congress. While visting with Christian today I learned that Christian was the first sibling in his family to attend college. Being the youngest of six, his father was better able to help Christian with his tuition. Christian is a self made man who will undoubtedly give his republican challeneger a great race.

LEADERSHIP: Pete Ashdown has come a long way since he first announced his intentions to run for the U.S. Senate. He went looking for a candidate to support against Hatch and came to the understanding that nobody was planning to challenge the Senator. Thats when Pete came to the realization that it was he who needed to step up to the challenge. His ethical leadrship built Utah's first and most successful internet provider, his reputation for being honest was inspired by Abe Lincoln, why not stand up to the challenege?

Watching Pete turn into a senator has been an inspiring. Understanding that this evolution has not come easy makes his transformation even more honorable. After our three candidates were done filing we went outside to take a photo. When that was done Pete handed both Christian and Steve a contribution check. It was a private moment that I'm making public to help others see how Pete leadership is both inspiring and real. Having our three candidates file together brought both a positive energy to the race, as well a strong camaraderie.

If you have the opportunity go to see Pete speak, go, I highly recommend it. What you will notice is that Pete is connecting to Utahns. When Pete started his campaign he was technology driven. Now Pete is Utah driven. He truly understands the our issues and values.

After 30 years in office Orrin Hatch has lost touch with Utah. What do you do with a Senator who has been in office 30 years, and who is no longer voting in Utah's best interest? You call him home!

Utah's best choice for the U.S. Senate is Pete Ashdown. He will represent Utah well, he is a true leader, and we will once again have a Senator in Washington D.C. instead of a full-time pharmaceutical lobbyist, and Bush rubber stamp.

I challenge all Utahns to look deep into their hearts and to ask themselves this question, do you really believe that Orrin Hatch is working for our best interest? Will Pete? My challenge to you is to find out.

I awoke Friday morning with a smile. This was the day that I would witness the filing of Pete Ashdown, candidate for U.S. Senate (Hatch), Christian Burridge, candidate for Utah's 3rd District (Cannon), and Steve Olsen, candidate for Utah's 1st District (Bishop), at the Utah State Capitol. There was however only one problem; I-15 was shut down.

I called headquarters at 9:45am and reached Jeff Bell. "Marcie is stuck too. I have Christian here in the office, I'll see what I can do." was Jeff's reply.

Creeping along I-15 I realized that Steve Olsen was also coming from the North. I remember thinking, "Please God, help us out today." Within the minute I heard a voice from KSL explain that the highway patrol had opened two lanes. Within seconds I was on my way.

As I was driving up Victory Road I started to get goose bumps. I have driven this road hundreds of times through out my life, but never has the word "Victory" meant more or grabbed me so whole heartily as it did at this moment. It was also at this moment that the number 4 came into my thoughts. I will explain this one later.

As I arrived I noticed that Pete Ashdown's vehicle was parked on the road above the north building. Maybe he just needed a walk and some air before filing. As I pulled into the parking lot I saw John Daley from KSL TV. I said hello, made a few comments, and ran into the building, and up to the third floor. When I walked in Pete and Christian were filling out their paperwork. Within minutes Steve Olsen arrived to complete our Democratic delegation. For me it was breath taking watching these three candidates sign the dotted line, it was a very satisfying moment.

Steve Olsen, Christian Burridge, Pete Ashdown

MEDIA ADVISORY

This is a just a quick informal introduction and a heads-up on an upcoming Democratic Candidate event.

I wanted to let you know that Steve Olsen, a Democrat from Plain City, Utah, is filing to run for the First Congressional District Seat against Rob Bishop tomorrow, 10am at the State Capitol.

Steve will be joined by Pete Ashdown who is running for the U.S. Senate against Orrin Hatch, and Christian Burridge who is running for the Third District Seat held by Chris Cannon.

All press and media outlets are invited to attend and Steve will be available for interviews. For more information on this event, the candidate or the campaign, you may contact Jon Canchola at(435) 232-1534 or by email at steveolsenforcongress@gmail.com.

Rep. Pat Jones To Run For State Senate
District 4

Rep. Patricia W. Jones (District 40) will run for the Utah State Senate District 4, a seat that is being vacated by retiring Senator Patrice Arent.

"I want to continue the wonderful work and example of our two retiring Democratic Senators Karen Hale and Patrice Arent. I plan to continue my work on relevant Utah issues such as education, health care, senior citizen issues, and ethics reform in a bipartisan manner in the Senate just as I have done as the assistant minority whip in the House of Representatives."

Rep. Jones was named as one of "30 Top Women in Business," in Utah Business Magazine 2002, and was Utah's 2002 Public Health Hero, Utah Health Magazine. She is a research analyst and professional focus group moderator for Dan Jones and Associates, a company she owns and operates with her husband Dan.

She is currently on the Executive Appropriations Committee; Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee; House Health and Human Services Committee; House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee; Legislative Management Committee.

She is a graduate of Olympus High School in Holladay, Utah and received a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Utah (Magna Cum Laude).

Senator Patrice Arent Will Not Seek Re-election

Championed Children, Seniors and Consumers

State Senator Patrice Arent (D) announced today that she would not seek reelection to the Utah Senate. Arent was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1997 where she served for four years in leadership as Democratic Whip and Assistant Democratic Whip. After six years in the House, her legislative district was eliminated through the redistricting process. In 2002 she ran for the State Senate, defeating the incumbent Senate Majority Leader. Arent currently serves on the following committees: Education, Judiciary, Judicial Confirmation, Higher Education Appropriations, Water Task Force, and the Online Court Assistance Policy Board. She is the founder and co-chair of the Firefighter’s Caucus and co-chair of the Cultural Caucus.

“I have been honored to serve in the Utah House and the Utah Senate for almost a decade. I am proud of my record of service, and grateful for the trust placed in me as an elected representative. It is time for me to move onto new challenges,” said Arent.

During her ten sessions in the Utah Legislature, Arent was the primary sponsor for nearly sixty bills, almost all of which passed. She is recognized for successfully authoring the baby drop off law (allowing for the safe relinquishment of newborns), protecting students with asthma and diabetes in schools, providing for school safety plans, and creating the Traffic Safety Task Force. Arent’s legislation increased penalties for ID theft through communications fraud (“anti-phishing”), gave law enforcement new tools to stop clandestine drug labs, protected seniors who sign pre-need funeral contracts, and helped patients gain easier access to their own medical records. She passed Utah’s first legislation regulating price gouging during emergencies. Arent is also known for her legislation improving procedures in juvenile court and her resolution to eliminate bullying in Utah’s schools. She closed some of the loopholes in Utah’s campaign finance laws, worked to stop higher level nuclear waste from being brought into Utah, and fought tirelessly to increase funding for education, health and human services. In addition, she passed legislation providing the public with much more information before neighborhoods can be annexed into cities.

Arent’s legislative career started as a student lobbyist for the University of Utah. She served as a legislative Hinckley Intern for Governor Scott Matheson, worked as Associate General Counsel to the Utah Legislature and served as the Chief of Legislative Relations in the Utah Attorney General’s office.

Arent currently serves as the Vice President of the National Association of Jewish Legislators (NAJL). In early January she visited Israel, where she was one of three state legislators representing NAJL in meetings with approximately fifty Jewish members of Parliament and Ministers from twenty seven countries. Arent met with members of the Israeli government, including former Prime Ministers Shimon Peres and Benjamin Netanyahu. In 2002 she also represented NAJL in meetings in Israel with the international group of Jewish parliamentarians and met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Arent has received a number of awards based on her legislative service, some of which include the “Hero on the Hill Award” from the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities, the first “Distinguished Legislative Service Award” from the Utah Medical Association, and the award for “Outstanding Contributions to Crime Prevention Efforts” from the Utah Council of Crime Prevention. She was named the Christine Durham Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Women Lawyers of Utah, received the Salt Lake County Democrats Spirit of Democracy Award, and the United Jewish Federation Community Achievement Award. She was twice selected by the Democratic Leadership Council as one of “One Hundred to Watch - 100 New Democrats Who Are Changing the Face of American Politics.”

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Arent graduated from the University of Utah and Cornell Law School. She serves on many community boards, including the University of Utah Hospital Board of Trustees, the Utah Safe Haven Committee, the Utah Hospital Association Strategic Planning Committee, and the University of Utah Social and Behavioral Science Advisory Board. She served on the Utah Constitutional Revision Commission, the Utah Supreme Court Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, the United Jewish Federation Board of Directors, and on many committees of the Utah Bar Association. She has also volunteered as a small claims court judge and scout merit badge advisor.
Senator Arent started as a parking lot attendant and gift wrapper at her family business, “Arent’s Doorway to Fashion.” She also worked as a waitress, substitute teacher, law clerk in federal court, and an attorney in private practice at Snow, Christensen and Martineau.

The Passing of the Guard?

Candidate Sim Gill takes a few moments with his daughter and current Salt Lake County District Attorney David Yocum who is retiring from office at the end of his term this year.

Christine B. Helfrich

The New York Review of Books
March 23, 2006
The Health Care Crisis and What to Do About It
By Paul Krugman, Robin Wells

The good news is that we know more about the economics of health care than we did when Clinton tried and failed to remake the system. There's now a large body of evidence on what works and what doesn't work in health care, and it's not hard to see how to make dramatic improvements in US practice.

The bad news is that Washington currently seems incapable of accepting what the evidence on health care says.

1. Is health care spending a problem?

2. The unraveling of employer-based insurance

3. Medicaid and Medicare

4. The "consumer-directed" diversion

5. Single-payer and beyond

6. Beyond reform: How much health care should we have?

7. Can we fix health care?

A mere shift of power from Republicans to Democrats would not, in itself, be enough to give us sensible health care reform. Even liberal economists and scholars at progressive think tanks tend to shy away from proposing a straightforward system of national health insurance. Instead, they propose fairly complex compromise plans. But the main reason for not proposing
single-payer is political fear: reformers believe that private insurers are too powerful to cut out of the loop, and that a single-payer plan would be too easily demonized by business and political propagandists as "big government."

These are the same political calculations that led Bill Clinton to reject a single-payer system in 1993, even though his advisers believed that a single-payer system would be the least expensive way to provide universal coverage. Instead, he proposed a complex plan designed to preserve a role for private health insurers. But the plan backfired. The insurers opposed it anyway, most famously with their "Harry and Louise" ads.

We believe that the compromise plans being proposed by the cautious reformers would run into the same political problems, and that it would be politically smarter as well as economically superior to go for broke: to propose a straightforward single-payer system, and try to sell voters on the huge advantages such a system would bring. But this would mean taking on the drug and insurance companies rather than trying to co-opt them, and even progressive policy wonks, let alone Democratic politicians, still seem too timid to do that.

So what will really happen to American health care? Many people in this field believe that in the end America will end up with national health insurance, and perhaps with a lot of direct government provision of health care, simply because nothing else works. But things may have to get much worse before reality can break through the combination of powerful interest
groups and free-market ideology.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18802


Comment by Christine:

You likely do not have the time right now to read this very long article. The sections are listed above simply to demonstrate that it really does address the health care crisis and what to do about it, as promised in the title. Save this for your next break.

Do not be deterred by the fact that this is a book review, actually a review of three books. It is a stand-alone article on our health care crisis,not constrained by the subject matter of the books reviewed.

You should encourage others who are concerned about our health care system to take the time to read this article. You can assure them that most authors would have required an entire book to communicate the messages that Krugman and Wells have presented here in a single article. In this day of information overload, you'll rarely find a bargain like this: a lucid perspective of the basics of our health care crisis with a very modest commitment of time. Tell everyone to read it.

Christine B. Helfrich, CCRP
Regulatory Projects Administrator
Huntsman Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Office
2000 Circle of Hope, Suite 2160
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

Howard Dean Statement on the Passing of Dana Reeve

Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement on the passing of Dana Reeve:

"Today, I join millions of Americans in mourning the loss of Dana Reeve. Dana and Christopher Reeve were tireless advocates for people with disabilities. Their activism and passion were an inspiration to millions. Together, they sent a powerful message that Americans who fight for what they believe in can change our country.

"Reeve's courage in the face of her husband's struggles was matched by her grace in confronting her own illness. The sudden, tragic loss of such an effective champion and committed mother is made all the more painful by our thoughts of those left behind. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Reeves' children and the rest of her family.

"In this time of great sadness, we owe it to Dana Reeve to recommit ourselves to the cause she so eloquently championed. The best way to honor her life is to continue fighting to ensure that we do everything possible to realize the full promise of scientific and medical research."

My thoughts:
I can remember my first viewing of SUPERMAN at the old Villa Theater. It was a childhood favorite that made its mark. When Christopher Reeve fell from his horse and was paralyzed I remember thinking that somehow he would be okay. The night before Christopher Reeve died Senator John Kerry evoked Reeve's name while debating President Bush as an example as to why stem cell research should be allowed. I teared up when he fell, and again when he died. The news that Dana Reeve had lung cancer so soon after losing her husband had the same effect, as did today's news.

How's does this relate to Utah? I'm sure there are many connections either real or imagined with mine simply being the realization that somehow we are all connected and that we all matter. I also believe in real love.

In his autobiography, "Still Me," Reeve wrote that he suggested early on to his wife, "Maybe we should let me go." She responded, "I'll be with you for the long haul, no matter what. You're still you and I love you."

Those were "the words that saved my life," Christopher Reeve said.

Three simple magic words.

Wayne Holland Jr.
Utah State Democratic Chair
March 2006 ~ Best of the Best

His phone bill is outrageous, his work ethic is to be admired, and once you get to know Wayne it becomes easy to understand why Wayne Holland Jr. was congressman Jim Matheson's pick to run and rebuild our great Utah Democratic Party.

It was a busy (busy really is an understatement) day at Democratic headquarters. The reason being that today is the first day that candidates can file to run for political office. Whose running as a republican? Whose running as a Democrat? Whose running!!!???

Except for a quick trip to The Pub at Trolley Square for lunch, Chairman Wayne Holland was pretty much on the phone all day indentifying and securing a last few qualified Democratic candidates for this year's November elections.

Although we have been working at this for months its now down to crunch time, and believe me, Wayne is crunching, on his food that is. Usually when we go to lunch we have great conversations, but not today, as it was easy to understand that what our State Chair needed was a few moments of uninterrupted reflection.

For those who are not familiar with candidate recruitment just know this, anything can change at any moment, and sometimes minute by minute. Sometimes a sure bet isn't, and a long shot becomes your only shot; such is politics. For Wayne Holland, this is the fight, and yet I know that it is Wayne's leadership that is laying down the groundwork that will ensure our future success, and he does this work with the spirit of true optimism that is nothing less than contagious.

He carries a great weight on his shoulders, and he does so with dignity. I am honored to work besides this man who understands that we are our "brother's keeper"(and sisters too).

Wayne Holland Jr., the best of the best this March on The Utah Amicus.

Photo submitted bt Cliff lyon

Sim Gill
Candidate for Salt Lake County District Attorney

Sim Gill is a prosecutor. He is the Chief City Prosecutor for Salt Lake City. In front of a diverse and enthusiastic crowd of supporters he announced his candidacy for Salt Lake County District Attorney at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse.

Sim Gill is a prosecutor, but after listening to Sim's announcement speech I can assure you that he is much more. Sim's fiery speech yesterday left me with the understanding that Sim is a man who understands that our elected leaders need to carry optimism and solutions to the ballet box, not just empty promises and slogans that rely on fear to win elections.

Keep an eye on this race; the message Sim will convey will be one that all Utahns should understand and relate too.

Photo submitted by Cliff Lyon.

Sim Gill Candidate Announcement Speech

I want to thank everyone for coming here today and being a part of this event. I want to especially thank my wife Jamie and our two children Vikram and Anjali.

Let me state why we are all here, I am Sim Gill, I am a Democrat, and I am a candidate for the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office.

I am excited for this race because I have been a prosecutor for over 11 years. I have prosecuted in Layton City, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County District Attorneys both criminal and civil sections, before being named as the Chief City Prosecutor for the largest municipal prosecutors office in the State. I have prosecuted both misdemeanor and felony cases. I was on the arson-fraud unit at the district attorney’s office and have been cross-designated with District attorney’s office while also being the chief city prosecutor. I have prosecuted cases in the areas of sexual exploitation for profit, distribution of pornography, environmental crimes and felony drunk driving. Currently, at the City prosecutor’s office we average 24,000 new filings annually with an active caseload of some 30,000 cases.

I am the chair of the “Safe at Home Coalition” working on domestic violation issues; Vice-chair of the Criminal Justice Advisory Comm. (CJAC) working on a systemic analysis of the criminal issues and challenges facing Salt Lake County, and I was the SWAP representative to the Comm. On Racial and Ethnic Fairness, where in that capacity I did the first ever audit of a prosecutor’s office to determine the treatment of minorities in the criminal justice system.

Thus, I feel that I bring to this candidacy the experience of a line prosecutor, the experience of an administrator of the largest municipal prosecutor office in the State and the experience of policy analyst aware of the issue confronting us in the criminal justice system.

I believe that the objective of the District Attorney’s office is to create safe communities, have institutional integrity, professional competence and provide public service.

The mission of the office thus is to serve our citizens, collaborate with local law enforcement, prosecutors and communities. It must take the lead in creating a consistent, comprehensive, criminal justice philosophy that protects victims, holds offenders accountable and honors the public trust to be fair and just in all of our dealings.

I believe in a simple saying that “when crime happens it causes injuries to victims, offenders and the communities where the crime occurs. Justice then is the repairing of these injuries”. In this purpose we must seek to be proactive agents of change that are willing to think out of the box. However, the solutions that we seek must 1) not compromise on law enforcement objectives 2) not cost us more that the current system and 3) have better outcomes than we are getting now. Thus I am a big advocate of “therapeutic justice” which seeks to transition out of the criminal justice system those who can benefit the most from it. In this regard, I have helped to create MHC, Dui court, Johns Program, Prostitution Outreach, our Domestic Violence Court in SLC, Passages Program, Misdemeanor Drug Court and our public sex crimes program. These programs, hold offenders accountable, are fiscally cheaper, and have better outcomes without compromising on law enforcement objectives.

Take for example, mental health court; while 5% of the general population is mentally ill, in jail some 17% of the individuals suffer from mental illness. These individuals will spend more time in jail costing the taxpayers more money. They are more likely to re-enter at a higher frequency and they will need more trips to emergency care for which we all pay. They require a greater demand of resources from the officers in the field and this population will self medicate with illegal drugs and alcohol. In short, they are one of our most expensive prisoners and offenders.

MHC addresses this problem in a collaborative approach between law enforcement, courts, prosecution, legal defenders, probation, and treatment providers. We medically stabilize the individuals, hook them up with community services, and provide a close supervised and interactive probation from 12-36 months. The result of this type of approach is, the defendant takes responsibility for their conduct, gets the help that they need and reduces the frequency of their criminal re-entry into the criminal justice system. It is often the their first most sustained level of stability. It is a win-win out come for the police, community, victims, courts, prosecution and defenses. It frees jail beds for those who really need to be there. Most importantly it is getting the help to the defendants at a fraction of the cost. This is smart prosecution.

I believe in empowering local communities. This will require partnerships with local law enforcement and local prosecution to help develop targeted plans to address localized concerns. The District Attorney’s office can and must serve as the leadership to address emerging concerns. In some instances the DA will be the organizing entity through its leadership and in other instances it will provide direct support for aggressive prosecution. A coordinated and a shared vision that will target and maximize our efforts is not only smart prosecution but will keep the faith with our local communities that the DA’s office is their office as well.

This idea has been a part of our City’s comprehensive plan. Our Community Action Teams have been in operation for years. These teams based upon the seven districts in the City area a multidisciplinary group of law enforcement, city and county agencies, prosecutors and local government. They collaborate and address issues at the local and grassroots level and help solve community concerns. We have demonstrated this through a 18 month grant where two prosecutors working hand in hand with Cat Teams dramatically reduced the calls for service from law enforcement and saving precious taxpayer dollars.

The District Attorney’s office must also recognize that there are crimes which demand an aggressive prosecution toward incarceration. There are some in our community who through their conduct, and the risk that they pose to our community, must be made to forfeit their liberty. The murders, the rapists, the child molesters and others who would put at risk our families, friends, communities must be dealt with a swift and just punishment. The resources that we would save through our community problem solving and therapeutic justice then would be directed forcefully to these offenders who represent our paradigm cases for aggressive accountability. However, to accomplish this we must have a corps of professional competent attorneys who take pride in their work and have the resources that are necessary for them to accomplish their task. We must have the internal organization that supports their efforts and communicates to them our community’s expectations. Through community collaborations, therapeutic justice and paradigm prosecutions we start to construct a comprehensive criminal justice policy that will protect our communities, be fiscally sound, and hold offenders accountable.

Finally, as we outline the challenges, discuss policy, create collaborations we cannot forget what this about. It is about human lives, impacted in deep and profound ways. Let me share a story with you: Several years ago I was prosecuting a domestic violence case. The victim had been assaulted . . . .


This why I am a prosecutor: This why I do what I do. Sometimes we are the only voice for those who cannot or are unable to speak. We are about justice, we are about fairness, we are about a covenant that we make with each other that in our civil society the weak will be protected and those who harm others cannot and will not escape justice.

If these are things that you believe in then please give me your support as your next district attorney. Thank you.

Creating a Civically-Engaged Society
by Salt Lake County Chair Megan Risbon

“I don’t do traditional politics, but my service work
is political,” explained one college student. This is
a common refrain by college students as they describe
the work they are doing in communities and asked about
the connection of that work to politics. When the
student elaborated on her work, she explained that she
was involved in organizing students against
sweatshops, lobbying at the legislature to replace the
Native American mascot at her school, and volunteering
to teach English as a second language to new
immigrants. Yet, she was adamantly opposed to
conventional politics and did not want her work to be
categorized as such.

Volunteerism among college students has steadily
increased over the years. One study has shows that up
to 82% of all college students are doing some form of
volunteer work. Unfortunately, voter participation is
quickly decreasing--only 28% of 18-24 year olds voted
in the 2000 elections.

Students who participate in community service are
often unaware their work is political, typically
because they limit their definition of politics to the
electoral processes and interest group advocacy.
Students often shudder when they hear the word
‘politics’, as it conjures up images of inauthentic
politicians and power corrupted.

However, when students serve in their community,
bridging indifferences and altering its balance of
power, they understand that, at this level of agency,
their work is political. When politics is defined “as
the relational work of redistributing power and
resources, negotiating differences, strengthening
communities, and working together with others to
influence or alter societal institutions,” then the
connection between service and politics can be made
more readily.

While many students see their service as an
alternative to conventional political activity, many
students, especially those deeply involved, are also
describing service as an alternative politics – an
alternative form of political activity.

Service, in itself, can be political. Whether it is
changing communities through direct service or
motivating someone to address community problems
through more conventional means, it is still a way to
create change. And, most importantly, they are
seeking a consistency across their experience of
direct service, inner reflections and political
activity. They reject as inauthentic calls to action
at any level that violate this consistency—and for
students deeply engaged in service, the touchstone of
that integrity is their relationships with people in
the communities they serve.

Students need to become more civically engaged. All
significant social change was brought about by citizen
action. Citizens must be aware not only of problems
that exist but also that there are possibilities to
diminish these problems. A required “Civics for
Democracy” course at the high school and college level
would be a vibrant civics course in which students
learn about citizen participation in US history, the
skills of citizen action and the practical application
of these tools to improve their schools and
communities. It would be different from other courses
because it teaches not just a civics history but shows
students through action that citizenship involves more
than freedoms and liberties. They will be able to
imagine a world better by their involvement in it.
They will gain experience and confidence to stay
active and continued involvement throughout their
lives.

If students are already participating in community
service, all we need to do is to bridge the gap
between service and political change. We provide the
forum for them and they carry it out. In order to be
a civically engaged society, we need to bridge the gap
between politics and service.

Sim Gill to officially announce candidacy today
Salt Lake County District Attorney

Sim Gill will formally announce his candidacy for Salt Lake County District Attorney today at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse at 12:00pm.

Sim Gill is currently the Chief City Prosecutor for Salt Lake City. He has prosecuted with Salt Lake County District Attorney's office, Salt Lake City and Layton City. Most recently he has been involved in the issues of therapeutic justice and criminal prosecution. He is a graduate of University of Utah B.A. History and Philosophy and a Graduate of Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon where he received his J. D.Andd Certificate of specialization in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. Sim also serves as the Chair of the Salt Lake Area Safe at Home Coalition; co-chair of the Salt Lake County Criminal Justice Advisory Committee; Mayors Coalition on Alcohol, Tobacco and Substance Abuse, Salt Lake Community College's Advisory Board on the Community Writing Project.

See you there!