Fossil Foolishness

From Joe Dulin's blog
Candidate for Utah State Senate District 25

Like everyone else I have been thinking a lot about energy lately.

How do we reduce the cost of a barrel of oil?

I guess we could emulate the ice cream vendors and reduce the size of the barrel. Just imagine the savings per barrel if we made the barrel say, ¼ its current size! We would be back to $35 p/bbl overnight.

Or perhaps we could convert to the metric system and post prices per liter instead of per gallon. Heck, with that plan we would once again see $1.00 posted at our favorite filling station. That would alleviate some of the sticker shock and make filling her up a tad easier on the psyche not to mention your blood pressure.

To save money on gas I have been looking into mailing my car to wherever I want go. I think the postage might be cheaper than driving. However, I am not sure I want to spend my summer standing in the postal service line and dealing with the uncertainty that my car will ever arrive at its destination in my lifetime.

There is a certain appeal to think that we can just drill more holes in the ground right here in our own backyard and find some more oil. In the 10 to 20 years it will take for that oil to get to market, Alzheimer’s might set in and I won’t even remember that gas used to cost me a buck a gallon.

We could invade a foreign country that has lots of oil, be welcomed as liberators and cut ourselves a sweetheart deal on cheap crude. I wonder if that has ever been thought of before. Do you think it could work?

Seriously folks: Fuel Costs us over $4 gallon today and grocery costs are skyrocketing due the undeniable truth that our Republican leadership’s energy policies have failed us. We need to stay ahead of the Global competition. We need leadership that will make Geothermal Power, Wind Power and Solar power economic realities. America has always led the way in technological innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. We can’t afford 4 more years of the same old outdated energy policies. We need change. It is time to give Democrats a chance this fall.

Richard D. Watson for State Senate District 23

A resident of Bountiful for more than 20 years, Richard’s community involvement has given him the experience of working with incredible people from the South Davis area. As a three-time community council member and a two-time PTA board member, Richard understands the problems in education. In addition, he also enjoys coaching youth sports as a coach in Jr. Jazz and Cal Ripkin baseball.

In addition, Richard has been chairman of the Davis County Democratic Party for the last six years and has been a political columnist for The Clipper for almost three years.

As Chair of local Democrats, Richard has encouraged everyone to be involved in the Party and to donate, at least once a month, to the local food banks. (Over the past few years, the Bountiful Food Pantry has received over 2,000 lbs of food.)

Richard is married to Carol Watson, a high school teacher, and they have two sons, Andy and Bret.

Richard’s main goals for serving the people of South Davis County are:

• Education: We need a heartfelt and sincere voice for teachers and parents, someone that cares. Too often we hear promises that fall short. We need results rather than chatter.

• Open Government: Too much secrecy in our government has led our elected leaders to abuse the voters, our taxes and our trust. The recipe for change is to elect a caring and a straightforward voice of the people, to stir up the “soup” in the “government pot”. Legislators have to be reminded that they are employed by the people.

• Taxes: Too many promises are made about taxes and little has been done to relieve the tax burden of average, working (and retired) middle-class residents in Davis County. Rather than focus on tax cuts for a few, we should strongly consider easing the tax burden on families who are struggling to make ends meet.

Elect Richard Watson Campaign,
State Senate Dist. 23
90 E. 1100 South, Bountiful, UT 84010, (h) 292-6772, (c) 540-3146; rjwatson@xmission.com

Kyle Roberts for House District 20

I was born and raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho and have lived in Utah for 8 years, 7 of them in North Salt Lake. I am employed at Fisher Company of North Salt Lake, where I am currently the finance and operations manager. I received my bachelor’s degree in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Utah and I am currently enrolled at the University of Utah in the MBA program and will graduate in May. I have served as an advisor for the North Salt Lake Youth City Council for 4 years. I am married to Alice Fisher, a Davis county native, and we have three boys. The oldest is in first grade and is benefiting from the great teachers that are in our public education system.

I feel honored to have this opportunity to run for the House District 20, representing the Democratic party. I am running because I believe that our state government has lost touch with the goals of the people of Utah. I want to bring the voice of the citizens back into office. Please feel free to contact me anytime you wish. I do want to hear what you think and what you have to say.

To visit Kyle's blog click here.

Bill Hansen Announces Campaign for Utah State Senate, District 19

North Ogden- Bill Hansen (D), 41, a Weber County Sheriff’s Deputy and former Wasatch Front business manager, will challenge Senator Allen Christensen for Utah State Senate, District 19.

Bill Hansen was asked to run for the State Senate by fellow cops, teachers, and local business owners that are members of both political parties. Hansen believes it’s important to step up when you’re asked and feels it’s a privilege and honor to represent the Democratic Party in this race.

Bill Hansen believes the current incumbent must be held accountable for his decisions that placed funding for priorities such as locking up criminals, education of our children, and preserving our open space at the end of the list. Important goals are difficult to accomplish when our elected officials act in their own self-interest and cater to special interest groups.

Bill Hansen will listen and act in the best interest of Utah citizens. He will provide openness and proper representation, especially when addressing issues like property taxes, unlike that of the current incumbent.

Bill Hansen plans to fight for issues that the people of Weber, Morgan, and Summit counties overwhelmingly favor, which have been consistently ignored by the current republican-dominated State Senate.

Bill Hansen strongly believes it is important to unite our community and take action to improve education, strengthen the economy, conserve open space, and fight crime for the future our generations to follow. His campaign will promote the ideals that all men and women are children of God, created equal, and deserve the right to be represented fairly.

Electing Bill Hansen, a Democrat, will bring true MODERATION to government, which is strongly needed.

Paul Pugmire Announces Run for Salt Lake County Council

SOUTH JORDAN – South Jordan Planning Commissioner Paul Pugmire announced his candidacy for Salt Lake County Council, District 2 on March 14, 2008. Pugmire, a Democrat, is the former President of the Rexburg, Idaho City Council.

“I have been a leader in managing and planning for high community growth,” Pugmire said. “My family and I are a part of that growth on the West Side since we came back to Utah and I think more can be done for the West Side as it grows.” Pugmire is a Utah native who moved to Daybreak in South Jordan with his wife, Brooke, and their children after successful career stops in Idaho and Arizona.

“Transportation issues on the West Side are huge,” Pugmire said. “A toll-free Mountain View Corridor is vital, and both air quality needs as well as improving West Side route options demand that it include mass transit components from the start. I can see the brown cloud over I-15 from my neighborhood. We cannot let that happen to children and families of the West Side.”

“County government faces potentially large changes at a time of unprecedented growth on the West Side. As the townships consider their incorporation and annexation options everyone in the County could be affected in areas such as public safety and taxation. Meantime, there’s great uncertainty in education with the school district split and opportunities for neighborhood parks in the townships have sat idle for years. The West Side clearly needs a stronger voice,” Pugmire said.

In addition to his work on the South Jordan Planning Commission and the Rexburg, Idaho City Council, Pugmire’s government experience includes working as both Capitol Hill and district staff to U.S. Representative Richard Stallings (D-ID), as Assistant to the Minority Leader of the Arizona House of Representatives and as having been appointed by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford to lead the hugely successful effort to save Major League Baseball Spring Training in Arizona.

Pugmire was born in Provo and is 49 years-old. He is married to Brooke. Their children are Preston, 26; Matthew, 22; Tanner, 18; Madison, 15; Eli, 12; and Ashtyn, 10. The Pugmires will welcome Preston’s fiancé, Corine Bell, to the family in two weeks. Lucy the dog is 4 but doesn’t act her age. Pugmire is Vice President of Communications at Sector 10, a Bluffdale-based emergency equipment manufacturer.

School Board attorney files to run for attorney general

SALT LAKE CITY— Jean Hill, an attorney for the State Board of Education, has filed to run for state attorney general.

"I am running for Attorney General of Utah because I believe in protecting the public interest,” said Hill. “When the AG and vast majority of the Legislature are from the same party, the public interest gets lost in partisan politics. However, with the combined talents of the attorneys in the AG’s office, the AG can do more, such as protect the vulnerable from predatory lenders or overzealous developers, or protect teens from dating violence, or protect the public coffers from legislation that does little more than generate useless and expensive litigation.

“I am running to protect the public interest and restore the balance necessary for good government.”

Legal advice Ms. Hill provided the Board of Education regarding implementation of a controversial voucher law was upheld by the Utah Supreme Court in June of 2007. The ruling paved the way for the November vote that threw out the law.

Comment from Democratic Party of Utah

“Democrats have struck gold. Jean has been at the top of our list of AG candidates for almost a year,” said Wayne Holland, chairman of the Utah Democratic Party. “Jean demonstrated her integrity and leadership last year when she took a stand against implementing vouchers and against the politically tainted opinion of the current attorney general.

“The current attorney general has politicized the office in service of his own ambitions,” said Holland. “Jean will bring a fresh spirit to the office; she will work for Utahns.”

Biography

Jean Welch Hill is an attorney for the State Board of Education. Since 1999 she has provided legal counsel to the Board, school districts, school administrators, teachers, parents, legislators and any one else with questions about public education law in Utah.

Ms. Hill also prosecutes educator misconduct cases before the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission, ensuring that educators who violate the public trust are no longer permitted to teach in this or any other state. She is a member of the National Council of State Education Attorneys and the State Advisory Board on Children’s Justice. She also serves on the Boards of Directors of Wasatch Community Gardens and the Law-Related Education Project.

Before joining the State Office, Ms. Hill worked as a high school history teacher at Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake and was an editorial writer and columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune. She attended the University of Utah, receiving a Bachelors of Science in Political Science and in Geography. Ms. Hill graduated from the University of Utah College of Law in 1995.

Ms. Hill has three children, Noah, Nathan and Samuel, and will celebrate her 16th wedding anniversary in May. Her husband, Ron Hill is a history teacher and coach at Judge Memorial.

John Rendell to challenge Buttars

WEST JORDAN - John Rendell announces his candidacy to run for Utah Senate District 10, the seat currently held by Chris Buttars.

“I believe it is time to restore dignity to West Jordan,” said Rendell, referring to Sen. Buttars’ recent controversy regarding what many believed were racist comments made on the floor of the Senate.

Rendell is vice president of information systems for VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc., a leading temporary physician staffing service. He is responsible for management, infrastructure, communications, and long term strategies in aligning technology with business goals. He is also Vice President of Development for PEHR Technologies, LLC.

He received a bachelors of science degree in information systems from the University of Utah and is a working on his Executive MBA at the University of Utah.

John is married to an elementary school teacher. They have two children. He has lived in district 10 for the past 19 years.

You can contact John at jrendell@gmail.com.