Bountiful City Mayor endorses the Better candidate

Standard Examiner

Bountiful mayor endorses (shudder) a DEMOCRAT!

Last updated

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - 10:03pm

BOUNTIFUL -- Joe Johnson isn't on the ballot this year, but that isn't stopping the nonpartisan Bountiful mayor from being a topic of conversation when it comes to the Nov. 2 general election.

Johnson has verbally endorsed Democratic candidate Richard Watson in his bid for the open House District 19 seat. His endorsement is an irritant to the Davis GOP.

"I'm very disappointed," Davis County GOP Chairwoman Shirley Bouwhuis said upon hearing Johnson had endorsed a Democrat.

Johnson, who is in China representing the city of Bountiful in connection with the International Organization of the Preservation of Folk Art, confirmed via telephone he has endorsed Watson in his race for a House Seat.

"Absolutely correct," Johnson said.

"I have a right to make an endorsement," he said of his backing Watson. "(Watson) has been really engaged in what is happening in Bountiful."

Watson has provided the city with many volunteer hours serving on its Community Services Council, Johnson said. Besides that, Watson is a friend, he said.

However, Johnson's endorsement of his Democratic friend has dropped some Republican jaws.

Based on county voting records, Johnson is a registered Republican, Davis County Clerk/Auditor Steve Rawlings said. Johnson is not the first nonpartisan elected official in the county to endorse a candidate in a partisan contest, Rawlings said, a right Johnson gets to exercise like any other individual regardless of party affiliation.

"I'm a Republican, and I support the Republican nominee in every race," Bouwhuis said.

Watson is facing Republican Jim Nielsen and Constitution Party candidate Reldon White to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful. Allen also crossed party lines, as she's running for lieutenant governor with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Corroon.

Watson said that, over a lunch with Johnson, he did receive the verbal endorsement of the mayor. That resulted in Watson's placing a campaign sign in the front yard of one of Johnson's rental properties.

Watson, a longtime Democrat who has made unsuccessful bids for other offices, said Johnson's endorsement of his campaign means everything, since he has been working with the mayor on Bountiful city's Community Service Council.

Supporting a Democrat in what is a county heavily dominated by the GOP, Watson admits, takes a strong personality, a trait Johnson is known to have.

"When (Johnson) stands for something, he will let you know. He says what he thinks," Watson said.

The much-talked about endorsement surfaced at recent meet-the-candidates nights, Watson said.

Councilwoman Beth Holbrook, who attended the same luncheon in which Johnson gave Watson the endorsement, said Johnson indicated he would endorse Watson because for two years Watson has performed voluntary community service as chairman of Bountiful's Community Service Council. That council oversees activities such as concerts in the park and the emergency preparedness fair.

Johnson indicated he felt that service should be taken into consideration, Holbrook said.

In addition to Johnson, two members of the Bountiful City Council also have endorsed his candidacy, Watson said. Holbrook said she is one of those council members.

Check Out Richard Watson's Website, "Moving Forward"

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other."

John F. Kennedy

WHAT IF ...

A viewpoint for change

What if Davis County had an Economic Development plan that makes sense? Today, we hear local politicians put the cart before the horse as they promise to relocate companies to our local cities. Believe it or not, tax incentives are not what attract businesses to relocate. Simply put, most local governments around the country offer incentives for businesses to relocate. And businesses know they can negotiate with a municipality no matter where they relocate. Then what is it that draws a business to move?

Planning for economic development is similar to a puzzle with many pieces. And one key reason a company will relocate to a certain area is the quality and welcoming atmosphere of local public schools. Not only does a company want the best public school system for their employees, great public schools also produce a potential, future workforce. Employers value the importance of public education.

Indeed, we are proud of what our public schools accomplish for what little funding they receive. But instead of having good public schools… What If Utah had the best public schools in the nation? It is a goal we can attain if we adopt a few changes in policy that reflect the principles of educating our children today and for future generations.

What if…

• Teachers, parents and students work together towards educational success.
• Schools had smaller classrooms to concentrate more on the potential of individual students.
• The core curriculum base better prepared students for post-high school education.
• Improved assessments measured the quality of teachers and students.
• Improved community involvement resulted in more local control.
• Public Schools implement changes that make sense for Utah.
• The public had more accountability and more educational options within public schools.
• Compensation plans are improved to retain existing teachers and to attract new teachers.
• Students are provided with equal opportunities throughout Utah.

(Source: Utahns For Public Schools and Utah Foundation report on low per-pupil funding in Utah 5/29/08)

Moving Forward …with Better Public Schools

Richard's Site...

Thad from Woods Cross Citizen recently went to lunch with Richard. You can read about it on Thad's post titled, "I had lunch with a Democrat!"

Enjoy!

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

Davis County Clipper Party Lines: Both sides dig in over voucher debate

By Richard Watson

Last week, Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General, offered his own legal opinion on the proposed referendum for citizens to vote on the private school voucher program. According to Mr. Shurtleff, even if Utah voters choose not to support vouchers, the voucher program may stand on its own. What Mr. Shurtleff is referring to is another bill, HB174 which is an amendment bill to HB148. In his opinion, HB174 would keep the voucher program intact, even if voters reject the voucher program as stated in HB148. In spite of that, Shurtleff is saying that there is nothing we can do and that the petition drive might be a waste of time. In other words, the top elected Utah Republicans could care less what the people of Utah want.

Shurtleff also commented that there may be some constitutional questions over the legitimacy of the voucher program. Even with legal questions, according to our Attorney General, HB174 adjusts the previously passed voucher bill with “sensible” amendments along with “mitigation monies” which would help the voucher program to continue.

Fortunately, other legal opinions are in favor of the “people”. A former Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice, Michael Zimmerman, cites that the Utah Constitution forbids using public funds for religious education. Other attorneys also agree with Zimmerman and believe the voucher program will more than likely be defeated in the courts. What’s more, the Florida Supreme Court struck down their voucher program for the same constitutional reasons.

But regardless of what the legal questions are surrounding vouchers, a more important question needs to be addressed. What about the will of the people? Over the years, so many polls have shown that Utahns are against private school vouchers. Yet, our elected leaders and Republican controlled legislature are comfortable in ignoring what the citizens want. Instead of “We the People”, Republican lawmakers believe that they “Are The People”. If our elected leaders feel that they represent Utah and they feel that vouchers are justifiable, then why are they worried about a referendum?

Yet, in the past few weeks, Parents For Choice (PCE) has sent letters to their Republican “friends” and urging all good Republicans to not sign the petition. Using their usual “evil liberal” vocabulary, they are implying that the “liberal” petition supporters are trying to overturn a law passed by the Republican-led legislature. The letter also states that the “liberal education unions” are trying to force their “liberal” agendas on our children. As I read the letter, sent out by Doug Holmes, PCE Chairman, I could not help but chuckle over his choice of words. Since when did underpaid teachers (“unions”) have a monopoly on education?

A quote from President Kennedy’s historian, John Kenneth Galbraith, sums up the intent of PCE and our Republican controlled Legislature. He said, “The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy: that is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.”

To read Republican Vice Chair Todd Weiler's article click here.

Speaking of Richard...

Read Richard Watson's Legislative Wrap Up

Another Legislative session is over. I have to admit, this year’s session was different than most of the past sessions we have had in recent memory. Unsurprising was the typical “back-slapping” gestures made by the Republican controlled Legislature at the end of the session. Republican lawmakers feel that they have given the state the best budget ever with more spending and with more tax cuts given.

Yes, they have done more than expected, but, it still was not enough to catch up with the rest of the country in taking care of public education. Yes, they are not perfect, but at the same time, Republican lawmakers still feel as if they know more than we do.

For instance, the increase in education funding was needed and appreciated, but more needs to be done. Because of the 20 years of neglect by our Republican led Legislature, we are still at the bottom of the country in per-pupil spending. Instead of a 4 percent increase, lawmakers should have given at least a 10 percent increase. Teacher salaries should have had at least $10,000 increase to even be close to our neighboring states in teacher compensation.

And of course, vouchers will undoubtedly change public schools for the worst. Vouchers were never about choice, it was about money and power for a few of the affluent. Public Education funding will have to be increased every year for the next several years to make any difference and a one-time funding increase is not the answer. Republican lawmakers remind me of a story from one of the Blue Collar comedians when he bought jewelry for his wife because “that will shut her up…for a minute.” Yes, one-time spending on education should “shut-up” those teachers.

Other bills and issues were also dropped by the time the session ended as many bills were not discussed or voted on.

Many Utahns are scratching their heads as to why lawmakers did not address many of the issues Utahns care about.

Here are some of the bills and issues missed:

— SB155, the Energy Solutions Bill, gave the company more space to expand without government oversight. The Legislature and the Governor ignored the voice of the people.

— Sitting on their hands, the Republican Legislature failed to fund the Veteran’s Nursing Home in Ogden and their excuse was lack of “federal” money. Do Republican lawmakers care about veterans?

— Funding the Real Soccer Stadium ignored the voice of the people.

— More could have been done on health care issues because more and more Utahns are uninsured.

— Ethic reforms. More needs to be done for a transparent government.

Also, Republican lawmakers do not want to discuss the arm twisting and deal making that went on behind closed doors. Leadership passed the bills they wanted and ignored the ones they did not care about.

A Bernard Bailey quote fits our Republican lawmakers best when he said, “When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it.”

Representative Watson?

Does Representative Sheryl Allen know about this?