-Republican Betty Bates, a candidate in Senate District 2, supports the tax initiatives calling for property tax limitation and income tax credits for parents with children in private schools. But Bates remains opposed to a third initiative that would roll back sales, cigarette, gas-oline and income taxes to 1986 levels.

Expressing her support for tax limitation, Bates said, "I feel Utah should not have sales tax on food, and I also believe that the sales tax is too high." Bates believes in "pay as you go" in terms of gasoline and cigarette taxes, which she said are necessary to pay for roads and major health-care costs.If the tax initiatives should pass, Bates supports cutting administration and consolidating school districts, more competitive bidding for school lunches, eliminating some courses not critical to a basic education and a 5-cent soda pop tax for education.

"But no cuts to our teachers or principals, who are the core to all education," she said.

The key to funding higher education is to help businesses expand in Utah and create a broader tax base. Consolidation and increased teacher hours were also suggested.

"It is difficult to attract new business when our tax base is so high," she said. "We need to expand and stimulate industry so that we can employ more people, which will expand our total tax base."

Bates supports expanding the state's tourism, including the ski industry and Great Salt Lake-related tourism.

Bonding has proven to be the best method to provide economic growth, Bates said, and will create more jobs. The increased spending will stimulate businesses in the private sector. Bonding also provides for future needs as the population increases.

In terms of AIDS legislation, Bates said she supports monitoring people with the deadly virus and warning people they come in contact with. "The disease is rapidly spreading throughout the land and we need to take steps now," she said.

Senate District 2 is bordered on the west by 56th West; on the north by the Salt Lake-Davis County line; on the south by 21st South west of Redwood Road and Big Cottonwood Creek east of the Jordan River; and on the east by a boundary that jogs from Beck Street to Third West, up West Temple to Ninth South, back to I-15, south to 17th South, east and south to 21st South, east to Fifth East, south to Mill Creek and then south on State Street to Big Cottonwood Creek.

-The three tax initiatives on the Nov. 8 ballot are poorly drafted and do not realistically address the problems facing the state, said Rep. Janet Rose, D-Salt Lake, who is running for re-election in District 32.

"We are struggling as a state economically, and this sends the wrong message and does not enhance our national image," she said.

While she opposes the tax initiatives, Rose does not support further tax increases. "Rather than raise taxes, we need to examine other factors to make our tax dollars go further; alternate sources of revenue need to be looked at. We need to collect all the back taxes owed. We need to prioritize our community standards and responsibilities and determine what we can and cannot afford."

But the state should not cut back on funding higher education, she said. Utah can't afford to let its universities deteriorate and become non-competitive.

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"Our universities are our showcase of progress and economic development," she said. "We must fund them adequately."

If the tax initiatives should pass, Rose suggests giving the remaining money to school districts and then letting each individual district decide where cuts are going to be made and what services they will do without.

In order to attract new business to Utah, "I would showcase our best qualities: Our family-oriented community, our universities, our educational system, our qualified work force. Any tax incentives would be short term and not become liabilities."

District 32 comprises unincorporated Salt Lake County north of Murray and south and east of South Salt Lake.

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