Utahns should examine how Dan Marriott and Wayne Owens treated taxpayers' money in their congressional votes, and look at how the men handled their own personal finances as well, before deciding whom to vote for in the 2nd Congressional district, Genevieve Atwood says.
Atwood faces a Sept. 11 GOP primary election against Marriott. Whoever wins there faces Democratic incumbent Owens in the November final election.
In addressing the Bonneville Kiwanis Club Wednesday afternoon, Atwood didn't cite examples of either Marriott's or Owens' private or public financial dealings. She just asked those gathered to look at the records and ask some questions.
In speaking about the huge budget deficit, Atwood said, "Look at their votes in Congress. They got us in this (deficit)." Marriott was the 2nd District representative from 1977 to 1985. Owens was elected in 1986.
Both men had legal skirmishes over their personal business dealings this year. Marriott was named in a lawsuit by a golf course architect who says Marriott owes him $25,000 for work done on a Springdale, Washington County, resort proj-ect. Marriott denies his firm owes the man any money and says the timing of the lawsuit stinks of politics. Financial filings with the U.S. House show Marriott's assets are much larger than his debts, excluding his personal home, and he's close to being a millionaire.
Also earlier this year, Owens briefly faced legal action by Zions' First National Bank over a personal loan Owens declines to discuss. He says the legal filing was a mistake and he settled the dispute with the bank the same day it was filed. Owens borrowed $115,000 from the bank, and the legal action took place after payment on the $91,000 balance fell delinquent. Financial filings with the U.S. House show Owens' debts outweigh his assets, excluding his personal home.
"If you want a change in Congress, send back a fresh face, not one of the `good ole boys,' " said Atwood.
While many are saying the major issue of the 1990s will be the environment - something Atwood says she knows and understands from her work as a geologist - she believes the main issue of the decade will be health care.
"We can't afford it. When health care costs take up 30 percent of business costs and grow at between 8 and 25 percent a year, it destabilizes business."