While many expect the 1992 Senate race to be the most expensive ever in Utah, Republican Brent Ward is aiming to keep his campaign as bare-bones as possible.
"The high cost of campaigns has been on people's minds. It turns them off. They've had enough of the high cost of campaigns and government. What they want is action," said Ward, a former U.S. attorney for Utah.So he left his job at Huntsman Chemical three weeks ago to begin campaigning full time. But his campaign consists mostly of simply going out and talking to as many people as possible - which he says is low-cost and responsive.
"I take a yellow pad with me and make notes on what people say. It's a yellow-pad approach instead of a poll approach," Ward said. "I don't plan on taking any polls. I consider that the lazy man's way of finding out what people think."
He adds, "I've found people are unhappy with extravagant campaigning. I'm no millionaire, and I haven't got the money to put into my own campaign. So my campaign will be austere because of that and because people are demanding austerity in these times."
Several of Ward's opponents in the Senate race are millionaires and have openly vowed to use much of their own money if necessary. That prompted many to speculate the Senate race could be the most expensive ever.
Among the millionaires in the race are Republican Joe Cannon, former Geneva Steel president; Republican Robert Bennett, former head of the Franklin Institute; and Democrat Douglas Anderson, a former Harvard professor who has vowed to lend his campaign up to $1 million if necessary.
Also in the race is Rep. Wayne Owens, D-Utah, who is not a millionaire but who has shown in past campaigns the ability to raise large amounts of money. He waged the first $1 million House race in Utah's history last year.
The race also includes some other non-millionaires such as Republican Ted Stewart, chairman of the Public Service Commission; and Democrat Kyle Kopitke.
Ward said he has been targeting former delegates to the State Republican Convention in his early campaigning but has also been appearing at several cottage meetings people have organized to meet him.
He said people are telling him they are frustrated with Congress. "They think it is paralyzed. They don't like the perks it gives itself. They are upset at the (Clarence) Thomas hearings fiasco. Congress is too interested in protecting the status quo and not earning its keep."
Ward said he plans a formal campaign kickoff in another month or so after he has had more time to talk to more people. But he has filed campaign organization papers with the Federal Election Commission in Washington.