Senate candidate Joe Cannon is assembling a campaign staff that is heavy on grass-roots know-how and Republican activism.
But one of Cannon's top campaign positions - campaign manager - is being filled by a good-old fashioned boll weevil Democrat: James T. Young.Young graduated from Brigham Young University in 1975. While a student at BYU, Young served an internship with former congressman Gunn McKay in Washington, D.C. He served as McKay's campaign manager in the 1976 congressional race.
Young also worked on gubernatorial campaigns for Scott Matheson and Ted Wilson. Crossing over the political aisle, Young worked on the campaigns of the current trio of Utah County commissioners, all Republicans. He also worked on campaigns for Utah County's Republican state legislators.
Today, Young classifies himself more as an Independent than as a Democrat and says, "I can match my record working for Republicans with any one out there."
"When I first became a Democrat, Democrats in this state controlled (all but one top office)," Young said. "In the last 10 years that's flipped around. Utahns are pretty independent. They switch around. I consider myself a mainstream Utahn."
Cannon is selecting his campaign staff based on their ability to help him get elected. Young is trustworthy, knowlegeable, a very good friend and "very, very good with people," Cannon said.
"The fact that he's been a Democrat in the past doesn't bother me a bit," Cannon said. "I have plenty of other Republicans working for me."
Young believes in "getting to know the issues and voting for the best candidate out there. Sometimes they're Republicans and some times they're Democrats."
This election season, Young's backing Republican Joe Cannon. "It's important for the campaign manager to know the candidate well, to know how to speak for him. I have as much of an understanding of him as anyone could have."
Young left his position Friday at Geneva Steel as vice president of corporate communications to work on Cannon's campaign. He's worked for Geneva for three years. Prior to joining the steel mill, Young was the director of the Utah County Travel Council.
As campaign manager, Young will be responsible for organizing supporters throughout the state and implementing Cannon's campaign strategy.
"We are working to set up the strongest grass-roots campaign ever," Young said.
Other members of the Cannon camp:
- Judy Schiffman, who has worked as an administrative assistant for Gov. Norm Bangerter for the past eight years. Schiffman will join the campaign Monday as manager of volunteers.
- Doug Foxley, attorney and free-lance lobbyist. He'll be chairman of the campaign.
- Former state senator Chuck Peterson, who'll be honorary campaign chairman.
- Pollster Richard Wirthlin, campaign strategist.
- Dorothy Boggs, personal assistant to Cannon.
Cannon has set up campaign headquarters in Jamestown Square, 3305 N. University Ave., suite 250. The campaign bought furniture and equipment from the now defunct Ruff Financial Services Inc. - or Ruffco - and is in the process of mobilizing volunteers, Young said.