Democrat Doug Anderson dropped in to Salt Lake Community College on Wednesday to formally announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Jake Garn.
Anderson, an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University; Rep. Wayne Owens, D-Utah; and Salt Lake resident Kyle Kopitke are seeking the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat."It's time for change, it's time for new leadership," Anderson told a crowd of about 100 people gathered at SLCC's College Center building. "Our leaders in Washington (D.C.) have failed us. They are more concerned with their perks and their pay than they are with the basic needs of the people of this country."
Anderson accused current members of Congress of being "aloof and insensitive" to the needs of real people. He said it is time to speak out concerning the "unfairness and greed" exhibited by elected officials in Washington, D.C.
"It's time to get rid of foul air, stale ideas and the boring and whining politicians," Anderson said. "1992 is an unprecedented opportunity for us to change Utah's and Washington's political landscape and make it work for all the people.
"It's our state, our country, our time and our turn," Anderson added.
Anderson said his focus will be on bringing excellence to education, creating jobs that pay enough, providing affordable health care, supporting tax breaks for the middle class and cleaning up air and water pollution.
"Government must be a force for good and a partnership with the people," Anderson said. And, he added, it should help all people reach their potential.
Anderson is currently touring the state hosting a series of town meetings to promote his candidacy. The effort began last week in southern Utah and continued in Logan and Ogden on Monday and Tuesday. It reached Salt Lake on Wednesday and included a campaign kick-off party at the Marriott Hotel.
The kick-off tour will continue in Davis County on Thursday and finish up Friday in Utah County and Provo.
Anderson has earned both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in economics from Utah State University. He did work on a doctorate degree in political economy and government at Harvard and completed studies for a masters degree in public administration at Harvard in 1978. He taught at Harvard before returning to Utah in 1989.