The Utah attorney general's race is wide open as the April 15 candidate filing deadline approaches, the latest Deseret News/KSL-TV poll shows. No favorites stand out yet.
Attorney General Paul Van Dam, a Democrat, has decided not to seek re-election this year, leaving the seat open.Pollster Dan Jones & Associates found that among the few attorneys considering the race, none has a clear lead and 60 percent of Utahns are undecided about how they will vote.
Michael Deamer, a chief deputy for former GOP attorneys general Robert Hansen and Vernon Romney, has 12 percent support, Jones found. Third District Judge Scott Daniels, who is stepping down from the bench in April to run, has 7 percent support. Solicitor General Jan Graham, one of Van Dam's top aides, has 8 percent support. And House Minority Leader Frank Pignanelli, D-Salt Lake, has 12 percent support.
Since the poll was conducted, Pignanelli has decided not to run for attorney general.
Daniels and Graham are Democrats, so there is a chance of a primary in that party. Another Republican may yet get in the race to face Deamer, although a number of GOP attorneys who have been approached have rejected the challenge, in part, Republican Party sources say, because of the relatively low pay.
The attorney general now makes $58,300. The 1992 Legislature seriously considered tying the attorney general's salary to that of a district judge - which will move to more than $80,000 this year.
But in the final day of the Legislature, lawmakers decided only to give state elected officials the same 3 percent raise other state employees will get this coming year.
While $58,300 is a good wage in comparison to most Utah salaries, it is woefully low for a partner in a large, successful law firm. Since there are more than 100 lawyers in the attorney general's office, the argument is that the attorney general should be better paid to attract someone who has run a large, private law office.
More than 20 of Van Dam's top attorneys now make more money than he does.
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(Poll)
Which of the following candidates for Utah Attorney General would you most likely support?
Attorney General
Michael Deamer (R) 12%
Frank Pignanelli (D) 12%
Jan Graham (D) 8%
Scott Daniels (D) 7%
Other 1%
Don't know 60%
Conducted March 3-4, 1992
Sample size: 604
Error: +/- 4.0%