For Republicans, the 3rd Congressional District is a heartache. So Republican, yet so out of reach. Why?
Probably a lot of reasons, one being named Bill Orton. But certainly the Utah County-based district has seen the conservative and archconservative wings of the GOP tear themselves apart. The 3rd District covers the west side of Salt Lake County, including West Valley City and the west half of Salt Lake City, all of Utah County and the counties to the east and south.It's history that's repeated itself even in the light of reason.
1994 may break the mold, in part because Dixie Thompson and Tom Draschil, the two Republicans facing each other in the June 28 primary, have less money, less time to talk about each other, and seem less inclined to do so.
Giving intraparty candidates only six weeks to bash each other instead of three months may be the saving grace. In fact, it was the 1990 disaster primary in the 3rd District between John Harmer and Karl Snow that left GOP state leaders anxious to move the primary election date.
It took a couple of years and a bad Democratic Senate primary in 1992 to get Democrats on board. But the Legislature last year agreed to move the traditional September primary election to June, and 1994 is the first June primary. It figures that a shorter primary season provides less of a chance for a party to hurt itself.
The stage is set for a similar confrontation in the 3rd District this year - with some Republicans wondering if the two GOP candidates will try to "out conservative" each other.
Except for the first 3rd District election in 1982, that process hasn't led to a Republican victory. And it has never worked well for the guy trying for the "most conservative" mantle.
In 1982, Howard Nielson ended up in the GOP primary with Ray Beckham. It was the first election after the creation of the 3rd District following the 1980 Census, and the district was clearly conservative Republican. Nielson and Beckham had a long primary battle that hot summer, with the underlying debate being who could better represent the conservative nature of Utah County and its environs.
As primary day neared, Beck-ham and his supporters started saying that Nielson wasn't conservative enough with Nielson countering that maybe Beckham was too conservative. Nielson won the primary and coasted to victory in November.
The much-disliked Harmer-Snow race of 1990 is probably the best example. Harmer, a lieutenant governor to former-California Gov. Ronald Reagan, had impeccable conservative credentials. Snow had been labeled a "moderate" Republican - with Utah County maybe being one of the few places where being called a moderate is a slur.
Despite his conservative ideals and smooth style, Harmer had numerous financial problems - much dwelled upon - and lost a bitter primary. But Snow was wounded in the primary, and district voters were put off by the GOP's high-handedness.
Unknown Democrat Bill Orton crushed Snow in the final election and won re-election in 1992, which had no GOP primary because attorney Richard Harrington won the Republican nomination in the state convention.
Beckham and Harmer both ran to the right of the political scale, and both lost primaries.
Thompson and Draschil both say they aren't in the same boat - they argue that Beckham and Harmer lost for reasons other than their conservatism.
While Thompson touts her conservatism and says she and Draschil aren't that far apart on the issues, Draschil appears to be on her right.
A number of the same people who supported Harmer support him. He was nominated in the state GOP convention by Gayle Ruzicka, head of Utah Eagle Forum, a conservative family values group. Draschil, in his position papers, supports phasing out welfare (letting charities take over helping the very poor and destitute). He opposes any kind of gun control, including banning of assault rifles, saying one reason America has remained a free Democracy for 200 years is because the citizenry owns guns.
Thompson also opposes any restrictions on the right to bear arms and is certainly on the right when it comes to federal land issues. (Thompson is an Emery County commissioner). She also says welfare as we know it today must be eliminated. But she isn't from Utah County, and one of her supporters says "it appears that they (conservative Utah County Republicans) just have to have their own candidate, no matter what."
"Because of the fiasco we saw in 1990, I'm not going to criticize (Tom). We're both good Republicans," says Thompson. However, she says it does appear that Draschil is trying to capture the right wing of the party, "I don't think he'll be successful." Even if he pulls the right wing to him, "that's not the way to win" against her or Orton, Thompson says.
Draschil says he's not targeting the party's right wing. "I'm going after every vote regardless where." Is he the more conservative? Will playing to that tact help him? "That kind of stuff is too complicated for me. Sometimes (the most) conservative (candidates) win, sometimes they lose. I think I am (more conservative) on some constitutional issues (than Thompson), and the debates we've had show that. I'm just stating my issues." Draschil says he'll let the people decide where he fits on the political spectrum.