For the first time in 24 years, Rex Black will not be taking his familiar seat on the back row of the Utah Senate when the Legislature convenes in January.
The Salt Lake Democrat has been an institution in the Senate, a mentor to young senators on both sides of the political aisle and quite often a thorn in the side of the Republican majority.Black is not the only incumbent from Salt Lake County who won't be back. Sen. Stephen Rees, a Taylorsville Republican, decided not to seek re-election after 16 years in the Legislature, and Sen. Brent Richards, R-Riverton, was defeated at the Republican County Convention by Rep. R. Mont Evans, R-Riverton.
In fact, the only Salt Lake County incumbent on the ballot will be Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell, D-Granite, who faces a tough re-election bid against former state Rep. Robert Warnick for the District 8 seat in southeast Salt Lake County.
Vying for Black's District 2 seat is Rep. Pete Suazo, D-Salt Lake, who is being challenged by Republican James A. Waters. Suazo is favored to keep the west Salt Lake seat in Democratic hands.
In Rees' District 6 seat, Rep. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, faces a tougher-than-expected campaign against former state PTA president Mary K. Hammond. Along with the Howell-Warnick race, this one could go either way.
Evans will have an easier time keeping the District 5 seat in Republican control. He was challenged by Maury A. Modine, who was listed as both a Democrat and a Libertarian but has moved from the district.
The Deseret News mailed questionnaires to all eight candidates, seeking their positions on a variety of issues from transportation funding to government ethics reform, taxes, light rail, weapons laws, abortion and tobacco litigation, among other issues expected to take center stage in the 1997 Legislature.
For example, the most significant issue facing lawmakers will be how to fund expansion and renovations to I-15, whether to raise the gasoline tax, use bonds or try to pay for it with existing revenue.
Included in that debate will be the controversial light rail and the Western Transportation Corridor.
Also, lawmakers will be forced to grapple with how to fund transportation and still meet growth-related needs in water development, education and open spaces.
The following synopses do not include all of the candidate responses. Rather, they include responses to questions on which the candidates differed the most, or which the candidates considered of greatest relevance to the campaign.
SENATE DISTRICT 2
The District 2 race to replace retiring state Sen. Rex Black, pits fellow Democrat Pete Suazo against Republican James A. Waters. Black held the west Salt Lake seat for 24 years and held positions in Senate leadership.
Senate District 2 includes the Rose Park and Fairpark areas of Salt Lake City, plus the city's southwest areas generally between Redwood Road and 300 East.
Suazo says he's the better candidate because of the government positions he's held, including four years as a legislator. Waters says he's more conservative and, as a retiree, he can better relate to the aging population in District 2.
Pete Suazo
Address: 1307 Garnette Street, Salt Lake City
Age: 45
Occupation: Consultant with Pete Suazo & Asso-ci-ates
Experience: Served two terms in the Utah House as the representative from District 23. Suazo was administrative assistant to former Salt Lake Mayor Palmer DePaulis for six years and was a grant compliance specialist with the city for three years.
Personal: Wife Alicia, four sons.
Major issues: Balancing government with more Democrats is one of the three major issues facing the state, according to Suazo. "The plain truth is that Utah has become a one-party state. This situation limits varying viewpoints, limits effectiveness, limits balanced debate, and the outcome as a legislative body is compromised," he said.
The other two major issues that Suazo sees are the problems related to handling growth and crime. The main transportation corridor, I-15, has been allowed "to become so deteriorated that we are forced to rebuild completely . . . (it's) probably the worst example of poor planning," he said.
The state must commit to funding transportation needs, either through bonding or raising the gas tax. Suazo said his constituents would support "a modest 0.5-cent per gallon, (but) any more would likely cause too much of a burden, especially for those on fixed incomes."
As for crime, Suazo said more emphasis needs to be placed on prevention and intervention. "We as a society can pay and invest at the front end of life or we will all pay more at the back end with expensive and nonproductive incarceration," he said. But Suazo also said the state has neglected to provide sufficient detention facilities for juvenile offenders.
Concealed weapons: On the issue of the apparent conflict between the concealed weapon permit law and laws barring guns from schools, Suazo said the state should allow churches and businesses to ban guns from their buildings as well as schools.
James Waters
Address: 1252 W. Sunset Drive, Salt Lake City
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired from military after 44 years of active duty, including 14 with the Department of Defense, and from several businesses, including smelters, restaurants and a used-car dealership.
Experience: Held several offices in the Republican Party and is active in civic affairs.
Personal: Wife, Diane. One daughter.
Major issues: Street violence, affordable housing and health care are the three major issues Waters sees facing Utah today. He said street violence is an immediate problem that requires more funding for law enforcement. Over the long term, children need to be taught "what respect is," Waters said, and given reasons for not joining gangs. He said he supports dress codes and school uniforms if necessary.
More housing must be funded for the homeless, aged, sick and afflicted, Waters said. As for health care, he said there needs to be "a complete overhaul of (the) system . . . citizens are being ripped off by caregivers."
District 2 residents need a Republican in the state Senate since the GOP controls both houses of the Legislature, Waters said. A Democrat, he said, will have little power in a Republican-dominated Legislature.
"It's been over 50 years since they had a Republican senator. Now is the time to have a Republican senator to work with the majority," he said. "Maybe then we can have one Salt Lake City. Now we have two," the east side and the less influential west side.
Waters said he would decrease or reduce taxes if elected and said state income tax should be abolished. But he said he might vote for an increase in property taxes that support schools. Waters said he preferred long-term bonding over a gas-tax increase to pay for the renovation of I-15.
Concealed weapons: Waters said the state should keep guns out of school buildings. "No one in their right mind would take a gun to church," he added.
SENATE DISTRICT 5
Longtime GOP lawmaker R. Mont Evans is unopposed for the District 5 Senate seat now that Maury Modine, who had been running as both a Democrat and a Libertarian, has withdrawn after moving out of the district.
Evans, a state representative for 14 years, defeated the sitting state senator in District 5, Brent Richards, in the Republican convention last April by winning 84 percent of the delegate vote.
State Senate District 5 includes most of West Jordan south of 7000 South, plus South Jordan, Riverton, Bluffdale and unincorporated areas west of those cities, including Herriman and Copperton. All of West Jordan south of the Bingham Highway is within the district, as well as an area of West Jordan extending north to 7000 South between the Jordan River and about 3800 West.
R. Mont Evans
Address: 12867 S. 2200 West, Riverton
Age: 49
Occupation: Correctional administrator with the Utah Department of Corrections
Experience: Served since 1982 in the House as a representative of District 52; member of Riverton City Council from 1983-1986, and member of Riverton Planning and Zoning Commission from 1982-1983.
Personal: Wife, Cheryl, children, Amanda, 20; Nic, 16; Jonathan, 10; Elizabeth, 8
Evans said the biggest issues facing the state are transportation, crime and government reform.
He called for prioritizing funding to meet transportation needs, and said he might support a gas-tax increase if he was assured that locals roads would also receive money. Evans said he is opposed to providing money for light rail.
As a Utah Department of Corrections administrator, Evans said he sees a need for tougher sentences for criminals and the construction of more prison bed space.
There also needs to be more disclosure by public officials and fewer closed-door meetings, Evans said. He said he would vote for requiring full disclosure of all gifts given to legislators by lobbyists, as well as greater disclosure of legislators' conflicts of interest.
SENATE DISTRICT 6
When Stephen Rees stepped down recently as the state senator from District 6, fellow GOP lawmaker and candidate Michael Waddoups was appointed to fill the remainder of his term.
Waddoups, a member of the Utah House for 10 years, and longtime lobbyist Mary K. Hammond, a Democrat, both are campaigning to be elected to the state Senate seat held by Rees since 1987.
Senate District 6 includes areas of Taylorsville, Kearns, West Jordan and Oquirrh generally from the Jordan River west to 5600 West between 5400 South and 7000 South, extending north to about 4800 South between 3200 West and the Jordan River, and extending south to the Bingham Highway west of about 3800 West.
Michael Waddoups
Address: 2005 West 5620 South, Taylorsville
Age: 48
Occupation: Property manager for Cooperative Property Man-age-ment
Experience: Served in the Utah House for 10 years, chairman of House Rules and Transportation committees, and the weapons task force. House majority whip.
Personal: Wife, Anna Kay; daughters Wendi, 21; and Heather, 18
Major issues: "Transportation, crime and economic development are the three major issues facing state government today. There needs to be a better bus system, expressways and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. The state should encourage neighborhood watch programs and provide secure jail space to keep criminals locked up. And taxation must not be allowed to discourage business growth and investment."
Campaign disclosure: Would vote against full disclosure of lobbyists' gifts to lawmakers, against more disclosure of conflicts of interest, and against campaign-finance reform. "Current disclosure laws have been debated and provide the information desired by the public."
Taxes: Would never vote for increases in sales, state income or property taxes but might vote for increase in gasoline or other fuel taxes. Believes growth and inflation should provide enough additional revenue to meet government's needs without increasing current tax rates.
Paying for I-15: "I-15 is a major component of future growth and development. The expansion must be done. A tax will be necessary because transportation funding has not kept up with population growth. I recommend a flat percent increase combined with moderate bonding."
Why he is better qualified: "I have 10 years legislative experience and have established a rapport with my fellow legislators. I meet regularly with constituents and do an annual survey of my constituents' desires and opinions."
Mary K. Hammond
Address: 3707 W. Pensacola Circle, West Jordan
Age: 53
Occupation: Parenting skills instructor with the Utah State Office of Education
Experience: Ran for this office in 1992; 13 years as a state PTA officer; lobbyist for both the PTA and the disabled. Returned to school after 30 years, honor student in political science at the University of Utah.
Personal: Husband, John A.; five children, one daughter-in-law, one grandson
Major issues: Crime, gangs and violence are the three issues that got the most attention in a survey of District 6 voters. The state must address the problem of inadequate jail and prison space. Also, citizens must take a more active role in ensuring safety in their neighborhoods. Plus, there needs to be more police officers, and they should be paid enough to support their families.
Campaign disclosure: Would vote for full disclosure of lobbyists' gifts to lawmakers and for greater disclosure of conflicts of interest. Would also vote for campaign-finance reform that could limit the amount of money candidates receive from special interest groups "if you can tell us how to finance a campaign and get information out for less cost."
Taxes: Would vote for an increase in sales taxes "only if the need was critical and there was no other choice. In fact, I wish we could find a way to remove sales tax on food." Would like to make state income taxes less regressive. Would for vote increases in property and gasoline taxes if needed.
Paying for I-15: "Utahns are going to have to face reality . . . If we want something, we have to be willing to pay for it. We can either pay through a gasoline tax or through bonding or through a combination of both. The people who use the roads should be willing to pay for them."
Why she is better qualified: "I believe with my background that I am much more sensitive than my opponent to the needs of education, the health, safety and welfare of children and youth and know more about what parents believe needs to be done to create an atmosphere where their families can thrive."
SENATE DISTRICT 8
Historically, Senate District 8 in southeast Salt Lake County has been a Republican seat. That was until six years ago when Democrat Scott Howell upset veteran Republican Sen. Richard Tempest and then followed that up two years later by defeating Sen. Fred Finlinson, also a Republican.
In his six years in the Senate, Howell has risen to be the minority leader as a moderate Democrat who often supports Republican issues. Now, former state Rep. Robert Warnick is hoping to win the seat back for the GOP by reminding voters that he, not Howell, is the Republican.
District 8 encompasses the Cottonwood Heights and Little Cottonwood Creek Valley area between Fort Union Boulevard and the Sandy city limits, Union, a small section of Sandy between 1300 East and Visconti Drive, Cottonwood area south of 5900 South and west of 1300 East, Murray south of 5900 South and Bullion Street, Midvale north of Center Street, Granite, Alta and Brighton.
Scott Howell
Age: 43
Address: 9711 S. 3725 East, Sandy
Occupation: IBM executive
Personal: wife Linda, four sons
Experience: State senator since 1990, Senate minority leader since 1992.
Major issues facing the state: Transportation, education and crime. "Transportation problems, increased crime and overcrowding in schools are natural growing pains of a state with a booming economy. And I believe that during a year of budget surplus, we shouldn't be so quick to decide how we should return the funds as we should be in planning how that surplus can be earmarked to accommodate the tremendous growth we have been experiencing."
Do you support a gasoline-tax increase to pay for freeway construction? "No, with exception. My first choice, should transportation funding problems turn into a crisis situation, would be to put any surplus into transportation. I would only consider gasoline-tax increases as the very last and only alternative."
Would you vote for other tax increases? "No."
Do you support tax monies being spent on light rail? "No."
Do you believe churches, schools, government entities and businesses should have the right to ban guns from their premises? All should have the freedom to express their own policies with regard to guns. "This should not be mandated by government."
Should the Legislature pass more-restrictive abortion laws, even if those laws are challenged in the courts? "No."
Do you support efforts by the attorney general to sue tobacco companies to recover taxpayer funds used to treat smoking-related illnesses? "Yes."
Why are you better qualified than your opponent to hold this seat? "I have a strong knowledge of current problems in our communities. With my technological background, I can continue to create a link between the business community, our government and our schools."
Robert Warnick
Age: 59
Address: 7787 S. Mountain Estates Drive, Salt Lake County
Occupation: Real estate broker and freelance writer
Personal: wife Carol, four children.
Experience: Former state representative for one term, and elected to American Fork City Council and the Utah County Commission.
Major issues facing the state? Excessive taxation, transportation and juvenile crime. "Hold the line (on taxes), privatize services, expand I-15, restructure the UTA system, more severe penalties (for juvenile offenders), better rehabilitation and consistent judicial decisions."
Do you support a gasoline-tax increase to pay for freeway construction? "Yes, if it is the only alternative to resolving traffic congestion problems. My preference would be bonding for transportation if it can be done without raising (tax) rates."
Would you vote for other tax increases? "No."
Do you support spending tax monies on light rail? "I oppose light rail . . . and we need to see if the federal funds can be used for other transportation projects."
Do you believe churches, schools, government entities and businesses should have the right to ban guns from their premises? "Yes."
Should the Legislature pass more-restrictive abortion laws even if those laws would be challenged in court? "Yes."
Do you support efforts by the attorney general to sue tobacco companies to recover taxpayer funds used to treat smoking-related illnesses? "No."
Why are you better qualified than your opponent to hold this seat? "I have experience at the state, county and local levels of government in both elected and appointed positions. I better represent the political philosophy of the residents of the district. I belong to the majority party and the governor's party."