Salt Lake County voters have Republican primaries in six Utah House districts of the 31 that criss-cross the state's largest county.
There are no Democratic primaries Tuesday in the county, no Senate primaries here, either.Three of the House primary races involve incumbents. Reps. David Zolman, Lloyd Frandsen and David Hogue are being challenged by fellow Republicans.
The three other races are open seats for Republicans - GOP Rep. Robert Killpack will retire from his Murray district; Democratic Rep. Gene Davis will try to step up into the Senate from his House District 30, and Rep. Trish Beck, D-Sandy, faces the winner of the District 48 GOP primary.
Unlike some Utah and Davis county GOP races, there are no great ideological battles in the Salt Lake County contests.
Issues range more along the lines of who is doing the best job or who can better provide adequate representation as opposed to who is the true conservative or the wilting liberal.
Republicans haven't held the Davis or Beck seats in years. Beck is a freshman, having been appointed to serve out the term of long-time representative Kurt Oscarson, who died before the 1997 Legislature after an extended battle with cancer.
HOUSE DISTRICT 30
One political newcomer and a former state representative are vying for the seat vacated by Rep. Gene Davis, who is seeking a seat in the Utah Senate.
In the Salt Lake County GOP convention in April, Paul F. Mecham received 51 percent of the vote and Bryan J. Irving received 49 percent of the vote.
The winner Tuesday will be on the ballot in November with Democrat Jackie Biskupski and Independent American Marc Meals.
The district generally runs from 1300 South to 3600 South between 500 East and 1100 East; plus a southeast section of South Salt Lake west to State Street and south of Mill Creek; a section of Salt Lake City near 1500 East and 1700 South; and part of unincorporated Salt Lake County near 3300 South between 300 East and the Brickyard Plaza.
Bryan J. Irving (R)
Age: 33
Address: 838 E. Roosevelt Ave.
Occupation: general contractor
Personal: wife, Janeal, three children with one on the way.
Experience: Boy Scout leader, graduated from the University of Utah in finance. Has a master's degree in accounting.
What do you see as the major issue facing a legislator from Salt Lake County? "There are a lot of specific issues, but I want unified representation. A lot of times what happens is that when someone is meant to represent the people they end up representing a specific group and the rest of the people don't have the opportunity for representation."
Should state or local tax dollars be used to preserve open spaces from development? Why or why not? "I'm all for supporting parks and recreation and places where people can go that don't have the opportunity in the city. To go outside the city and populated areas and buy land just to have land sitting there that wouldn't be developed anyway I think is a waste of money."
Do you favor or oppose class size reduction funds for junior high schools? "I'm concerned about education generally and I think reducing class size is one way to make sure the children are getting the proper attention and specific needs met."
Do you favor or oppose reducing or eliminating the sales tax on food? If so, how can this be done? "It depends on where they get the money from. You've got to be able to balance the pie, and if the pie doesn't balance they're going to take it from somewhere. I'm not too excited about eliminating the sales tax on food if they're going to raise property taxes to make up the difference."
Paul F. Mecham (R)
Age: 60
Address: 849 E. Stratford Ave.
Occupation: management analyst for Utah Department of Commerce.
Personal: wife, Joan, seven children, 15 grand-chil-dren.
Experience: served in the Utah House of Representatives, 1979 to 1983.
What do you see as the major issue facing a legislator from Salt Lake County? "It would have to be crime and education. We coddle criminals. We don't prosecute them well. We don't make them serve the time they should. We give them more rights than the victims. In education, we need to emphasize the basics and reduce administrative overhead."
Should state or local tax dollars be used to preserve open spaces from development? Why or why not? "Yes, for the benefit of future generations."
Do you favor or oppose class size reduction funds for junior high schools? "I favor class size reduction if adequate funding can be found. Actually, I favor class size reduction at all levels if adequate funding can be found."
Do you favor or oppose reducing or eliminating the sales tax on food? If so, how can this be done? "I favor the reduction or elimination of sales tax on food if adequate funding can be found. It's a regressive tax. The economy is good right now and surplus dollars should be applied to this end."
HOUSE DISTRICT 39
Freshman Rep. Dave Zolman faces social worker Rick Berry in a GOP primary in this Taylorsville seat.
Berry says he's challenging Zolman not because the incumbent has fallen short, "but I just believed it was time that I got involved. I work for the state, and over the past several years I haven't liked what I've seen," says Berry.
Zolman says he was forced into a primary by just one vote in the county GOP convention. Berry "and I are pretty much alike on the issues," says Zolman, so he sees the race coming down to whether constituents like the way he's represented the district.
There's no Democrat in the race. The primary winner faces Libertarian Jim Dexter.
District 39 covers the center part of Taylorsville, generally between 4800 South and 6200 South. The eastern boundary is the Jordan River north of 5400 South; it is Redwood Road from 5400 to 6200 South. The western boundary is 3200 West north of 5400 South; it is 4015 West south of 5400 South.
Dave Zolman (R)
Age: 51
Address: 2108 W. Champagne Circle.
Occupation: Family historian
Personal: Married to Sheila Eve, nine children
Experience: Member, county legacy committee, centennial committee. Two years in Utah House. GOP voting district chairman.
What should be done with the state's concealed weapons law? It's OK the way it is.
Do you favor or oppose removing the sales tax from food? I favor removing the sales tax from food.
Where do you stand on building the Legacy Highway? Do you favor or oppose state tax dollars going to east-west light rail in Salt Lake County? We've had a number of frustrated constituents in this area who are against light rail and fearful of another vote (to raise taxes for the system). I'm not inclined to give it more money.
Do you favor or oppose class size reduction monies for junior high schools? I favor that.
Do you favor or oppose the new CHIP program of health care insurance for poor children? I voted for CHIP, although I know some out here (in the district) oppose the program.
Does the state have a role in preserving open space? Absolutely. In fact I sponsored a bill that would make (the state transportation department) declare surplus land that the city could use as a park.
Rick Berry (R)
Age: 42
Address: 5474 S. 3465 West, Taylorsville
Occupation: Social worker
Personal: Married with three children
Experience: Watches and understands how state government works at the basic level.
What should be done with the state's concealed weapons law? The current law is adequate. I'm concerned about the governor's administrative rule limiting (the carrying of concealed weapons by state employees).
Do you favor or oppose removing the sales tax from food? The sales tax should be eliminated from food.
Where do you stand on building the Legacy Highway? Do you favor or oppose state tax dollars going to east-west light rail in Salt Lake County? We need more than one (road) corridor into Davis County. But I'm concerned about wetland destruction. We need more than just one east-west light-rail spur, and the whole (light-rail) system must be efficient.
Do you favor or oppose class size reduction monies for junior high schools? Junior high classrooms are overcrowded, the teachers struggling. But we need efficiencies in all schools, as well.
Do you favor or oppose the new CHIP program of health-care insurance for poor children? Government can't do everything. CHIP should be evaluated so the most needy children receive health care; that's a bare minimum.
Does the state have a role in preserving open space? Seeing the huge development in the past decade, (the state) has to be involved. If not, (development) can overwhelm us.
HOUSE DISTRICT 44
With the retirement of three-term Rep. Robert Killpack, Republicans are hoping for an orderly changing of the guard. Voters will decide which of two young conservatives, Chad Bennion or Carlton Bowen, will try to retain the seat for the GOP in the general election.
Bennion, Murray's economic development coordinator, garnered 55 percent of delegates' support at the party convention. Bowen, public relations director for a national group seeking lower taxes through limited government, got 45 percent.
Democrat Gery Yengish and Independent American Bruce Bangerter also will be on the ballot in November.
House District 44 covers west and central Murray and north Midvale. It includes most of Murray west of about 400 East, plus an area extending east to 900 East between Little Cottonwood Creek and 5900 South. It includes Midvale north of Center Street and west of State Street. Its northern boundary is 4800 South.
Chad Bennion (R)
Age: 33
Address: 136 E. 4800 South, Murray
Occupation: Economic development coordinator, city of Murray.
Personal: Divorced, two daughters ages 4 and 2. University of Oregon graduate, political science/American studies, 1990.
Experience: Finished fourth in eight-person primary race for Murray mayor in 1997. Former chairman of the Murray Planning Commission. Served on the Murray Chamber of Commerce's governmental affairs committee.
Should the state clearly allow churches, public schools, colleges and private businesses to ban all weapons from their premises? "I want to look at all the details. . . . You do have property owners whose rights do need to be respected. I think a balance needs to be struck and I'm not certain right now where that balance needs to come. . . . We need to define it so it's clear and consistent."
Do you favor or oppose extending the light-rail mass transit system in Salt Lake County? If yes, would you be willing to allocate state funds to that effort? "I guess I'm waiting to see. I do have, I think, a healthy skepticism at this point about how light rail will operate and the success it will have. I'm not convinced yet that light rail will be the best solution."
Do you favor or oppose class-size reduction funds for junior high schools? "I do favor reducing the size of our classes because I think with a huge class you can't put the time in to assist the kids that need that attention."
Should state or local tax dollars be used to preserve open spaces from development? "Yes, providing there are merits to doing it because these are tax dollars and those dollars need to be spent responsibly."
Quotes: "I characterize myself as a fiscal conservative . . . I think we've got to keep spending under control more than anything . . . I am concerned about (Utah) becoming a repository for nuclear waste . . . Before I make up my mind on the issues, I do my homework."
Carlton E. Bowen (R)
Age: 29
Address: 193 N. Jefferson St., Midvale
Occupation: Computer technician, United Parcel Service.
Personal: Married to Linda Bowen. Two daughters, 6 and 2. One son, 4. Hillcrest High School graduate, 1996 Weber State University graduate, economics major with minor in political science.
Experience: One of seven people to seek Republican nomination for the 2nd Congressional District in 1996, eliminated at convention. Spent six years in the Air Force as an intelligence specialist. Former chairman of the Salt Lake County Teenage Republican Club.
Should the state clearly allow churches, public schools, colleges and private businesses to ban all weapons from their premises? "I believe the conceal carry law, as it currently exists, without amendment or modification, allows churches and other private property owners to prohibit concealed weapons from their property and premises if they so choose. So I do not favor amending or changing the current, existing conceal carry legislation in that regard."
Do you favor or oppose extending the light-rail mass transit system in Salt Lake County? If yes, would you be willing to allocate state funds to that effort? "I'm opposed to light rail being publicly subsidized. I think it's tremendously expensive, and the only way to make it operate with any efficiency is to make them pay their own way."
Do you favor or oppose class-size reduction funds for junior high schools? "I believe the most effective way to reduce class size is to introduce competition into the educational system, and I favor that through a tax credit for people who send their kids to private schools or home school, including secondary education."
Should state or local tax dollars be used to preserve open spaces from development? "I do not believe it is appropriate for the state to buy a bunch of land to manage as "open space." I favor private ownership of land over public ownership."
Quotes: "I just try to look at things as far as what's right and what's wrong and what's logical and reasonable based on fact . . . I consider myself a social conservative . . . If holding to traditional family values is radical, I guess I'm guilty as charged . . . A lot of people from my generation just aren't involved (in politics) and don't vote, and I think that's unfortunate, but I also know a lot of people who are my age and are very involved, and I think that's great."
HOUSE DISTRICT 48
Businessman Richard Perry and editor Brigitte Dawson face each other in a GOP primary in House District 48, which includes areas of Sandy.
Perry and Dawson are both newcomers to elective politics. The winner faces Democratic Rep. Trisha Beck, who after being appointed to the seat faces her first election this year as well.
Perry says educational reform is his main issue. He wants to make public schools competitive, pay teachers well who succeed in helping kids learn and provide tax breaks to parents with children in private schools.
Dawson says her strength is listening to people and "doing what the constituents want. I speak only for them."
The district covers Sandy and White City areas generally between 8600 South and Dry Creek from about 300 East to 1300 East, plus an east Sandy area between 9400 South and about 10400 South east to 2600 East.
Richard Perry (R)
Age: 48
Address: 2097 E. 10140 South, Sandy
Occupation: Owns KTALK radio and various real estate enterprises.
Personal: Married to Nancy Perry, 10 children.
Experience: Active in Republican politics and civic affairs.
Does the state's concealed weapons law need to be changed? No. It's appropriate as it stands.
Should the sales tax on food be removed? Yes, I'd go so far as to cut government spending to do that. And we should try to eliminate homeowners' property taxes, too.
Should the Legacy Highway be built? Should tax dollars go to east-west light-rail operation? No tax increase for light rail. The Legacy Highway should be built, but no new taxes for that.
Should class size reduction money go to junior high schools? I don't know enough about that issue to take a stand, but good teachers should be paid more.
Should the Goshute Indians be allowed to construct a high-level nuclear waste repository on their lands? I can't say now. They should be able to use their lands and not held down economically.
Does the state have a role in preserving open space? No, it's not the state's prerogative to do that.
Brigitte Dawson (R)
Age: 53
Address: Lives on Aplomando Drive in Sandy.
Occupation: Editor for the Utah Peace Officers Association magazine.
Experience: Board of directors, Salt Lake County Library. Instructor at the state police academy. Co-founder of an international police chiefs' wives association. Member, Governor's Advisory Council on Child Abuse.
Personal: Married to Sandy City Police Chief Sam Dawson, three children, two grandchildren.
Does the state's concealed weapons law need to be changed? No, as far as I can see there's no problem with it.
Should the sales tax on food be removed? I don't mind paying it when I shop at the grocery store. Either way (on or off), we're going to have to pay taxes.
Should the Legacy Highway be built? Should tax dollars go to east-west light-rail operation? No opinion on Legacy Highway, but I don't favor any more taxes for light rail.
Should class size reduction money go to junior high schools? "Yes, junior high school is where we need it; it's where we're losing these kids" to troubled lives.
Should the Goshute Indians be allowed to construct a high-level nuclear waste repository on their lands? "That's a tough issue. Basically I don't want that kind of stuff so close to us" on the Wasatch Front.
Does the state have a role in preserving open space? Yes, but only to a degree. The state should have some input on preserving open space.
HOUSE DISTRICT 50
Lloyd Frandsen, the incumbent, won 59 percent of delegates' votes to 41 percent for Janalee Tobias at the GOP convention in the south valley district.
Frandsen first won election to the House in 1974 while living in his native Panguitch and served two terms. After moving to Salt Lake County, he served two terms beginning in 1983, then made an unsuccessful bid for the party's nomination for county commissioner. He was appointed to fill a vacant House seat in 1988 and served a total of five years. He left the Legislature to work on his doctorate, then was elected again to the House in 1994.
Tobias is making her first run for office but has been active as a citizen in a number of causes. She has organized groups and protests against gun control, against light-rail mass transit and for the preservation of open space along the Jordan River in South Jordan.
Tuesday's Frandsen-Tobias winner will be on the November ballot with Democrat Dennis Fredette, Libertarian Charles Campbell Hardy and Independent Party candidate Drew Chamberlain. Tobias originally filed to run both as a Libertarian and a Republican but dropped her Libertarian candidacy before the GOP convention.
District 50 comprises all of South Jordan; southwest Sandy, south of 9000 South and generally west of 300 East; an area of Sandy between 9800 South and 10600 South extending east to 700 East; the southeast corner of West Jordan, south of 9000 South and east of 2700 West; a small area of West Jordan between 4300 West and 4800 West north to U-48; and the northwest corner of Draper, north of 12300 South and west of I-15.
Lloyd Frandsen (R)
Age: 50
Address: 9461 S. 2500 West, South Jordan.
Occupation: Owns medical claims consulting firm, Frandsen & Associates.
Personal: Wife, Suzanne, married 24 years. One son, 23, and three daughters, a 21-year-old and 17-year-old twins.
Experience: Legislative veteran. Was youngest member of 1975 Legislature when serving his first term. This is the third primary election he has faced in his political career.
Should the state clearly allow churches, public schools, colleges and private businesses to ban all weapons from their premises? "Yes. To me, it's a matter of balance. Take any principle in the Constitution and carry it to an extreme and it runs into another principle in the Constitution, and in this case it's property rights."
Do you favor or oppose extending the light-rail mass transit system in Salt Lake County? If yes, would you be willing to allocate state funds to that effort? "Right now, I favor that. As to whether or not I'd allocate funds for it, it's something I need to know more about."
Do you favor or oppose class-size reduction funds for junior high schools? "I'm definitely in favor of that. It's money well spent."
Do you favor or oppose the construction of the West Davis Highway? If yes, should the road be a toll road? "It's something we ought to consider. If we (build it) now, we can save taxpayers money down the road. . . . Making it a toll road ought to be seriously considered."
Quote: "Of all the people that have served (in the Legislature), I feel I have probably impacted more children in a positive way than anybody I know of."
Janalee Tobias (R)
Age: 35
Address: 1238 W. Jordan River Drive, South Jordan.
Occupation: Free-lance writer, safety instructor.
Personal: Married to Steve Tobias, a real estate broker and vice president for a development company. Two daughters, ages 9 and 7.
Experience: First run for office. Organized several citizens' groups.
Should the state clearly allow churches, public schools, colleges and private businesses to ban all weapons from their premises? "No. They should ban criminals from carrying weapons, they should not ban honest law-abiding citizens from carrying weapons because everyone has a right to protect themselves."
Do you favor or oppose extending the light-rail mass transit system in Salt Lake County? If yes, would you be willing to allocate state funds to that effort? "I oppose any light-rail extension. Clearly, the citizens of this district, by a huge margin, voted against any type of tax increase for light rail in 1992."
Do you favor or oppose class-size reduction funds for junior high schools? "I would be in favor of using state funds to reduce class size. I feel that the majority of (Utahns) favor reducing class size, especially for junior high because a lot of problems happen in junior high right now because they need extra attention."
Do you favor or oppose the construction of the West Davis Highway? If yes, should the road be a toll road? "I oppose construction of the (West Davis portion of the) Legacy Highway and destruction of the wetlands. I think there are other alternatives out there."
Quote: "I feel that if government really wants to find solutions and new ideas and ways to solve things, it needs to go to the citizens, the people who are driving the roads every day."
HOUSE DISTRICT 52
Freshman GOP Rep. Dave Hogue seeks re-election to this southern Salt Lake County district while Republican challenger Kerry Casaday says it's already time for a change.
Casaday is well connected to the party structure, serving as vice chairman in the Elephant Club, the top fund-raising unit of the state GOP. He's from Draper, and the district hasn't had a representative from there for years.
Hogue is from Riverton, the traditional heart of the sprawling district.
There is no Democratic Party primary here. The GOP winner will face Joe Evans, Libertarian; Sheldon Hansen, Democrat; and Lee McKenzie, unaffiliated, in November.
District 52 covers all of Riverton and Bluffdale; communities in far southwest Salt Lake County, including Copperton and Herriman; most of Draper, excluding its northwest corner, north of 12300 South and west of I-15 and excluding its northeast corner, north of 12300 South and east of 1565 East; plus portions of southwest West Jordan, generally west of 4800 West between the Bingham Highway and the Old Bingham Highway.
Dave Hogue (R)
Age: 54
Address: 13150 S. 2900 West, Riverton
Occupation: Business and security consultant.
Personal: Wife, Rebecca, seven children and three grandchildren.
Experience: Two years in the Utah House, 13 years in local banking.
What should be done with the state's concealed weapons law? We've had success with the current concealed weapons law; not change it.
Do you favor or oppose removing the sales tax from food? I have mixed emotions on that issue. It's a user's tax, and as it now stands I'd say leave it alone.
Where do you stand on building the Legacy Highway? Do you favor or oppose state tax dollars going to east-west light rail in Salt Lake County? I support the south (Salt Lake) valley portion of the Legacy Highway. I don't think the state should put any funds into light rail.
Do you favor or oppose class size reduction monies for junior high schools? I favor junior high class size reduction funds.
Do you favor or oppose the new CHIP program of health care insurance for poor children? I favor the CHIP.
Does the state have a role in preserving open space? Yes, and we must continue considering open space as part of planning for road and other state construction.
Kerry Casaday (R)
Age: 34
Address: 2039 E. Bearridge Circle, Draper
Occupation: Co-owner of a industrial packaging company.
Personal: Married. He and his wife, Holly, have four children.
Experience: GOP county, state and national delegate. Vice chairman of the party's Elephant Club.
What should be done with the state's concealed weapons law? It can't be a good law because it is still debated so much. But I'm wholeheartedly behind our Second Amendment rights. Everyone should be able to keep all weapons out of their homes.
Do you favor or oppose removing the sales tax from food? Yes, support removing the food tax.
Where do you stand on building the Legacy Highway? Do you favor or oppose state tax dollars going to east-west light rail in Salt Lake County? I was against light rail to begin with and still am. I question the alignment for the Legacy Highway (in the south valley). It should just run straight out on the west side.
Do you favor or oppose class size reduction monies for junior high schools? I favor it.
Do you favor or oppose the new CHIP program of health care insurance for poor children? As CHIP is set up now, I oppose it.
Does the state have a role in preserving open space? The state shouldn't be involved, that's the responsibility of local governments. If you own property, it's up to you to sell it or not.