For months, the Utah political rumor mill has been alive with talk of Sen. Scott Howell's plans for the 2000 election. Pundits have mentioned him as a Democratic candidate for every office from governor to Congress.
Tuesday, Howell, D-Granite, announced he will run for the U.S. Senate seat now occupied by Utah icon and Republican Orrin Hatch. A new generation of citizens is looking for a political choice, Howell, a 10-year veteran of the Legislature and the Senate minority leader, said before a press conference at the Capitol."It's you and me, senior citizens and the 'Net' generation," he said. This last group is identified with politics but not necessarily with a political party. They are fiscally conservative and socially conscious, and these are just the people Howell says are looking for someone more in-tune with what's going on in today's world.
"This is about a new perspective and a new vision," Howell said. "It's about not using the past to solve today's problems. The new millennium brought about a lot of new change and people have realized, these aren't the same old issues."
Howell is the only Democrat registered for the seat. Hatch faces GOP contender Greg Hawkins, who has aggressively challenged Hatch by gathering delegates and support in an early bid for the seat.
"I think we're all being presumptive to assume Hatch will be the opponent. Stranger things have happened in convention battles," Howell said. "We are not taking it all for granted at all."
Both Howell and Hawkins note Hatch's 24-year span in office. Hawkins has observed that when Hatch ran and beat 18-year veteran Frank Moss in 1976, Hatch argued that 18 years was too long in office. Howell said Hatch once said, "Seniority for seniority's sake serves no useful purpose."
"I guess I believe my opponent," said Howell, 46, who was a junior at the University of Utah when Hatch took office.
Howell made the decision to run with his wife, Linda, and four sons in a family meeting. Bryan, 21; Bradley, 19; Jason, 15, and Jeffery, 11, all voted to support their dad in his run for the office.
In addition, he began discussions with Utah Attorney General Jan Graham months ago to evaluate who was best suited to run for the U.S. Senate seat. Graham announced in February she would not run for the office, and Howell's name was batted around at that time. Howell was elected to the state Senate in 1990. After redistricting in 1992, Howell won the Senate District 8 seat that covers Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Murray, Alta and parts of unincorporated Salt Lake County. His progress in this diverse district helps make him the best candidate for the U.S. Senate, he said.
"We've seen a number of improvements," during his years in office, Howell said, noting fewer students-per-teacher in school classrooms, increases in teacher pay and technology in classrooms and throughout the state.
"I'm very proud of what I've accomplished in this job." He also leaves the Senate in the best Democratic shape in recent history, with strong leadership in Sens. Millie Peterson, D-West Valley City, and Paula Julander, D-Salt Lake City, he said. He also applauded Senate leadership and Gov. Mike Leavitt.
Attorney Jim McConkie is running for Howell's vacated state Senate seat.