U.S. Rep. Merrill Cook shrugged off his loss in a civil trial during a debate on Saturday with two Republican challengers for Utah's 2nd Congressional District.
Delegates for the May 6 state Republican convention packed a room to hear Cook, R-Utah; Derek Smith and Jeff Wright debate who was more electable.
All three expressed support for fiscal restraint from government, elimination of the capital gains and estate taxes, local control over education and enforcement of existing gun laws rather than enactment of new laws.
"When we see a Columbine, when we see a tragedy that happens to our children, we want to react," said Wright. "But we have to be logical. We have to be reasonable. We need to be constitutional."
Cook's two challengers, especially Smith, each argued they are the candidate who could beat Democrat Jim Matheson, keep the seat Republican and retain GOP control of Congress.
"I'm here to talk about one thing: electability," said Smith, who filed to run for office on the last day. "I got in this race as many of you know at the last minute because I was looking for a candidate who could beat Jim Matheson and I didn't see him."
Cook is considered vulnerable by national Democrats trying to take over the House. He has been dogged by bad publicity, most recently on Friday when a jury ordered him to pay $174,471 in disputed 1996 campaign bills to former political consultant R. T. Nielson.
Cook noted the jury also decided Nielson wasn't entitled to a commission on money from political action committees. And Cook said Congress should ban "soft" money or unregulated campaign donations.
"Without campaign-finance reform, we can't break the back of special interests, and without breaking the back of special interests, we can't get real tax reform," Cook said.
The three candidates differed on a commuter line for the Wasatch Front and a new Legacy Highway to reduce Salt Lake traffic congestion.
Cook said a rail line is the best environmental option. Smith said the rail line wouldn't pay for itself. Wright said a commuter line should wait until after I-15 is widened in Davis County.
The debate was sponsored by the Sandy Republican Club.