SALT LAKE CITY — Republican businessman Jeff Burningham is the latest candidate for Utah governor to run a TV commercial.
“Utah politicians just passed a massive food tax increase. It’s time for new leadership,” the 30-second spot begins, then describes Burningham as a self-made businessman rather than a politician, and says he promises to modernize education and “keep Utah prosperous without sacrificing our way of life.”
TV commercials have already aired for two other GOP candidates in the governor’s race, former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes. Six Republicans are now vying for the office held by Gov. Gary Herbert, who is not seeking reelection after serving more than a decade.
The field also includes Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake County Commissioner Aimee Winder Newton and former Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who is retiring after eight terms in Congress, was announced as Wright’s running mate just days after ruling out a run for governor himself.
Burningham’s spokesman, Michael Jolley, said the campaign is spending $290,000 to air the commercials on both broadcast and cable television over the next few weeks.
”It’s my responsibility to make sure the voters have a chance to get to know me. It was important to me that we talk about education in our first TV ad because I strongly believe we have to get K-12 education right in Utah,” Burningham said in a statement. “We owe it to our kids to create a system that meets each child’s unique needs, and the future of our state depends on how well we prepare them for the jobs that exist and are coming.”