The poll was commissioned by the Salt Lake County Republican Party. Chairman James Evans said the surveys, being conducted in several districts, are not "push polls" - which contain questions designed to create a bias against a candidate - but "persuasive I.D. polling."
Evans said the Democratic Party did similar polling in September, asking questions that would create a bias against Republican legislators. Democratic Party Executive Director Todd Taylor said then that the questions were designed to identify voters who might vote for Democrats for later get-out-the-vote efforts.
"We're just doing the same thing they did," Evans said.
Let them eat squash: A state health department employee who grows pumpkins for a hobby proudly brought an 84-pound pumpkin AND announced he would raffle it off, for a $1 a chance, with proceeds from the raffle going to buy toys and supplies for the health department's day care center for its employees.
Oops. He must have forgot this is Utah. Department brass worried the raffle would violate the state's anti-gambling laws and called the charity off.
Hitting the most vulnerable: The hard economic times came close to claiming as victims the thousands of intellectually disabled Utahns who rely on charitable organizations to help them have a decent lifestyle.
The ARC of Utah, which has provided that community with numerous services for 50 years, has temporarily closed its doors and is reorganizing in a desperate attempt to keep the programs alive that assist families of people with Down syndrome, autism and other disabilities.
After finding itself about $50,000 in debt, the board has dismissed the 10 paid employees, including the executive director, and will operate with an all-volunteer staff, said Board President Grace Acosta.
To help fund its programs, ARC of Utah has several trucks that go around the valley and pick up donated clothing, furniture and other items, then give those items to The Thrift Town store in Salt Lake County, which then sells them and splits the profits with ARC. But rising gas prices and health care costs have gutted its budget. The paid employees also had benefits.
Besides the rising costs, the stricken economy also has led to a drastic decrease in contributions to the nonprofit charity. Acosta said the agency's $50 memberships have gone from 187 to 33 in one year. And the $4 million the Legislature appropriated to help the hundreds of disabled people get off a waiting list for services was cut in half during its recent budget-slashing special session.
ARC of Utah still has its Web site and, board members say, will rise from the ashes to continue services to those who most need them.
