This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In the run-up to this year's general election, the editorial board of The Salt Lake Tribune has weighed in on a handful of the many choices that are before the voters in Utah.
This is done in keeping with the tradition of newspaper opinion pages offering their informed, though hardly infallible, judgment on matters of public import. It is but one factor for voters to consider as they make up their own minds, an offering we hope will be useful in weighing the reasons for and against each candidate or referendum, whether the voters agree with us or not.
And nothing is more important, and more open to the views of the general public, than the choice of which candidates will hold the reins of power and face with the issues that the editorials deal with all the rest of the year. In making these choices, members of the board examined the records and positions of the candidates, measured them against both our opinions and the view of the state as reflected in public opinion polls and met with each candidate face-to-face. Our choices for partisan races, we noticed after the fact, split evenly — four Democrats, four Republicans.
For those of you who have not already voted, here is a recap of The Tribune's 2016 recommendations:
• For president, Hillary Clinton (D)
As if the fact that she is not Donald Trump were not sufficient for this call, Clinton has built up an admirable record of public service and earned a reputation for an attention to detail, a willingness to work across party lines to accomplish things and a welcome incremental approach to making America more fair and its opportunities open to more people.
• For governor, Gary Herbert (R)
Now seeking election to the state's highest office for the third time, Herbert has demonstrated himself to be a patient, practical man who values the state's responsibility to its public schools, to building a balanced economy and who offered a reasonable Utah alternative to the Affordable Care Act that would have helped both the state and many of its less fortunate residents were it not for a short-sighted and intransigent Legislature.
• For U.S. Senate, Mike Lee (R)
The first-term senator has dug some potholes in his own path over the last six years. But he has also taken a welcome lead on such issues as a bipartisan criminal justice reform and expressed some brave skepticism of the nation's moves toward a surveillance state. His brand of conservatism, though not to everyone's liking, is popular in Utah. He is experienced and knowledgeable and Utah would be well served to keep him in office.
• For Congress, 1st District, Peter Clemens (D)
A doctor who is bravely challenging seven-term Rep. Rob Bishop, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, offers a much more reasonable and consensus-building approach to such issues as health care and public lands. He offers a welcome alternative to a congressman whose funding mostly comes from out-of-state corporate interests and who shows no appreciation of the wonders of Utah's public landscapes.
• For Congress, 2nd District, Chris Stewart (R)
Now seeking his third term in the House, Stewart's politics reflect the views of his deeply red district, and that gives him the political security and credibility to actually face such issues as immigration and Social Security reform with compromise proposals that might have a chance of becoming law.
• For Congress, 3rd District, Stephen Tryon (D)
Democratic challenger Stephen Tryon, retired Army officer and Overstock.com executive, deserves to unseat high-profile fifth-term congressman Jason Chaffetz. The Republican incumbent has great political skills, but he has mostly squandered them on investigative witch hunts that make, depending on your point of view, either compelling or embarrassing TV. Tryon, for his part, offers a more useful, centrist views on such matters as preserving Social Security and the Affordable Care Act.
• For Congress, 4th District, Mia Love (R)
The freshman lawmaker, the first Republican black woman elected to Congress, presents a powerful symbol for America just by showing up to work every day. And when she does, she shows tantalizing, if so-far unfulfilled, glimmers of an ability to work across party lines to deal with important issues.
• For Salt Lake County mayor, Ben McAdams (D)
The first-term Democrat has attacked a long list of complex and long-standing problems of governance and public service with enthusiasm and a devotion to apply hard data rather than political dogma to finding answers.
• Salt Lake County Parks Bond Issue, Yes
The $90 million effort to preserve open space and develop recreational uses around the county is worth while.
The rapidly growing school-age population has schools all over the district bursting at the seems. The $245 million for new and expanded schools is a must.
• Utah Constitutional Amendment A, Yes
Changes the wording of the state oath of office to say, "Utah," instead of the current "this state." Simple.
• Utah Constitutional Amendment B, Yes
Allows the State Schools Trust Fund to donate its "earnings," not just its the more narrowly defined, "interest and dividends," to help operate the state's schools. Wise.
• Utah Constitutional Amendment C, No
Allows the Legislature to give property tax exemptions to private business that lease such things as vehicles and office equipment to cities, counties and school districts. The state doesn't need any more code-complicating tax exemptions.
Election Day is Tuesday. In Salt Lake County and most of the rest of the state, the election is mostly being conducted by mail. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Monday. Or they may be hand-delivered to county clerks' offices or polling places Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the number of polling places in Salt Lake County and some others will be greatly reduced over past years. Salt Lake County is also one of a handful of jurisdictions where people who are not already registered to vote may do so at the polls on Election Day and cast provisional ballots.
Now, yours is the only opinion that matters. Vote.