The Poplar Grove structural engineer has helped bring groups together to build the Provo/Jordan River Parkway and initiate projects at schools in his west-side community. He recently served two terms in the Utah House from Legislative District 26 and has worked on the Poplar Grove Community Council executive board and as president of the Poplar Grove Neighborhood Housing Services committee.
As a member of boards supporting Parkview Elementary and Edison Elementary schools, Fife helped secure funds for buildings and programs.
We agree with Fife's philosophy on education funding. He supports the Jones-Mascaro legislation that would reform Utah's antiquated income-tax system to provide more funding for education and he opposes tuition tax credits for families who send their children to private schools. His political experience, his community activism and his productive attitude of cooperation all influence us to endorse Fife in the Nov. 2 election.
Another reason is the lopsided makeup of the Utah Senate. It is currently so heavily Republican - 22-to-7 - that divergent viewpoints are easily quashed. Republicans also hold a veto- and filibuster-proof 56-to-19 majority in the House. Such imbalance is unhealthy.
Ironically, Fife's opponent, incumbent Sen. James Evans, is the first Republican to represent Senate District 1 in nearly 70 years. He was elected to fill the past two years of the term of Democrat Pete Suazo, who died in an ATV accident in August 2001. Suazo's widow, Alicia, was appointed to fill the seat until the following election but she declined to run.
Even Evans, who owns a chain of check-cashing outlets, at the time acknowledged that infighting in the Democratic Party allowed him to beat the Democrats' last-minute candidate, Nisa Sisneros, in 2002 in probably the most diverse, liberal district in the state.
Evans has a confrontational style we believe is counterproductive. He has sparred with Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, convincing the Legislature in his first legislative session in 2003 to temporarily withhold $2.6 million in funds owed the city until Anderson promised to implement certain measures on the west side. That is no way to build useful political alliances.
Evans says he would let local school districts decide how to spend the money they have, but he has no clear plan to provide additional funding.
Evans is an articulate legislator and campaigner. However, although Fife can't match Evans' skill in arguing a point, his constituents can count on him to work hard, and cooperatively with others in power, on their behalf.
