His opponent, Mark Walker, is an earnest young man of 32 who is an up-and-comer among conservatives in the Legislature, where he has served two terms in the House. But he would be out of his depth as state treasurer, particularly compared to Ellis.
Walker's primary qualification for office seems to be that the Republican legislative leadership likes him and has not been pleased with Ellis in the past when he has given them financial advice that ran counter to their policy goals. Ellis, 48, also served as director of Gov. Jon Huntsman's Office of Planning and Budget, where he crossed swords with legislators.
We believe, however, that it is important for the state to have a treasurer with the professional chops to render independent opinion on managing the state's money and protecting its sterling credit rating. That independence is part of the reason for electing rather than appointing the treasurer.
The race has been clouded by Ellis' charge that Walker offered him job security and a pay raise in the treasurer's office if Ellis would drop out of the race. If true, that would be illegal. Walker denies he made such an offer.
We make no judgment about that issue beyond our opinion that Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, as the state's chief election officer, should have moved more quickly to decide whether to refer the matter to the attorney general's office for further investigation and possible appointment of a special counsel after Ellis made a formal complaint at the end of May. The Utah Supreme Court has ruled that Herbert was within his lawful discretion to delay his decision until after the primary. Herbert says he delayed so as not to influence the election.
There also is a chance that Walker could be disqualified to be treasurer because the state constitution prohibits a legislator from being elected to a state office for which the Legislature has voted to raise the pay during the term in which the legislator served. Though it appears that Walker would fit these circumstances, the courts would have to make a final determination if he were elected.
However, compared to the gulf of professional experience and education that separates these candidates, these other controversies should be almost immaterial to Republican voters. Richard Ellis is the clear choice.
Whichever candidate the Republicans choose will face Democrat Dick Clark in November. We will consider that race in the fall.
