This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
With the primary election less than three weeks off, Ogden's eight mayoral candidates are scrambling to solidify votes as they contend for the job held by Mayor Matthew Godfrey for the past 12 years.
At least two candidate forums are scheduled before the Sept. 13 primary, one of which will be televised by the city-sponsored Channel 17.
• On Wednesday, the Ogden Ethics Project will hold a debate at 6:30 p.m. at Ogden's Union Station. Kimbal Wheatley, a professional facilitator from Ogden Valley, will moderate this session.
• On Sept. 1, Channel 17 will deviate from its monthly call-in show to host a Q&A with the candidates led by former KUTV anchor Doug Jardine. This event starts at 6 p.m. in 3rd floor Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 2540 Washington Blvd. The 90-minute show will be taped and replayed several times before November's election.
But Channel 17 has refused to record Wednesday's debate sponsored by the Ogden Ethics Project.
Bill Francis, who owns a multimedia company and contracts with the city to run Channel 17, said he made that determination based partly on the station's slim resources, but mostly because he doesn't trust Dan Schroeder, a community activist who directs the Ogden Ethics Project.
"I personally have a few issues with Dan," Francis said, "mainly because he's part of a forum that is extremely hateful and one-sided," a reference to the Weber County Forum, a blog billed as an "open public forum for Weber County citizens."
Channel 17 functions with a skeleton crew, Francis added, and he often donates his time and resources. The station plans to televise two candidate forums after the primary.
According to Bill Cook, executive director of the Ogden City Council, the 2012 budget for Channel 17 totals $38,000, which is Francis' contracted amount. Of that total, $15,000 comes from cable TV subscription fees and the remainder from the city's general fund.
Schroeder, a Weber State University physics professor who keeps an eye on local government in his spare time, has challenged several of Godfrey's actions, at times battling the city for public records related to election campaigns and economic development deals. He posts regularly on the Weber County Forum.
"The Weber County Forum has nothing to do with this event," Schroeder said Tuesday.
Schroeder said he has no control over the Forum's content, but is grateful the site posts his articles.
The Ogden Ethics Project plans to post a recording of the debate on ogdenethics.org.
Schroeder said his group aims "to cover the issues and treat everyone fairly."
"What's unusual is that we have an open seat in the Mayor's Office and eight candidates running," Schroeder said.
twitter: @catmck —
Candidate forum
P When • Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Browning Auditorium of Ogden's Union Station, 2501 Wall Ave.
More info • For quick candidate overviews, see http://tinyurl.com/ethicsforum.