Democrat congressional candidate Beau Babka and Republican incumbent Chris Cannon are exchanging barbs over an online debate challenge. Babka sought to take advantage of the new debate format, claiming it encourages substance over style. The print debate - at http://www. printdebate.com - allows candidates to describe their positions at greater length than TV provides. Insinuating that Cannon has ducked several candidate forums in the 3rd District, Babka wrote in his challenge letter, "I hope you share my enthusiasm and willingness to engage in a real discussion on the issues - focused on substance rather than clichs, meaningless 30-second bumper sticker spots, and one-sided partisan statements that go unchecked." Cannon responded through campaign manager Nathan Rathbun, who declined, saying voters would be better served looking at the congressman's eight-year voting record.

Wilson has fun

Jenny Wilson says she "really helps the kids." And she "buys her own gas."

The Democratic candidate for Salt Lake County's at-large seat is poking fun at the recent county scandals in new billboards popping up across the valley. Wilson - who is trying to oust incumbent Republican Steve Harmsen - is referencing this summer's vehicle-abuse scandal with the "buys her own gas" comment. The "really helps the kids" line refers to Wilson's work at the nonprofit Utah Children, and pokes fun at embattled County Mayor Nancy Workman's response to questions about the criminal investigation into her hiring of two successive bookkeepers on the county dime to work at the South Valley Boys and Girls Clubs, where the mayor's daughter is chief financial officer. Wilson also has a billboard that says, "Give the county an extreme makeover."

Not to be outdone, Harmsen is running ads in the multiple South Valley Journal editions touting no county tax hikes. The ad, which looks like a government tax notice, is headlined, "Notice of NO property tax increase for SL County."

Popular color

A coalition of political issues committees supporting the proposed marriage amendment have picked a very familiar design for their signs.

The "Yes on 3 Coalition" signs are green, black and white - just like lawn signs backing Initiative 1. Initiative 1 would raise sales taxes to pay for open space.

Coalition organizers say the similarity of the signs is just a coincidence. "Green means go. It means yes," said Tiani Coleman, coalition co-chairwoman.

But Don't Amend Alliance Director Scott McCoy says amendment supporters are blatantly trying to confuse Utah voters into voting for the controversial amendment rather than the more popular initiative.

"It's a blatant attempt to confuse Initiative 1 with Amendment 3 in people's minds," McCoy said.