Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson wants to know whether he will be running against a popular conservative talk-radio host.

Short of that, he wants KSL Radio bosses to consider the implications of allowing Doug Wright to continue to host his daily call-in show while talking behind the scenes about running for Congress in Utah's 2nd Congressional District.

Matheson campaign attorney Josh Reid sent a letter to KSL attorneys late last week questioning whether Wright's talk show and budding political aspirations violate federal election laws.

"The question here is obvious. Will KSL allow a talk show host who is also a candidate to render his opinions on the vital issues of the day, and if so, will it allow Congressman Matheson (and all other candidates for that office) an equal opportunity to speak to that audience free of charge?" wrote Reid, a Salt Lake City attorney who also is the son of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

"I am sure that KSL Radio does not wish to subject itself to public scrutiny and criticism as being seen as partisan and as an advocate for the political advancement of one of its employees," the attorney added.

Wright has coyly dodged questions about his hopes for Matheson's office when asked directly by reporters. And KSL Radio News and Program Director Russ Hill said the station will not pressure the talk-show personality to make a decision. Instead, the station has reviewed similar cases in other states where broadcast reporters and hosts have decided to run for office. KSL attorneys have concluded the station is not violating the Federal Election Act or Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules.

"As soon as Doug Wright decides he's going to run, he'll no longer be on KSL Radio hosting a talk show," Hill said. "Until he is a 'legally qualified candidate,' this just isn't an issue."

The FCC defines a "legally qualified candidate" as one who has announced his or her candidacy publicly, is nominated to a place on the ballot through a caucus or primary, or has started campaigning.

Such candidates are blocked from campaigning on the air unless they pay for the time. And if they do not pay for the time, Reid noted, that airtime is considered a donation from KSL - something prohibited by federal elections law.

Wright's name has been bandied about in Republican circles for nearly two months. But he has not yet declared his candidacy.

Matheson worries that Wright is using his three-hour daily talk show as an open mike to promote his political agenda. In the past, Matheson has been a regular guest on Wright's show. But the KSL talk-show host did not invite the congressman for a two-month period from the middle of July to September, according to Matheson spokeswoman Alyson Heyrend.

"Not everything [Wright] says on the air could be construed as campaigning. But he has uninhibited airtime to put out his positions," Heyrend said. "As long as everyone gets treated fairly, as long as everyone plays by the rules, that's what's important here."