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‘The Rundown’: Another former Utah legislator eyes a comeback

Republican Bruce Cutler, who lost re-election in 2018, is running to replace Steve Christiansen in the Utah House

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(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former Rep. Bruce R. Cutler is running to replace Steve Christiansen in the Utah House.

Another former Utah legislator eyeing a return to the Hill

Yesterday we told you about former Rep. Ken Ivory hoping to return to his former HD47 seat in the Utah House following the surprising resignation of Rep. Steve Christiansen.

Now, former Rep. Bruce Cutler wants back in, too.

Salt Lake County GOP Chairman Chris Null confirmed Cutler is a candidate for the open seat.

Cutler was first elected to the Legislature in 2014, representing HD44. He held that seat for two terms. Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, defeated him in 2018. He now lives within the boundaries of HD47.

During his previous tenure, Cutler focused on technological issues and pushed to ban smoking on the Capitol grounds.

Along with Cutler and Ivory, Nathan Brown is also in the race.

The special election is November 15.

Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday morning

Utah

🗳 As voters head to the polls today, Robert Gehrke turns to an expert to find out whether your ballot is secure. Spoiler alert: It is. [Tribune]

🏛 Utah’s independent redistricting commission delivered their map proposals to the Utah Legislature. Lawmakers plan to unveil their maps sometime this week. [Tribune]

➡️ Salt Lake Mayor Erin Mendenhall has big plans for the city’s Ballpark area, hoping to turn the neighborhood into a gathering place. [Tribune]

🍩 The owners of Salt Lake City’s Banbury Cross Donuts complained that they were having trouble finding workers because of “handouts” from the government. People quickly pointed out the company got more than $140,000 from the government during the pandemic. [Tribune]

National

🗳 It’s election day. The big contest to watch is the Virginia gubernatorial contest. There are several other races around the country worth paying attention to. [NYT]

🏛 Sen. Joe Manchin threw a wrench in the negotiations over President Joe Biden’s social spending proposal, saying he’s not ready to endorse the measure. Democrats insist he’ll come around soon. [Politico]

🏛 After several hours of questioning, it appears the Supreme Court may allow challenges to Texas’ controversial abortion law. [WaPo]

💉 The CDC is expected to approve the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. [WaPo]

🚨 Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger says former President Donald Trump threatened him during the infamous post-election phone call where Trump asked him to “find” enough votes to reverse the election results in that state. [AP]

🌎 President Biden unveiled new rules to curb methane gas emissions. [WaPo]

Tuesday morning’s Utah news roundup

Utah

  • Utah’s renewable energy Utopia is fueled by wind, solar and pig power. [Tribune]
  • These Utah businesses opened child care centers for employees. Here’s their advice for other companies. [Tribune]
  • For Utah renters, a 3-day eviction notice often shows up before federally mandated 30-day notice. [Tribune]
  • Is Salt Lake City among the worst airports for layovers? [Tribune]
  • Utah’s labor shortage is a huge problem — unless you’re on the job hunt. [Deseret News]
  • Some Utah liquor stores will now accept mobile driver’s licenses. [ABC4]
  • Woodbury apologizes for debacle over campaign signs, disallows any in future. [Daily Herald]

    • COVID-19

  • Utah reported almost 300 COVID-19 deaths in October. [Tribune]

    • Crime

  • Davis County panel to review cases of convicted people who maintain their innocence. [Tribune]
  • Utah Highway Patrol: Unusually high number of fatal crashes over Halloween weekend. [FOX13]

    • Education

  • After glitches and disruptions, Utah school board gets $3 million in settlement with testing company. [Tribune]
  • Growing concern for youth mental health in Utah amid national emergency. [KUTV]

    • Development

  • Upper Millcreek Canyon gets multi-million-dollar funding for road improvements. [ABC4]
  • Park City panel makes limited progress in Deer Valley development talks. [Park Record]

    • Environment

  • Rep. John Curtis joins Republicans taking on the GOP’s ‘branding problem’ at global climate change conference. [Deseret News]
  • Weber Basin Water Conservancy District official says problem leak should be fixed in December. [Standard Examiner]

    • On the Opinion Pages

  • Paul Zaenger: A Japanese-American internment camp has much to teach us about hysteria and racism. [Tribune]
  • Some Utah lawmakers should quit, George Pyle wrote. And one actually did. [Tribune]