Deseret News, February 15, 2009
Wendy Leonard

The confidential search for Utah Valley University's next president is ongoing, but a top candidate withdrew his resume because he didn't feel his leadership abilities should be put to the test of local politicians.

Ned C. Hill, former dean of the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business, was told by a member of the State Board of Regents, whose name he would not disclose, that he needed to "make nice with the Utah County delegation" after his wife, Claralyn Hill, ran as a Democrat against Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo, on an ethics reform platform.

"We've been Republicans everywhere we lived but she wanted to give people an alternative," he said. "She wasn't necessarily saying the elected members were unethical, but that the system needed some reform."

Despite his wife's attempts to clear the air, Hill said a Utah County legislator told him he could facilitate a meeting where an apology could be made because "there were a number of legislators feeling that she called them into question."

Hill decided that if the delegation was not in favor of him — after having served 10 years as dean of the BYU business school and increasing the endowment there by more than $100 million, and raising money for a building expansion — he would not have a chance and their decisions might be adverse to the direction the UVU is headed.

"It's a hard enough job as it is," he said, not looking forward to further budget cuts and possible layoffs at the growing university.

Refusing to eat a slice of humble pie, Hill chose to withdraw his resume from consideration in January and is continuing to work at BYU, where he expects to return to the classroom this fall.

Salt Lake Tribune, February 13, 2009
Aileen Clyde

The recurring discussion on how to evaluate ethical behavior of public policy makers should evoke citizens' support of action since obviously there are problems not being recognized or addressed. A significant case in point was related in Paul Rolly's column of Jan. 30.

As a former regent I was shocked to read that Ned Hill, former dean of BYU's Marriott School of Business, was a finalist for the position of president of Utah Valley University in Orem until Republican legislators intervened.

Hill has since said in a telephone conversation that he received two phone calls during the search process. The first came from a member of the Utah Board of Regents. He was told that, despite his superior qualifications, he would have to "make nice" with Utah County's Republican lawmakers to get further consideration of a possible appointment as UVU president. Hill said that the second caller, a Utah County Republican legislator, took the demand even further. The state representative told Hill he should bring his wife, Claralyn, to the Republican lawmakers to apologize.

What was Claralyn Hill's fault for which she should seek forgiveness? Her supposed transgression was that she ran for election to the state House of Representatives last November as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Chris Herrod of Provo, and she talked about legislative ethics during her campaign.

The result of this intervention by the Utah County Republican legislators was that Hill, a highly qualified university administrator, withdrew his name from consideration rather than participate in a tainted and unfair process.

Salt Lake Tribune, January 29, 2009
Paul Rolly

Ned Hill, the former dean of BYU's Marriott School of Business, was called by an acquaintance recently and told he was a finalist for the presidency of Utah Valley University in Orem.

The caller said he had a lot of supporters and had one of the most impressive résumés. But before he could get the job, he needed to "make nice" with the Utah County Republican legislators.

Some of those lawmakers, apparently, were miffed that his wife, Caralyn Hill, had run as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Rep. Chris Herrod of Provo and that she had made legislative ethics one of her key campaign issues.

Days later, Hill got another call, this time from a legislator who repeated the need for him to make amends to the Utah County legislative delegation. But this caller said he also should bring his wife to apologize to the legislators for questioning their ethics.

Hill said the callers were not threatening. They were friends and he felt they were trying to be helpful, but they just wanted to let him know what he needed to do to keep his candidacy viable.

Instead, he withdrew his name from consideration.

Hill said that with the current economic downturn mandating drastic budget cuts, he was worried that his candidacy, given his wife's perceived apostasy, would offend Utah County legislators in a position to punish UVU by slashing its budget. So he felt it was better to distance himself from the process.

Getting Brambled: I wrote in October about a confrontation between Republican-establishment critic Mike Ridgway and the family of Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, during a meet-the-candidates event at the Provo residence of John Curtis.

Ridgway, who was supporting Bramble's opponent, had called Curtis earlier in the day and asked if he could videotape the event. When Curtis told the candidates of Ridgway's request, Bramble objected and called top officials of the Utah Highway Patrol, who sent two troopers to the event.

When Ridgway appeared, he was confronted by Bramble's wife Susie and their adult sons. One witness wrote later on a blog that one son, Jeff Bramble, appeared as though he was about to "punch out" Ridgway.

Ridgway eventually left at the request of Curtis but later filed a complaint with the Provo police over what he felt was threatening behavior by the Brambles.

So guess who recently got charged with disorderly conduct? Ridgway. He is to appear Feb. 24 in Justice Court. Jeff Bramble also was implicated in the complaint filed by the Provo Police Department, but city attorneys declined to charge him.

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Historic event filled with examples of hope, unity, graciousness, they say

Deseret News, January 22, 2009
Scott Taylor

After participating in two days of U.S. presidential inauguration ceremonies, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' First Presidency, and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the church's Quorum of the Twelve left Washington, D.C., warmed as they witnessed not only a historic national event but examples of graciousness, hope and unity.

The two attended Tuesday's inauguration of President Barack Obama on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and joined him and other new national leaders at Wednesday morning's National Prayer Service in the National Cathedral.

"We could feel the deep emotion around us — we were surrounded by people of all colors, of all creeds and of all languages," said President Uchtdorf in a phone interview with the Deseret News before catching a return flight to Utah. "It was a great experience we had — to see a unity there that I hope will last on and continue throughout the years of this administration."

President Uchtdorf — who was accompanied by his wife, Harriet — and Elder Ballard represented the LDS Church and President Thomas S. Monson in accepting the invitations to attend the inaugural events. They were seated front and center some four-dozen rows from the presidential stage for Tuesday's inauguration and then just a couple of yards away from Obama and his contingent for Wednesday's prayer service.

"I left with a feeling that the people of America are going to unite behind this new president and his administration and that we need to pray for him," Elder Ballard said. "We need to exercise our prayers and help him accomplish the great objectives that he has set."

Saying "it was wonderful to feel that unity of different faiths" as they joined Muslims, Jews and others of different Christian denominations at the prayer service, President Uchtdorf added: "We felt we were in the right place with all these whom we call brothers and sisters, to pray for this presidency, for this administration, and with them to pray for all the governments around the world to bring again peace and prosperity and unity to all countries."

At Tuesday's inauguration, the Uchtdorfs found themselves seated next to a black couple. "When the oath was taken, this lady next to her (Sister Uchtdorf) just embraced her and gave her a kiss with tears running down," said President Uchtdorf, adding that the emotions he sensed over the two days were not simply the result of the massive numbers witnessing the racially historic moment but rather a sense of graciousness displayed by a free democracy.

"It was for the people of the world to have a chance to follow the wonderful example given by the United States in a transfer of powers in a democracy — the liberties, the freedoms and the justice for all — as it is presented in such a wonderful way from one administration to another."

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Salt Lake Tribune, November 2, 2008
Robert Gehrke

About 60,000 households in Utah County are getting a call from Mitt Romney, a Superman in Utah politics.

But the recorded phone message is being sent out by Democrats, who are using Romney's criticism of one-party rule to rustle up support for their scrappy slate of legislative candidates.

Utah Republican Party Chairman Stan Lockhart said he thinks it is unethical for Democrats, who have made ethical conduct a campaign issue this year, to invoke Romney's name.

“Its another last-minute, desperate attempt to pull these election tricks in an effort to deceive the public, and its wrong,” said Lockhart. “It's misleading, it's out of context, and it's without Mitt Romney's permission.”

But Utah County Democratic Party Chairman Richard Davis said the statements were made by a public figure, at public events and are available on the Internet and are "fair game."

“We felt like it was important that even Gov. Romney felt that there were problems with a lack of balance, in a one-party state,” Davis said. “This was what he said at one time, and we felt like it was important for people to understand that.”

A spokesman for Romney did not return a phone call or e-mail Saturday.

Romney, who ran the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, received 94 percent of the Republican vote in Utah County during the party's 2008 presidential primary, as well as 90 percent of the vote statewide.

The recorded phone message, which is narrated by former television news anchor Dick Nourse, introduces Romney talking about “the dangers of partisanship and one-party state.”

“I'm not convinced that a state would be better off with all Republicans. As a matter of fact, I've been in a state like that for the last three years. It's not a good thing,” Romney says.

At the end, Romney says, “I lived in a place that had a one-party state that was primarily Republican. I thought, 'Well, won't that be nice.' The answer is, 'No.' ”

“This year when you go to vote, look at the person, not the party,” the narrator concludes.

Davis said Romney's comments are significant, in light of a letter he sent to voters urging them to vote Republican.

“The reality is that Gov. Romney has said things that maybe a one-party state is not necessarily a desirable thing,” said Davis, who thinks Republicans are scared by the insurgent Democrats.

“I think they're worried and I think they should be,” Davis commented. “We have operated quite an efficient campaign to get our message out that our candidates are viable, that they're qualified, that they're even better than the people the Republicans have put up.”

Deseret News, November 1, 2008
Tad Walch

PROVO — No Utah County Democrat has won a seat in the state Legislature since 1994, but a conservative slate of candidates, flush with cash and Republican endorsements, hopes to end the 14-year losing streak on Tuesday.

A bold effort to reshape a weak local Democratic Party began 18 months ago, and the results heading into the election are noteworthy. Utah County Democratic candidates for the Legislature have raised more than $257,000. That's five times more than the party's legislative candidates managed in the last election cycle two years ago.

This year's slate has attracted more than 1,300 donors. Fewer than 100 donated money to Democrats in 2006.

The group of conservative, chiefly LDS, Democrats also has drawn endorsements from notable Republicans such as personal management guru Steven R. Covey, who a year ago hosted a major fundraiser at his northeast Provo home for Mitt Romney, the Pied Piper of Utah Republicans.

For more than a decade at least, most legislative seats in Utah Valley have gone to the winners at the county Republican convention or in a Republican primary.

Voters often haven't even had that much choice. For example, District 62 in northeast Provo has not had a primary race since at least 1960. That means that for nearly half a century, a few dozen delegates at a convention have decided who would represent the entire district in the Legislature.

Election night often has been reduced to a coronation. Two years ago, five Utah County Republicans earned 100 percent of the vote in their legislative districts because they ran unopposed. Two others faced only token opposition from a Constitutionalist and a Libertarian.

When the Democrats have offered opposition in recent years, they've regularly lost in landslides, largely because the electorate hasn't believed they represent the moral positions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the area's dominant faith.

In May 2007, Brigham Young University professor and national election expert Richard Davis maneuvered liberal local Democrats to the side, angering some, and recruited Republicans in an effort to create a two-party system in the county.

Democrats have asked voters to consider candidates, not parties, on signs and billboards that read, "I think, therefore I will vote the person, not the party."

Deseret News, October 29, 2008
Richard Davis

Many parts of Utah County now look like a swing state in a presidential election. Campaign billboards and large signs can be seen all over the county. Thousands of yard signs adorn lawns and street corners.

What's going on here? Isn't this the county where Republican incumbents win year after year despite ethics accusations, their slavish attention to a small minority of extremists in the Eagle Forum, and votes contrary to their constituents' views on issues such as vouchers or additional support for public education?

Not quite. This year is different. Democratic candidates for various state legislative races are waging real battles. First, the candidates themselves are remarkable: They include a former university president, a former school superintendent, a former city council member, a current school board member, and other well qualified candidates. They've been aggressive fundraisers.

And their supporters aren't the usual suspects. Many Republicans are giving their endorsements to these Democratic candidates, including some former Republican legislative and party leaders.

Let me provide a preview of what will happen if voters choose these Democratic candidates in Utah County this year:

Voters get to decide elections. Too often, the decision of who becomes an elected official is made in a closed Republican primary or an even more restrictive Republican convention. However, if Democratic candidates win this year, then it will encourage other candidates to run in the future. Suddenly, election after election includes two viable candidates running in a general election and not just one.

Voters get better representation of their views. Utah County Democrats are more in the mainstream than their Republican incumbent opponents. Like most Utah County voters, Utah County Democrats are conservative on social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. But also like most Utah County voters (and unlike the current incumbents), they are strong supporters of public education, don't want Utah County to lag behind the rest of the Wasatch Front on public transit and favor serious ethics reform for legislators and other government officials.

Voters get much needed reform within the Republican Party. As they've become increasingly secure electorally, many incumbents have become arrogant. They don't listen to their constituents. They rely on robocalls and e-mail blasts to communicate.

Salt Lake Tribune, October 27, 2008
Tribune Editorial

Sen. Curtis Bramble personifies what is wrong with one-party government. As majority leader of the Senate, Bramble has used his position to ham-handedly push through an unpopular voucher law and an omnibus education bill that the state must now defend in court.

Bramble's reputation for bullying, his propensity for back-door deals and his casual dismissal of a yearslong public demand for ethics reform are more than sufficient reason to remove him from the Utah Legislature. Voters in Senate District 16 have a chance to do that on Nov. 4.

As part of the all-powerful Republican legislative leadership, Bramble too often turns a deaf ear to the majority of Utahns and puts the arm on legislators who disagree with him.

The hugely unpopular voucher law, which Bramble sponsored, passed by a single vote and later was overturned by a citizen referendum. Bramble and others fought the referendum publicly and with backdoor maneuvering. Public opinion, he told The Tribune Editorial Board, is only one consideration when he's legislating. A rather unimportant consideration, it appears.

He gave the same consideration to his colleagues when he and other Republican leaders crafted Senate Bill 2, an omnibus education bill that included three individual pieces of legislation that had already been defeated in the House or Senate. The constitutionality of that bill is being challenged, and several legislators are among the plaintiffs.

RaDene Hatfield, Bramble's Democratic opponent, is running for the first time. She has a master of public policy degree, is a community volunteer and, while a student, was an intern for former Republican Sen. Jake Garn and research assistant at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Minneapolis.

She supports ethics reform, including a gift ban, limits on campaign donations and an independent ethics committee. Bramble downplays the importance of lobbyist gifts and says there is no way to set a clear and objective standard for conflicts of interest. So he does nothing about the ethical cesspool in the Legislature that has only grown under his watch.

Bramble takes credit for unprecedented education funding and a renewable-energy standard. But Utah teachers remain underpaid, and there is still no mandate for utility companies to develop renewable energy.

We believe Hatfield would bring openness, civility and accountability to the office and endorse her candidacy.