With some help from the voter's guide, I finally finished dissecting the issues and decided on my vote. For everyone's reading enjoyment (ahem), here is where I stand on my ballot.

 

President

John McCain 

 

Long explanation.  I like Barack Obama, and if the current polls accurately predict tomorrow's outcome, I won't be heartbroken because I think he represents a great face for the United States.  His charm and eloquence will be a great improvement from the last eight years.  Politically, though, I think Barack Obama just represents run-of-the-mill politics as usual.  He's just a standard representation of the Democratic party platform, and an inexperienced leader. 

 

On the other hand, I've been hoping for several years that John McCain would make it to the White House.  I have always loved that he decided what he believed in, like campaign finance reform or a sensible approach to immigration, and stuck to what he believed in, even if the rest of his party wasn't with him.  I think McCain represents free-thinking, courageous leadership that will stand up against even members of his own party.  That kind of leadership doesn't come around very often. 

 

On the other, other hand, if Barack Obama is our next president, I hope that will mean a reversal of the leadership in the House and the Senate, the same way it happened two years into Clinton's administration and two years into the current Bush administration.  I hate having the same party - either party - control the White House AND the House AND the Senate because that's when the extremist voices in each party start having a possibility of passing through their dangerous ideas.  If the branches are going to be controlled by separate parties, I actually prefer having a Democrat in the White House and Republicans controlling the congress, as long as Republicans will stick to the ideals they are *supposed* to believe in about fiscal responsibility, unlike the idiot Republicans in congress now.

 

 

U.S. Representative District 1

Rob Bishop 

 

I was thrilled when Rob Bishop stood his ground and voted against the ridiculous $700 Billion bailout.  I can't wait to vote AGAINST Orrin Hatch for pushing this stupid legislation through.  Yes, let's borrow our way out of the crisis that was caused by irresponsible debt.  That's brilliant.  In truth the economy will be just as bad off financially as if we hadn't passed that bill, but now we have an extra $700 Billion in debt.

 

 

Governor

Jon Huntsman

 

I've been very happy with Jon Huntsman's leadership of the state, and I hope to see him continue the direction he's headed.

 

 

Attorney General

Mark Shurtleff

I mainly support Mark Shurtleff because I like his approach to the the FLDS church.  Going after the evil leadership like Warren Jeffs and siezing the property is the right way to pressure them to end their sickening practices of forced marriage and underage marriage.  A much better approach than the cowardly bigots in Texas that went in with tanks and snipers to arrest women and children.

 

 

State Auditor

Clare Collard

 

If the leadership of the state is going to be Republican, I like the idea of having the Auditor and Treasurer be Democrats.  I wish we could get rid of the political parties, but I'll work with the two-party system we have.

 

 

State Treasurer

Dick Clark

 

I don't expect this Dick Clark to count down the hits for fifty years without looking like he aged a day, but I like that he lays out what he believes in and plans to do with the state's funds.

 

 

Representative District 17

Pat Herrera

 

Pat Herrera has great qualifications, and the incumbent Julie Fisher didn't even submit a candidate statement.  That is so typical of the way I see the Republican political machine in Utah.  Why bother taking the time to scribble out a statement convincing people to vote for me?  A Democrat doesn't have a chance of beating me, anyway. 

 

 

Judge Carolyn McHugh - Retain

Judge Gregory K. Orme - Retain

Judge James D. Davis - Retain

Judge Pamela T. Greenwood - Retain

Judge Russel W. Bench - Do Not Retain

Judge John R. Morris - Retain

Judge Jon M. Memmott - Retain

Judge Kathleen M. Nelson - Retain

Judge Michael Lyon - Retain

Judge Parley R. Baldwin - Retain

Judge Paul F. Iwasaki - Retain

Judge Thomas L. Kay - Do Not Retain

 

I base my votes for the judges entirely on the survey results from attorneys who have presented cases before these judges.  Russel W. Bench got low marks on "Perceives legal and factual issues" and "Opinions are scholarly and well written".  Judge Thomas L. Kay's survey results seemed to indicate he has an unprofessional attitude.

 

 

Constitutional Amendment A

Yes

 

Constitutional Amendment B

Yes

 

Constitutional Amendment C

Yes

 

Constitutional Amendment D

Yes

 

Constitutional Amendment E

No

 

Constitutional Amendments A thru D were simple, common-sense updates to the constitution that have a negligible impact.  I thought C and D made much better sense in their timing of the legislature's requirements than the current constitution.  But Amendment E is a proposal to lift the ban on investing the state's funds in public stocks.  I don't want the funds for schooling sitting in the stock market.  I know we can have the potential of better gains, but I don't like the risk.  There are lots of ways to get a return on your money besides putting it in the stock market.

 

 

Davis County Commission

J. Dell Holbrook

 

Holbrook has a strong, impressive background.  His opponent owns a mechanic shop.  I know it's a prejudice, but I don't trust mechanics except my own.

 

Davis School Board District 4

Not Voting

 

Only one of the two candidates submitted a statement, and she wasn't all that impressive.  I won't feel the least bit bad about just leaving this race blank.