Jim Hansen 

Also see Jim Hansen's answers to an April questionnaire on the top issues

Birth date: Aug 14, 1932
Birthplace: Salt Lake City, UT
Current city of residence: Farmington, Utah
Family members: Susan Callister, Joe Hansen, Dave Hansen, Paul Hansen, Jennie Condie.
Education: B.S. University of Utah
Current occupation: Retired-Consultant
Hobbies/Interests: Boating, hunting, fishing, sports, yard work

Using 150 to 200 words, please state your reasons for running for governor. What compels you to take on this tremendous responsibility?

Utah is poised to experience tremendous growth in the next decade. Growth in public education enrollment is one area that everyone seems to enjoy discussing, and we do face tremendous growth there. In addition to that growth, however, I see tremendous possibilities for economic growth, and I believe I have the necessary experience to make sure that our state government manages to grow where it can, and stays out of the way when it must.

Our next governor must have a distinct vision of where Utah is headed, economicall, culturally, and especially in regards to public education. That vision must be innovative in order to respond to the changes which will surely face us. Yet, it must also be based on the practical knowledge of what government can and should do, and what it cannot and must not attempt.

Having served in government at every level, from 12 years as a city council member to 8 years in the Utah Legislature, including a term as Speaker of the Utah House, to 22 years representing every corner of Utah in the U.S. House of Representatives, I have the vision and practical experience to lead Utah into the promising future we have before us.

As a candidate for governor, what are your key campaign messages?

Economic growth must be accomplished without unnecessarily losing existing jobs, especially at Hill Air Force Base. I am the only candidate with the experience necessary to bring new jobs into the state while fighting for Hill and protecting Utah's homegrown small businesses.

Education must be our priority. The best education system will only be achiedved through untying educators' hands and bringing parents back into their children's education through choice. The combination fo those two actions is necessary to unleash the great potential we have in public education, and I am the only candidate willing to pursue both goals simultaneously, working to benefit educators, parents, and children together.

What do you consider to be the top three issues currently facing Utah? Please list them in order of priority to you and your candidacy and explain why they are important to you and to Utah.

The most important issue facing Utah is education. Not only is it the largest item in our state budget, but it is also the key to our future. With one of the best educated workforces in the country, Utah is bursting with potential for economic growth. As we improve our education system, we will see increasing economic growth. In addition, a well educated society is also less prone to crime and other social ills. My family is no stranger to public schools. I attended East High School, as did my wife, and the most important women in my life have worked to educate Utah's children. From my mother to my dear wife to one of my daughters, the public education system has held an important role in my life, and I refuse to accept its decline in recent years. I believe we need to trust our reachers, breaking the bureaucratic shackles that tie their hands, whether those shackles are imposed by federal or state bureaucrats, or even unions. I also believe that we must also bring parents back into their children's education, by giving them the ultimate control over educational decisions. For too long, we have pleaded with parents to take an interest in their children's education but have kept from them any meaningful way to influence curriculum or other decisions in schools. As we free our teachers to use their considerable skills, I believe they will be more than capable of meeting parents' and society's high expectations for our children's education.

The second most important issue facing Utah is economic growth. As a former owner of a small business, I know how difficult it can be to start a business, but I also know the great satisfaction of building something productive and seeing it benefit customers and employees as they take home a paycheck to their families. Utah has seen income levels rise in recent years, the result of the new businesses realizing the great education and work ethic of our people, as well as home grown businesses created by innovative Utahns. Without jobs, Utah doesn't have anyting to keep our people here, so we must pursue new jobs. When we do so, however, we must not do so at the expense of existing jobs. Many of my Republican colleagues claim to be able to create new jobs, yet they ignore the reality that Utah's largest employer, Hill Air Force Base, is being considered for closure or realignment. Gaining tens of thousands of new jobs is important, but if it is done while ignoring Hill, we may lose even more jobs. As governor of Utah, I will be the best prepared to fight to keep Hill alive, keeping tens of thousands of jobs in the state. At the same time, I will create a more business-friendly environment for all businesses, new and existing. Som of my Republican colleagues also talk about bringing the "right" businesses into the state. Unfortunately, when this is done, it is usually done at the expense of existing businesses. I do not believe that the government should play at picking the winners and losers. Instead, I would make the business environment as favorable to all businesses, allowing Utahns to decide which businesses they want in the state.

The third most important issue facing Utah is that of transportation. As our population grows, especially in suburban areas, we must find better ways to get people to and from their homes. We need a better system of transportation in order to attract businesses, but also to allow people to spend more time with their families.  I do not favor limiting growth, as some do, because I believe in a free country. People should be able to have a nice back yard where they can play with their families or grow a garden. Limiting families' options is not a freedom-loving people's response to growth. As we contemplate future transportation needs, we must be willing to look at all possible options. That means pursuing commuter rail, but also pursuing construction of the Legacy Highway. I have been a supporter of the Legacy Highway since its beginnings, and have fought for its construction in the Halls of Congress for years. I believe that growth will require both the Legacy Highway and commuter rail. Those that wish to do without one or the other are restricting our state's economic growth and unnecessarily increasing the time families must spend apart.

What are your most important business or political accomplishments? How would those accomplishments help you be a more effective governor?

My most important political accomplishment is serving the people of Utah for over 40 years at every level of government. I have fought to give Utahns control over their lands, including orchestrating a swap of school trust lands that resulted in millions of dollars annually for Utah's school children. Utahns deserve to be trusted to control the lands we love and rely on. My experience will allow me to further shift control over Utah's lands to Utahns, allowing us to obtain potentially billions of dollars for our school children. I have also fought againt political attempts to close Hill Air Force Base. When President Clinton attempted to subvert a non-political process for political gain, keeping bases in Texas and California open at the expense of Utah, I fought and won for all Utah by keeping Hill open, keeping existing jobs here, and bringing in thousands of new jobs. This battle is about to be fought again, with Hill clearly in the sights of the base closure commission. I know the process, I know the participants, and I am the only candidate that has the experience necessary for a Governor to keep Hill open.

What are your most important civic or community accomplishments or involvements? How would those accomplishments help you be a more effective governor?

My greatest asset when it comes to being governor is my experience. No other candidate has the depth and breadth of experience to manage the many areas of state government. As a city council member, state legislator, and U.S. Congressman, I know that state government interacts with every other level of government, and knowing how those interactions take place is essential to getting things done efficiently, quickly, and most advantageously for all Utahns. A quality important to a governor is a knowledge of the process and the interaction with participants in the process at all levels. Again, this is an area where I have an advantage over all my colleagues. When it comes to getting things done for Utah, no other candidate has the contacts necessary to effect beneficial change for all Utahns. In addition, as a small business owner, I know the benefits and costs of government interaction with the free market, and I know how to provide a business-friendly atmosphere in our state.

Honesty is a characteristic that is essential for the next governor of Utah. I believe in doing what I believe to be right, and in stating clearly why. In politics, there is often the idea that if you disagree with someone, there has to be a winner and a loser at the end of the day. I don't believe that has to be true, and I remember a time in Utah politics when it wasn't true. When I served as Speaker of the Utah House, under a Democratic governor, there were often disagreements about budget and policy priorities. In today's envrionment, that seems like a recipe for disaster, but it never ended up that way. Opposing sides were able to have a spirited discussion about differences, and in the end, there was enough give and take on the issues that the best interests of the State of Utah were served. My honesty, integrity, and willingness to speak openly and honestly about how I feel can help return Utah to the attitudes of cooperation we enjoyed in the past. 

Why do you belong to your political party? Why is your party the right one to lead Utah at this time?

I belong to the Republican party because it is the party that most respects the ideals of personal liberty and personal accountability. Far too many politicians abandon that ideal for one reason or another, but I refuse to. I believe that God granted to every man and woman the freedom to act for themselves, and that government should exercise tremendous restraint when it curtails that freedom. There are other parties that claim to be for individual freedom, but they have abandoned the notion of accountability. One does not work without the other. I also believe strongly in fiscal responsibility. It would be great if we had enough money to give every citizen of this great state a high standard of living. However, we simply do not have the money, and what money state government has comes from the citizens. By advocating fiscal responsibility, the Republican Party trusts individuals to spend their own income. By keeping government spending low, the Republican Paryt allows individual freedom to be what determines success or failure. It also allows more freedom to individual philanthropic efforts. The Republican Party  represents the values of Utahns better than any other party, trusts citizens to spend their own money, and trusts individuals to spur the economy on, providing a better future for our great state.