Utah Priorities - A Project of the Utah Foundation

Public Education
Jobs & Economic Development
Water Supply & Quality
Health Care
Crime & Security
Higher Education
Taxes
Dealing with Growth
Environment, Air Quality &
Hazardous Waste
Parental Rights
Issues 11-15

Trusted Research

Research Briefs on the Issues

Jon Huntsman, Jr. - Republican
Scott Matheson - Democrat
All the 2004 candidates

About Utah Foundation
For 59 years, Utah Foundation has worked to inform Utahns on the most important issues facing our great state. Utah Foundation has been a trusted, reliable source for public policy research because we are not advocates for one side or another in public policy debates. We research the issues so that the public and decision makers can better understand the issues, and we think better decisions result from that kind of work.

In 2004, Utahns will elect a new governor for the first time in 12 years. This decision will determine the future of public policy in Utah for many years to come. Voters need to know where each candidate stands on the issues that matter most so they can make a well reasoned decision at the ballot box. Voters also need to know more about these issues so they can decide where they themselves stand on the issues and what they’re looking for in the next Governor of the State of Utah.

That’s why Utah Foundation and our partners have come together to create Utah Priorities and this website. Utah Priorities is more than this website. It is a year-long program to bring focus to the most important issues facing Utah as we look to our future. This effort will be played out in the press, in community forums, on university campuses, in the halls of government, and of course, on this website.

Top 10 Issues

Public education
Creating jobs & economic development
Water supply and quality
Children’s health and other health care issues
Crime, security and safety
Higher education
Taxes
Dealing with growth in Utah
Environment, air quality, and hazardous waste
Parental rights

Utah Priorities: Campaign Information Reform
Utah Priorities is a new project, never attempted in Utah, to more fully connect voters to the facts, data, and candidates views on important issues that the voters themselves identify as challenges they would like the next Governor to tackle. The goal is to inform voters and candidates, leading to intelligent, reasoned decisions at the ballot box

The essential elements of Utah Priorities are:

Polling
In January, we conducted professional, scientific polling of registered voters to understand which public issues are of most importance to them and why those issues are important. This poll will provide a level of detail will help voters and candidates understand where potential solutions lie.

The UtahPriorities.Net Website
This site is dedicated to discussion of the top issues that were identified in our polling. The website will grow to include research papers on those topics, responses from candidates on how to address the issues, quick fact sheets, listings of events that address those topics, links to news articles on the topics, and other useful information.

Bi-Weekly Research Briefs
Beginning in March, we will publish bi-weekly research briefs on the top ten issues identified in the polling exercise. These will provide graphs, data, and analysis to inform readers about the importance of the issue, efforts that have been made to address the problems, and other information to inform the electorate and the candidates.

In-Depth Research Reports.
Beginning this summer, we will publish extensive research reports on the three most important issues identified in the poll. Candidates for Governor will respond to each report with detailed descriptions of their agenda for addressing the issues identified in the research.

Educational Forums
For several months leading up to the election, we will hold bi-weekly forums to educate voters on these issues and to discuss further their concerns. These will be co-sponsored by the Hinckley Institute of Politics and we hope to have them broadcast on TV and/or radio.

Televised Debates
We are partnering with KUED TV to televise major debates in which candidates focus on the issues identified and researched in this process. Debates will occur before the May conventions and in the fall as we near the general election.

Candidates Committed to Participate

Jim Hansen

Parley Hellewell

Gary Herbert

Jon Huntsman, Jr.

Nolan Karras

Fred Lampropoulos

Scott Matheson

Marty Stephens

Olene Walker

We have secured commitments from each major gubernatorial candidate to respond to research findings on the featured issues and to answer questions about those issues. Candidates’ written answers will be published on the website, with a level of detail that allows voters to fully understand their positions and plans of action

A number of prominent media outlets have agreed to partner with Utah Foundation in publicizing the Utah Priorities project, and Utah Foundation's staff will assist these media outlets in formulating news features and interviews with candidates on the top issues. Media partners at this date include: The Deseret Morning News, KUED TV, KSL TV, and KUER Radio. More partners will be announced soon.

We are excited about this project’s potential to inform voters and candidates and its ability to help Utahns make the best choice possible next November. The next Governor will lead this state for many years, and this kind of information will help ensure we all make a wise choice.