DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Mid-term elections always seem a bit dull, but even so, if you're a U.S. citizen, you should be making plans to vote this week. Along with the controversial new electronic devices many of us will deal with for the first time, there is another change to take note of: in order to alleviate pressure on polling stations, the vote will be split by party this year. Citizens voting for Democratic or Green candidates will be voting on Tuesday, November 7th. Those voting for Republican or Libertarian candidates should report to their polling location on Wednesday, November 8th.
The only election of national significance happening here is Orrin Hatch's bid for a sixth term in the U.S. Senate. Despite the overall look of this post, and despite his increasing partisanship over the past three decades, I don't harbor much ill will toward our senior senator—really. I was friends with his son Brent in 6th grade. He's certainly much smarter than his colleague Bill Bennett, and he tends to rest just a bit to the right of Attila the Hun—not bad for a statewide elected Utah official. I even began with plans to cast an innocuous vote for Julian Hatch, the Green candidate, just to sprinkle a bit of prestige on that party, but as we approach election day, depriving the maniacs currently haunting the White House of friends and allies is becoming priority number one. I expect I'll end up voting for the Democrat, Pete Ashdown, tomorrow. No offense, Orrin—or Brent.
The seat of my Congressman, right-wing Democrat Jim Matheson, is assured; his only challenger is a minor party crackpot that needs no further description. Only voters in Utah's Congressional District #3 have an opportunity to effect much change in the House of Representatives. In ten years, the incumbent Chris Cannon's main contribution has been to embarrass our state. Only State Senator Chris Buttars (whose re-election or re-pudiation won't come for two more years) has consistently shown himself to be a bigger buffoon. Third District voters should seriously consider voting for Christian Burridge, as the only effective vote against Cannon.
Not much else happening here worth mentioning, except the re-election of State Supreme court Justice Ronald Nehring. Nehring's refusal to abide by legislation forcing courthouses to either install gun lockers or allow permitted gun owners to pack heat in the courtroom has made him the target of a smear campaign by Gun Owners of Utah, who would have Utah hunters believe that retaining Judge Nehring will ensure the seizure of all their firearms, reducing them to taking up needlepoint during those long fall months. Nehring is a competent and fair judge. Let's do what we can to help him hang on to his job.
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Orrin Hatch billboards digitally vandalized by Megan Crowley