PRESS RELEASE
May 3, 2004

Contact: Stephen Kroes, Executive Director
(801) 272-8824, ext. 5
(801) 573-8824 (mobile)
steve@utahfoundation.org

Candidates For Governor Answer Detailed Questions On Their Policy Agendas

Utah Foundation, a nonpartisan research institution, has released answers to a major questionnaire given to candidates for governor. The candidates have provided details on how each would address the most important problems and issues facing Utah. The list of important issues was developed from the Utah Priorities Poll, conducted in January for Utah Foundation by Dan Jones and Associates. Information on the poll, research on the top issues, and candidates’ responses to detailed questions are online at www.utahpriorities.net.

Speaking of the candidates’ involvement, Steve Kroes, Executive Director of Utah Foundation, said “Everyone likes to say that politicians avoid giving specific answers on how they would solve our state’s problems, but I have to say I’m impressed by their responses to our questionnaire. At UtahPriorities.Net, they have clearly stated where they stand on issues like school choice, improving teacher quality, creating jobs for Utahns, and spreading the tax burden fairly. If you read the candidates’ answers, you’ll find, for example, that two of them would eliminate the sales tax on food, while two would keep it, and most of the others are interested in cutting this tax if the circumstances are right.” On another hot-button issue, six of the candidates who responded clearly say they will support tuition tax credits for students attending private schools, while two candidates have some hesitation about implementing such a policy.

Mr. Kroes urged party delegates to utilize the information available on the Utah Priorities website. “With the political conventions coming up this weekend, the information found on the Utah Priorities website will be vital to making an informed choice on who should lead this state for the next four to twelve years. Although most of the attention is focused right now on the Republican gubernatorial race, both Democratic and Republican delegates can certainly use the information on our website to inform their discussions on the most important issues and to develop questions for the candidates for other offices.”

The Utah Priorities Project is a special election-year public information effort by Utah Foundation. Utah Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization. Our mission is to encourage informed public policy making and to serve as Utah's trusted source for independent, objective research on crucial public policy issues. This project is designed to promote a more informed, rational debate on the most important issues facing our state, and Utah Foundation does not and will not endorse any candidate or party. Learn more about the Utah Priorities project at www.utahpriorities.net.

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