It goes on! What's the future?

I have taken a breather from politics and have enjoyed a wonderful time of Thanksgiving and celebration of the Savior's birth. I hope you also had a wonderful holiday season. This has been a monumental year for our family. It has been filled with tears of sorrow and tears of joy. It has brought a family together under extreme circumstances and the family has performed well. Our daughter survived due to a miracle - not only the burn injuries but also the trauma of the crash. It was meant for her to live and finish her mission with her family and others. And, in the meantime, we have learned you ask for what you need and accept what is given to you with gratitude. Stephanie will be coming home soon!

The newspapers have picked up on an exercise I am conducting regarding my chances in running for mayor of Provo. I have written a number of peer leaders in all parts of the city asking for a judgment on my electability and name ID in their part of town. I will be contacting these people in the next couple of months for an assessment. That is the only thing I have done and this exercise should not be construed as a decision to run for mayor. Local government has been appealing to me because it is where public servants meet the people face to face. I would like to hear your take on this prospective.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

To my constituents

I don't want to start the legislative year without thanking you again for your trust and overwhelming support for me. As I met with many of you on the campaign trail I mentioned my disappointment in not hearing from my constituents. Even when critical votes come up I seldom get constituent input. When the voucher votes came up (at least 3 times in the last eight years) I received very little reponse for or against on the issue. I am hoping this will change. I plea with you to take a few minutes out of your busy schedule during the upcoming session and let me know your opinion on issues. This is the only way I can know what my constituents are thinking - otherwise, I can only vote my best judgment. Feel free to email me at sclark@utah.gov. I hope to hear from you. Regards Steve

My sincere gratitude

Hi friends, neighbors and constituents,

The votes haven't been counted 100% in District #63 but the Daily Herald called and said I won. I want to thank my wife Cindy and all my children including Stephanie (who is in the Maricopa Burn Center) and my grandchildren for their hard work and encouragement in my campaign. I thank my campaign manager David Morgan and his sister Barb for giving me good counsel. To all my supporters - especially those who put their name on the line in support of me I thank them for their courage and loyalty. And, to my constituents and voters of district 63 who put their trust in me thank you and know I will honor that trust and will serve you well.

To my friend Don Jarvis - who I respect even more - I congratulate him on a good clean race. He worked hard. I know we can meet each other on the street or in church and feel comfortable. There is no bad feelings or regrets. The difference is simply party affliation.

All Utah County Democrat opponents worked hard and ran tough races. The only Democratic loser was the strategist that dreamed up the cockamamie idea to have Democrats masquerade as Republicans. This strategist has been a switch hitter all his political career - he ran for the legislature as a Republican and lost then - now he has switched to a Democrat, talked his Democrat friends into running disguised as Republicans. Go figure!

California Prop.8

President Packer told Arizonians in a Regional Conference held November 2, 2008 that if members of the church want to follow the brethren they should vote for Prop 8 in California and a similar proposition in Arizona.

The church has made the decision to stand firm for what is right regardless of the consequences. The Church will not drift with the times. I support its effort both in time and money to protect the sacred nature of marriage.

Consider this, the California Democratic Party has raised over $30 million to defeat Prop. 8 and the LDS church. The Republicans support the church. I am proud to be a Republican.

Talk all you want about hybrid Democrats in Utah County but the money Democrats raise and send to the National Party goes to support liberal inititives like Prop. 8. This is a "fact of life" and all the rhetoric about the "person not the party" is double talk - the person is the party.

Happy Halloween! There's some scary things out there!

As the trick or treaters came to the door I made note of the scariest costumes. I saw a vampire with glistening fangs and blood running down his cheeks. Pretty scary! Then a ghost came by with black eyes peering out of the bedsheet. Pretty scary! Then I saw a witch flying on a broomstick writing messages in the sky. Pretty scary! But, the scariest costume of all was a donkey dressed up as an elephant! I almost fainted! Happy Halloween!

The truth is known!

I have been doing extensive investigative work as to why Democratic candidates don't make their support known for candidates for President of the United States. Our Democrat friends are surprisingly moot on the point. I haven't seen a sign, a piece of literature or a hint as who they are voting for particularly when Obama seems to be the odds on choice to be president.

However, in my investigations I have discovered who my opponent is voting for and it wasn't easy to find out. I have a strong suspicion he is voting for Obama. How do I know? Look at the "O" in "VOTE" on his blue signs and presto an Obama symbol - that's how I know. Brilliant! The truth is known. President Obama will never know there is a state named Utah.

Norm Thurston's Letter to the Editor

I suggest you look up Norm Thurston's letter to the editor in the Daily Herald. Simply put the Utah County Democratic candidates don't believe in their own party. They have gone to great lenghts to avoid being identified as Democrats. Then on the other side of the coin they cry out for a two party system. My question is if Democrats want to be Republicans and don't want to affiliate with the Democratic Party who is the other party going to be?

It is crazy to think voters don't understand this charade - the two party system in Utah is live and well. Short of government mandating an equal split between parties, the voters will continue to decide what the split will be and in my opinion party platforms will continue to be the determining factor.

Thank you Independence High School

I recently received a letter from the faculty at Independence High School. I would like to share it with you since Democrats would like you to believe that teachers are not happy with the Republican Party and what it has done in the legislature. Here it goes:

Dear Steve Clark,

Independence High School teaching staff would like to thank you. As this new school year began and our new pay scale took effect, we did not want to pass the opportunity to mention our gratitude. We appreciate the efforts you have made over the past couple of years to make salaries in Utah competitive with surrounding states.

Additionally, with the change in the economy, it is particularly nice to live in the most fiscally responsible state in the nation. Even so, we know that you had to meet to re-balance the budget. Thank you for holding education harmless. It can be difficult to find the places to cut the budget and to leave education alone means a lot to the educators, students and parents of our school.

Sincerely,

Independence High School

All faculty signed the bottom of the letter.

THANKS INDEPENDENCE FOR YOUR GRATITUDE - remember it was the Republicans that got you the raise, kept Utah the most fiscally responsble state in the nation and held education harmless during re-balancing.

Ethics Committee Update

We - the House Ethics Committee - have made a decision on the Rep. Greg Hughes complaint. All charges filed against Rep. Hughes were found unproven. We spent seven days and took 60 hours of testimony from 40 witnesses before we came to this verdict. The complaint was filed by three Democrats and the committee of four Republicans and four Democrats found all six charges in the complaint unproven. The process works and works well. On this committee no party has vote advantage so the decision was correct, fair and non-partisan. I consider it a sacred trust to be one of the eight members of the Ethics Committee whose responsibility it is to sit in judgment of the 75 members of the House of Representatives.

Next week we start hearing the Rep. Phil Riesen complaint.

The Colorado Model

I suggest my readers refer to an article written in the The Weekly Standard, Denver Colorado by Fred Barnes. It is entiled "The Colorado Model."

The essence of this article is that Ethics in Colorado is being used as a test bed for a swarm offense by Democrats and liberals to put conservatives and Republicans on defense as much as possible. Does this tactic sound familiar?

Two party system

I have heard complaints that the two party system doesn't work in Utah. I disagree - the two party system is live and well in Utah. I have also heard that balance is needed in the legislature. I agree - but only if the people of Utah decide the balance. Since 1970 the voters of Utah have supported the two party system but have not supported balance otherwise we would see 52 Republicans and 52 Democrats serving. However, the voters will speak on how many Republicans and Democrats will serve in the legislature Nov. 4th.

When voters go to the polls they will remember that Utah is only one of five states with a triple A (AAA) bond rating, Utah has had enormous economic growth, its revenues are healthy even in declining economic times and its savings accounts are filled to the brim. Finally, Utah is proven to be the Best Managed State in the Nation.

Ethics Committee Hearing

I am writing this post from the Ethics Committee Hearing. As a committee member I cannot comment on the testimony or procedures but I can say the system works and works well. I now see the wisdom of this process and know that this is the best possible way of insuring fairness and integrity into the ethics process. I am honored to be a member of the committee.

Rally the troops!

I overheard a Democrat candidate trying to justify the disguise of his Democrat affliation. He said "I'm not a Democrat my political philosophy aligns with the Republicans." He went on to say "he would never support abortion." The voter asked "if you align with the Republicans why don't you run as a Republican?" The answer: "well I don't like the ethics of the Republicans." The voter ends the discussion by saying "well why don't you run as a Republican and then change Republican ethics when you get elected?"

Good question!

Republicans it is time to rally the troops! The Democrats are out in mass. It is time for Republicans to say "enough is enough" with this Democrat masquerade. We need sign locations, cottage meetings, walking neighborhoods, we need to energize the Republican base. Remember, we have only one month left to get our message out!

Thank you Daily Herald

In a October 2nd editorial the Daily Herald accessed the performance of the legislature in its budget cutting Special Session: " overall they (the legislators) did well which is good because this session is just a warm-up for tough choices they'll likely face in the regular session."

The paper goes on to say:"that makes the next session of the Legislature one of the most important in years. It's good that our lawmakers had a little practice before January." It is obvious the paper sees the importance of legislative stability in upcoming budget challenges.

"The governor and lawmakers acted commendable." "Utah's Legislature has a terrific track record of sound fiscal management and the Special Session only served to reinforce that reputation.

Remember, "while the dogs will continue to bark at the wheels of the caravan it will continue on!"

Palin Biden Debate

In tonight's debate it was clear where the Democrats stand on the definition of "marriage." Gov. Palin made it clear that Republicans defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Sen. Biden defined marriage as a union or contract between anybody. The sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman must never be compromised. A vote for Obama/Biden and Democratic candidates is a vote against preserving marriage.

Differences between Democrats and Republicans are starting to show!

Today I noticed in a Democrat handout some differences between Utah County Republicans and Democrats. Hopefully, we can now start seeing the differences to help voters chose. Hopefully, voters will soon be able to distinguish between the parties and candidates. Hopefully, voters will find out Democrats are not Republicans regardless of their Utah County platform. I believe the Democrat strategy to disguise their Democrat affiliation in their campaign presentations, literature and signs is questionable campaign ethics - a campaign issue Democrats are using against Republicans.

Public Education

Reporting from the House floor I am pleased to announce Public Education's budget was not touched in the recent round of $3oom budget cuts.

The Republicans have honored their commitment to hold Public Education harmless!

Who is your choice for president?

I am voting for the McCain/Palin ticket?

I would like to know who the Utah County Democrats are voting for - it may be a great questions to ask.

If they are joining me supporting the McCain/Palin ticket I hope they will be willing to plant a McCain/Palin sign on their front lawn.

Polling

Today I received some calls from constituents complaining that they have been contacted by a so-called polling agency asking questions about their voting preference. It is alarming that the caller has important information about the call recipient.

This is not "push polling!" Push polling is campaigning disguised as scientific polling. This could be ID theft.

If you get a call from a so-called pollster find out who they represent and where the information is going. Do not engage in the conversation if the caller does not devulge this information. I have been assured the Republican Party is not doing this.

Be careful there is a lot of deception in this election year!

Battle of the Signs

The battle of signs has begun in district #63. Campaign strategists tell me that signs do little to garner votes or even change votes but it's fun to compete for yard locations. I find it interesting some folks will have both candidate's signs on their lawn. It's OK. I believe the reason for this is some candidates don't put their party affiliation on their signs hoping people will think its a non-partisan race. The "battle of the lawn signs" goes on but the most important sign will be the D or R on the ballot in the voting booth.