This campaign is getting downright exciting! Positive change in Washington County is looking more and more likely as we get closer to Election Day. Lots of positive press coverage is appearing and the signs are showing that Alan Gardner and the Good Ol' Boys are quite nervous (see press clippings below).
You can help the campaign get even more exciting by spreading the word about the dozens of events (including 9 more debates) listed below and either showing up with your friends/family/neighbors or encouraging them to go. Items in bold are those we're sending out a call for volunteers (if you can help, please reply to this email or call Joyce Spinelli at 668-3509 for details)
Remember that we need to earn the vote of at least 18,000 voters who usually vote Republican in addition to getting every single Democrat to vote--especially if they're jaded about their vote for President not counting in Utah. If you help us get people to these events to meet Lin and/or hear a debate, we will win!
Please feel free to forward this message to anyone you think would be interested. Just be sure to check the events calendar at www.WinWithLin.org before heading to an event in case of any schedule changes.
The Line-up:
Friday 10/17, Free concert (Josh Warburton & friends) & free appetizers by Painted Pony, 6 – 9 p.m., Ancestor Square courtyard
Friday 10/17, Free concert (Desert Heat) & festivities, 6 – 9 p.m., Downtown Friday Night, St. George Town Square, co-sponsored by our campaign
Saturday, 10/18, 8 a.m., Ride for Dixie's Future: 30, 65 or 100 mile bicycle ride, Team Win With Lin, Main and Tabernacle, St. George
Monday, 10/20, Campaign Committee meeting, 1:30 p.m., Ancestor Square office, Main Street & St. George Boulevard
Monday, 10/20, Dixie State College Get Out The Vote Dorm Storm, 4 p.m., meet @ DSC parking lot directly North of Library building, 850 East 100 South
Monday 10/18, Brooks Pace fund raising dinner, 6 p.m., Painted Pony Restaurant, Ancestor Square, RSVP to 435.619.2929
Tuesday 10/21, Debate w/ Alan Gardner, 6 p.m., Winchester Hills Firehouse, 1090 West 5830 North
Wednesday 10/22, Debate w/ Alan Gardner, Brooks Pace & Steve Urquhart, Association of Planned Communities, St. George Holiday Inn
Thursday 10/23, Debate w/ Alan Gardner, Brooks Pace, Steve Urquhart, Dave Clark & Terry Moore, Noon, Intermountain Health Care, Coral Desert Amphitheater, 1424 East Foremaster Drive, St. George
Thursday 10/23, Debate w/ Alan Gardner, Brooks Pace & Steve Urquhart, 7 p.m., Citizens Council on Illegal Immigration, Washington County Chambers, 197 East Tabernacle, St. George
Friday 10/24, Free concert w/ Dave Kreitzer & The Embrace, 6 - 9 p.m., Dixie State College Amphitheater at the fountain
Friday 10/24, Bestor's Best of Utah Singer Search with Kurt Bestor, 6 - 9 p.m., Downtown Friday Night, St. George Town Square, co-sponsored by our campaign
Saturday 10/25, Meet & Greet, 11 a.m., New Harmony Library
Saturday 10/25, Washington County Candidates Debate, 1 p.m., Sun River Community Center
Saturday 10/25, Meet & Greet, 4 p.m., The Legacy community building,
Sunday 10/26, The Spiritual Side of Nature, conversation with Lin Alder and Alan Gardner, 10:30 a.m., Grace Episcopal Church, 1072 E 900 S
Monday 10/27, Debate w/ Alan Gardner, 8 p.m., Dixie State College Dunford Auditorium, The Spectrum and Utah Public Radio (live statewide broadcast)
Tuesday 10/28, Meet & Greet, 7:30, Leeds
Wednesday 10/29, Debate w/ Alan Gardner, Noon, Dixie State College Gardner Center, St. George Chamber of Commerce
Wednesday 10/29, Meet & Greet, 4 p.m., Sun River
Wednesday 10/29, Debate w/ Alan Gardner, Brooks Pace and Steve Urquhart, 7 p.m., Red Mountain Elementary, 263 E 200 S, Ivins
Thursday 10/30, Debate w/ Alan Gardner, noon, Dixie State College Dunford Auditorium, Dixie State College Forum Series
Thursday 10/30, Debate w/ Alan Gardner, Brooks Pace and Steve Urquhart, 7 p.m., Coral Canyon Elementary, 3435 Canyon Crest Ave., Washington
Friday 10/31, Trunk or Treat festival with Van Goh, 6 - 10 p.m., Downtown Friday Night, St. George Town Square, co-sponsored by our campaign
Saturday 11/1, Butch Cassidy 10K fun run
Monday 11/2 and 11/3, Get Out The Vote
Tuesday 11/4, Voting Day!
Tuesday 11/4, Celebration, 7 p.m., Location TBA
Wednesday 11/5 and 11/6, Take down the signs
Our campaign is in the press:
Debates center around economy, The Spectrum, 10/8/08
http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081008/NEWS01/810080344&s=d&page=2#pluckcomments
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How will Washington County face hard economic times? The Spectrum, 10/8/08http://www.thespectrum.com/
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Candidates spar over Vision Dixie, The Spectrum, 10/13/08
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Water District takes cost effective steps to ensure water supply, The Spectrum, 10/11/08
http://www.thespectrum.com/
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Urquhart joins Powell Pipeline Liar's Club, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10/12/08
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Debates center around economy
BY SCOTT KERBS • skerbs@thespectrum.com • October 8, 2008
ST.GEORGE - The financial future of Southern Utah was emphasized Tuesday as Washington County Commission and state senate candidates debated and presented their plans for stabilizing the local economy in the midst of a nationwide downturn.
The County Commission candidates, Democrat Lin Alder and incumbent Republican Alan Gardner, opened the Southern Utah Home Builders Association luncheon debate, followed by Utah State Senate candidates Steve Urquhart and Brooks Pace.
After brief introductions from both County Commission candidates, Alder identified his campaign platforms, focusing on the reduction of energy costs.
Alder emphasized the need to limit Southern Utah's dependence on foreign oil, suggesting a shift in focus to accommodate large solar farm projects in the area.
He did not detail a solar project proposal during the debate, but Alder explained his plans briefly after the event.
"My proposal is a major, 750-megawatt solar plant in the southwest corner of our county," Alder said.
With economic uncertainty looming throughout the county, Alder said he expects the financial situation to worsen in the near future.
"2008 has been tough," Alder said. "2009 is going to be a lot tougher. We need to begin the process of worst-case scenario planning."
He recommended the temporary suspension of impact fees imposed on local developers by the Washington County Water Conservancy District as a means of stimulating the county economy.
"I would recommend we consider a six-month hiatus," he said.
Gardner focused on limiting fuel costs and cutting taxes as he outlined his economic platform.
"Four-dollar gas has crippled us," Gardner said. "The only thing that is going to bring the price of oil down is availability."
Gardner said he plans to continue working with other county commissioners from across the country in urging the federal government to allow the mining of oil shale resources near eastern Utah, Colorado and Wyoming.
Chemicals found within oil shale rocks can be mined and synthesized to create a substitute for crude oil.
Following the debate, Gardner said the region contains enough oil to support the nation's fuel requirements for 100 years.
"It lowers our gas prices so we can get our economy going again," he said. "Until we increase the oil supply, our gas prices are not going to come down," he said.
Cutting taxes is also an essential tool in stabilizing the economy, Gardner said,
"One thing we can do is keep our taxes as low as we can," he said "We are not going to have an increase."
As the District 29 Senate candidates, Republican Urquhart and Democrat Pace, addressed the crowd, much of their discussion focused on the pervasive economic downturn.
Urquhart said a strong partnership between Dixie State College and University of Utah would provide expanded research capabilities and faculty.
"It brings unprecedented opportunities to our area," he said. "We can build a future that is far better than the present,"
Urquhart conveyed a message similar to Gardner's as he also said cutting taxes is required to restore the local economy.
Pace said there are few short-term solutions to the economic decline.
"I don't know anything that can be done for it right now," he said.
While he acknowledged the scarcity of quick fixes, Pace described his long-term goals to ensure the area's future.
He focused on sustaining tourism in Washington County, and said efforts must be made to maintain the area's natural beauty.
"We are steward of one of the most incredible economic machines that we could possibly imagine," Pace said "We cannot ruin our tourism industry by over-developing," Pace said.
Solar energy was also a concern for Pace as he underscored the need to create renewable energy resources.
He pointed to the falling costs associated with solar power generation, calling the prospect of a large solar plant "a real possibility."
"I think that can be an incredible industry for Southern Utah," he said.
How will Washington County face hard economic times?
The Spectrum Opinion page
October 8, 2008
This month's news from Wall Street means we have difficult times ahead. When it comes to the economic stability of
Washington County's government, 2008 has been tough. Our predicted revenue fell short, and property taxes increased.
In 2009, our traditional population growth rate may go way down. Will property taxes increase in 2009?
For more than three decades, the local housing industry has grown the county's property tax base. But the economy is
shifting very quickly. Our county government now needs to focus on economic survival and stimulus. The county needs
to become agile and rethink its revenue expectations from the troubled housing market in 2009.
Local developers are facing the additional challenge of paying the Water Conservancy District's impact fees of
basically $5,000 per quarter-acre lot. That's a big enough challenge, but the price tag for the Lake Powell Pipeline
recently increased from $585 million to $1.064 billion. In 2009, the impact fees on new lots will need to double to
accommodate this price increase. This means $10,000 per quarter-acre lot. Quite frankly, with the Dow below 10,000,
I think we need to rethink this impact fee, at least for the short term.
If elected, I would work to engage the county commission in a worst-case scenario planning process. The commission
should consider shifting revenue expectations away from impact fees and growth-related property tax increases for at
least part of 2009. We would also identify economic stimulus options. The biggest stimulus to consider is a
six-month suspension of the Water Conservancy District's impact fee. This short-term stimulus could help keep food
on the tables for many of us.
As commissioner, I would also enthusiastically work to attract more than $500 million of private investment from
solar power companies to build a 750 megawatt solar-power plant in the southwest corner of our county.
My inspiration for this solar-powered economic stimulus plan comes from oilman T. Boone Pickens. His plan to produce
20 percent of America's power from renewable energy by 2020 will produce hundreds of billions of dollars in new
wealth. We should earn our solar-powered share of that economic boon here in the desert.
Today's troubled economy also raises new questions about the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline. I think it is only one
of four alternatives to develop water for our county's future water needs. It is certainly the most expensive. The
other options are additional development of surface water - the Santa Clara and Virgin rivers, groundwater in the
Navajo sandstone below us and more efficiently using the water we've already developed.
I have studied all water reports dating back to 1991 when the pipeline was first proposed. It's clear that the
pipeline has been studied very seriously, but the alternatives have not. I suggest that we don't have enough
information to write off any alternative yet - especially ones that are more reliable and affordable. But the
four-year-long environmental impact statement is just now starting and should address all alternatives equally.
Why does this matter? Because it will soon cost a minimum of $10,000 per water hook-up. It is also the straw that
has broken the back of some developers who are now in bankruptcy. I hope we can learn a lesson from the mortgage
meltdown caused by people getting in avoidable debt that they couldn't afford when the economy changed. If you think
about it, the pipeline could be Washington County's mortgage meltdown waiting to happen: avoidable debt we can't
afford.
Regardless of your perspective on the pipeline, I ask that you elect me to the county commission so I can be a
balancing voice that ensures that the EIS produces a fair analysis of four alternatives. Once the studies are
finished, you should vote on the best option. In today's economy, you should have a say before the government puts
you deeper into debt.
Lin Alder is a Democratic candidate for the Washington County Commission.
Candidates spar over Vision Dixie
BY PATRICE ST. GERMAIN • patrices@thespectrum.com • October 13, 2008
ST. GEORGE - In 2006 following an outcry from local residents about the Lands Bill proposed by Utah Sen. Robert Bennett and Congressman Jim Matheson, Vision Dixie was born.
A series of meetings took place throughout the county and numerous people participated in the Vision Dixie meeting before the information was complied in a report in 2007.
Given the enormous response by the citizens of the county, the Vision Dixieprocess was important to everyone from elected officials, business owners and residents and is still important to the candidates running for Washington County Commissioner.
Democratic candidate for County Commissioner Lin Alder said that in order to make the Vision Dixie implementation successful, he believes the business community and the citizens need to be more prominently involved in the implementation committee and process.
"Vision Dixie can not succeed as long as it remains primarily a government driven process," Alder said.
Alder's proposal is to expand the implantation committee from five members to a 15 member board with five members each representing business, citizens and government
County Commission incumbent Alan Gardner said Alder's been pushing the 15 member implementation committee and he doesn't agree with that.
Gardner said Alder has a heavy-handed approach with the implementation committee that Gardner said will be met with resistance by a number of the cities.
"The county doesn't have the authority nor does the implementation committee to go to towns and say 'do this,'" Gardner said. "You will turn off the towns is you come in with a heavy hand."
While Gardner said the individual communities need to make decisions about implementing the principles of Vision Dixie he also said that the wheels of government turn a lot slower than some would like.
"We have given it to the cities to implement in each city as they see the needs in the community," Gardner said. "It will take some time to go through the process."
Alder, however, said many citizens in the community are wondering what happened to Vision Dixie, Adler added that although Gardner claims to be fully committed to Vision Dixie, he wonders where all the enthusiasm went since it was unveiled to the public in January.
"I fully recognize that these processes take time but I question the amount of time that has been taken simply to introduce the principles to the cities," Alder said. "I know that many city councils and planning commissions in Washington County want more help in the work now required which includes rewriting zoning ordinances and general plans.
Alder said that work requires assistance from experts in the field, participation from citizens and careful consideration by the planning and city councils.
"Why has the county not answered the calls for help?" Alder said. "Why has the county not asked more business leaders to answer those calls for help?"
Alder said he believes the majority of citizens want the implementation to succeed and as a community, invested $500,000 designing Vision Dixie.
Gardner said he doesn't feel like there is any resistance to adopt Vision Dixie but the county or committee has no authority to push it down the throats of the cities.
As far as some of the principles about sensitive lands, Gardner feels that it's a little unfortunate some of that could not have happened earlier.
"One of the issues raised is the public lands out there," Gardner said. "To me, some of the public lands would have been better to develop and some of the private lands not develop."
Gardner said in particular, he would have liked to seen the Washington and St. George fields undeveloped and left as green space and developed into sagebrush flats rather than agriculture fields.
"That has been a concern for me in the Pine Valley (area) as well," Gardner said.
Gardner's family has property in Pine Valley and said the family has worked on conservation easements to preserve that property.
Alder said he believes the majority of the citizens want Vision Dixie to address additional key questions, of which the first is how large of a population can local water supplies support Ð 300,000; 600,000; 900,000; and once there is reliable evidence to supply that number, asks ourselves the next and absolutely crucial question of how big do we want to grow.
"Vision Dixie can help us answer the question that we absolutely must answer and how gracefully we will run out of water because we know that someday we will not be able to provide more water for more residents at some point," Alder said. "Will we hit that brick wall running at full speed or will we slide into that wall like sliding safely into home plate?"
Gardner said, like the conservation easement his family has done, there are other similar efforts being done around the county.
"We need to be careful as we grow," Gardner said. "We live in spectacular country and we need to preserve the quality of life and the view shed that we have."
Water District takes cost effective steps to ensure water supply
The Spectrum Opinion page
October 11, 2008
Lin Alder has written an opinion suggesting policies that would halt water development for Washington County. I hope residents understand the problems that would occur if you follow his lead.
We can all understand that it costs money to develop water resources. Wells must be drilled, pumps installed, water tanks built and pipelines constructed. Surface water must be diverted, stored in reservoirs and treated to safe standards.
The Washington County Water Conservancy District has adopted a policy that new growth must pay for the new water needed to serve that growth. Impact fees are the legal mechanism to allocate the cost of water for new growth. WCWCD impact fees are paid for by developers, builders or new lot owners in order to receive the water needed for their use. If water development costs weren't covered by impact fees, they would be added to your water rates. Existing customers would be paying to develop water for future customers.
The WCWCD impact fees pay for available capacity in existing water storage, treatment and delivery systems. Impact fees being collected now also pay for the systems that will be constructed in the next few years, such as the Crystal Creek Pipeline, Ash Creek system and Warner Valley Reservoir project, along with wells, treatment plants and other capital facilities. If these projects are not built, we will run out of water in the very near future.
Only after these projects have been built would impact fees go to pay for the Lake Powell Pipeline. The WCWCD impact fees do not include a cost for water rights, which can be as high as $40,000 to supply a household. By eliminating the cost of water rights and by blending the cost of all these projects, impact fees are kept at the lowest possible level.
The WCWCD has consulted with water experts over many years to ensure that the best available data are used in planning for water development. The United States Geological Survey has conducted extensive studies of the Navajo Sandstone Aquifer to identify the amount of water available. The Utah state water engineer has placed limits to match the available supply. The WCWCD will not rely upon a groundwater supply that will run out, leaving homes and businesses with no water.
Data also have been collected for the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers. Alder is suggesting we use water resources that flow only three out of every 10 years. No responsible water manager would choose to provide you with such an unreliable water supply. Furthermore, Alder's proposal would never succeed because it would take water away from endangered fish in violation of federal law.
Water planning and development must be adaptable. If growth slows, water development can be slowed. However, large water projects take years to plan and construct. If you postpone these actions too long, the water won't be there when needed. If we don't pay for projects needed until Lake Powell water is delivered, we will run out of water. Residents will be harmed, not by the cost of water, but by the lack of water for their homes and businesses.
All of the studies and considerations relied upon by the WCWCD have been addressed in open and public meetings of the WCWCD, the county, cities and state water agencies. The studies have been published and are publicly available. Nobody who has read and understood these studies would agree with Lin Alder's plans for Washington County's future.
As one wise person said, when you have water, you have many problems; when you have no water, you have only one problem. The WCWCD has a duty to solve that one problem, and we believe we have done so in a cost-effective manner, allocating costs to those who create the demand.
Ronald W. Thompson is general manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District.
Urquhart joins Powell Pipeline Liar's Club
Salt Lake Tribune Opinion pageRecently, Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, joined the club, stating in the October issue of Today In Dixie magazine, "The residents in Southern Utah aren't going to have to take this on by themselves. The state will pay for a big chunk of this pipeline."
Either Urquhart had a case of temporary amnesia or he wasn't paying attention in 2006 when he voted for legislation authorizing the pipeline project. The legislation creating the pipeline organization clearly states on the Legislature's Web site: "All costs of the project will then be repaid by the three subscribing water districts . . . through a balance of impact fees, property taxes and fees."
It isn't a shock to anyone who follows Washington County politics that Urquhart - now running for state Senate - is a member of the club. Several of Urquhart's political associates - including all three members of the Washington County Commission - are already members, having previously made their own misleading statements concerning the pipeline, as in the following examples:
"The pipeline will only cost $500 million." That's not even close to true. The state recently re-estimated construction costs, concluding it would require nearly $1 billion to build the pipeline and nearly another billion in interest payments to finance it.
The state will issue bonds to build it - in essence take out a mortgage for 30 or 40 years - and the entire $2 billion of cost, principal and interest, will be repaid by the local water districts. And is there anyone who really believes the current $2 billion estimate is high enough when it's already doubled in just the past year?
"The pipeline will be a redundant water supply." That's impossible when you understand that the only way to pay for the pipeline is through fees paid by newcomers who will move to Washington County and consume the pipeline water. To add insult to injury, if newcomers fail to come in sufficient numbers the residents of southern Utah will be stuck with the balance of the $2 billion bill.
"We have to build it because they are coming." This is the biggest scam of all. The truth is that Washington County will certainly run out of water for newcomers at some point and they will have to stop coming. Nobody is stupid enough to come if there isn't sufficient access to water.
With finite water supplies, the question is when will southern Utah shut off the growth, not if it will shut off the growth. And there are only two possible growth scenarios. Washington County officials can manage growth within the existing water supplies - enough for 500,000 people if reasonable conservation practices are put in place - or they can spend $2 billion to build a pipeline that will accommodate 785,000 people.
Personally, I think more than tripling the current Washington County population to 500,000 is more than enough and we ought to forget about the pipeline. Spending $2 billion to pack 785,000 people into the county would make it a pretty lousy place to live.
I've been a pretty reliable Republican voter over the years but this time around in local elections I'm going against my party where necessary and voting for honesty on the pipeline. I hope many of my neighbors in Washington County will do the same.
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* BRUCE WILSON lives in Washington County. He is a writer.
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