By MICHELLE CHAMBERLAI
BYU law school graduates Chris Cannon and Rep. Bill Orton, candidates for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, will soon enter the arena to debate issues they feel are important to Utahns.
Mike Mower, Cannon’s campaign manager, said the opponents were friends in law school, and they expect a civilized and positive series of debates.
Jennifer Wilson, campaign manager for Orton, said he is looking forward to fair debates taking place later this year. Wilson also said Orton will let the people of his district know where he stands on several issues facing Utah citizens, such as welfare issues and cutting taxes.
Wilson said one concern Orton has about Cannon is the amount of money he has already put into his campaign.
“When a large amount of money circulates early in a campaign, it can create a huge impact on the view the public has of the candidate,” Wilson said.
Wilson said Orton has not put together a formal committee with chairs at this time because he is spending most of his time in Washington, D.C., voting.
Orton’s team members did not say there was a defined list of debates scheduled, but by Labor Day they should have the topics ready to announce. “Debates help crystallize the issues and allow voters to see the philosophical differences between the candidates,” Cannon said in a news release. “I look forward to the opportunity to set forth those differences before the voters this fall.”
Cannon announced his desire to run for the Third Congressional District and has Sen. Orrin Hatch and Sen. Robert Bennett serving as honorary co-chairs of his congressional campaign.
Hatch said in a news release that he agreed to join the Cannon campaign because he feels it is important for the Republicans to keep control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Hatch also said that by electing Cannon to Congress, the people of Utah will be represented in their values and ideals, as well as upholding the Republicans’ work in reforming welfare and taxes and having safer streets and neighborhoods
