Pub. 8 2020 Issue 2

www.uba.org 2 T he B ottom L ine Howard Headlee President Utah Bankers Association I can’t think of a better time to have an election for governor. Typically, voters base their vote for governor on issues that the governor doesn’t control (like public education). But today, every voter is intensely focused on things the gover- nor actually does control: the state’s re- sponse to the COVID-19 health crisis and protecting and restoring Utah’s economy. Before I go any further, I want to make a bold prediction about who will be our next governor. After looking at all the candidates and the recent polling, I am confident that the next governor of the State of Utah will be — drumroll — a Republican. If I am right, any voter who wants to decide who will lead the state out of this crisis should focus their attention on the Republican candidates. The four people on the Republican primary Ballot, due Tuesday, June 30, are: Spencer Cox, Greg Hughes, Jon Huntsman and Thomas Wright (listed alphabetically!) And they should focus their attention on one fundamental question: which of these candidates is best equipped to lead us out of this health crisis and restore the state to the economic heights we once enjoyed? This election cannot be about popularity, passionate speeches, folksy slogans or political purity. We must focus on who can achieve the greatest economic results. Without a robust economic recovery, our schools will suffer, and there won’t be suf- ficient resources to address critical issues like Medicaid expansion, homelessness, mental health, air quality, transportation, higher education or anything else. So which candidate is best equipped to lead us out of this self-imposed economic malaise and back to the economic heights we previously enjoyed? That’s the question. Fortunately, all of the Republican candi- dates are great men. I know each of them very well and I enjoy the time I get to spend with them. I can recommend each one of them to voters as far as integrity, honesty and sincerity. I know how I will vote, but rather than tell others how to vote, my recommendation is to sim- ply keep your decision focused on our response to the virus and protecting and restoring the economy. Everything else is a distraction. If we can stay focused on COVID and the post-COVID economy, the choice is simple. Unfortunately, today’s elections are usually determined by distractions. In most cases, campaigns are designed to appeal to the emotions of the voter, not to explore the practical duties of a particular office. If Utah’s voters get distracted June 30, things will be much different for our state five years from now. The outcome of the June 30 primary will have a long-lasting impact on this state we love and all those who live here. Utah’s response to COVID and protecting and restoring our economy are the issues our next governor can impact and should be the focus of the election. There are substantive differences between what the candidates have to offer in this area. May we choose wisely. n