Pete Ashdown

I am endorsing Ralph Becker for mayor of Salt Lake City.

Based on my conversations with Ralph along with his response to my questionnaire, I believe he has the experience to benefit this city. I am impressed with his convictions for proper planning and zoning, along with his commitment to historic preservation. He understands what horse is driving the economic cart in Salt Lake City, small business. I believe he is committed to not only encouraging new local ownership, but he will also stay in touch with existing businesses to find out what is needed from the city.

Ralph’s time at the legislature is an important part of his ability to keep Utah’s capitol city an important component of decisions made there. Although I have not always agreed with some of the votes he has made in the past, I respect that he has his concerns in the right place. I know that other legislators, many outside of the Democratic party, hold Ralph Becker in high regard.

I know Representative Becker believes as I do that politics holds the potential to become more than a money game. His ethics at the Capitol have been admirable. I have been impressed not only with his actions, but his staff in this mayoral race so far.

I hope you take a close look and make him your choice for mayor too. Go Ralph go!

Keith submitted his response to my questionnaire after Jenny Wilson’s was posted last week. I did set a date for returned responses, but only Ralph Becker and Dave Buhler met the deadline. Keith was the only candidate who had the opportunity to read other candidate responses before submitting his own. Please keep this in mind when reading his answers. Keith Christensen’s website is located here.

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1. What is your plan for action to rejuvenate Main Street and Downtown? This does not include the City Creek Center or plans by the LDS Church. How do you plan to encourage locally-owned business development?

Main Street has been hurt by poor planning in the past. From the widening of sidewalks on Main Street that eliminated parking, to poor estimations of the impact of TRAX on retailers, decisions made about historic Downtown have historic ramifications that can run decades into the future. The city needs leadership to make certain that Downtown and Main St. are more safe and livable in the future.

There are a few things we can do to ensure this:

Remember, Main St. is not one block. Your question points it out perfectly. People often talk about Main St. as if revitalizing the area is a one step process. City Creek fixes it all in some minds. It is not that simple. Main Street must be approached on a block by block basis. The potential uses of Main between South Temple and 100 South (City Creek Center) will certainly not be the same as Main between 200 and 300 South (Wells Fargo building, City Weekly Offices, Sam Weller’s, etc..) As mayor, I will focus our attention on each individual block of Main Street, ensuring appropriate redevelopment.

Improve transit options for Downtown.

• TRAX (despite the detrimental impacts upon Main St. businesses) is wonderful for commuters and shoppers making their way downtown.
• Bus routes that enhance public transportation use, especially for our future downtown residents.
• Invest in a bicycle-friendly Downtown. It’s environmentally friendly, and also mitigates some parking and traffic issues.

Develop greater residential space. Though the City Creek Center and the redevelopment of the downtown area will bring greater residential components to the area, more can be done. As a city, we need to formulate a housing policy for the city, and focus a great amount of effort in an effective residential plan for downtown.

2. Pioneer Park has consistently been a target of Mayor Anderson for revival. Do you feel the park is in need of revival? If so, what would your plan be?

Columnist Paul Rolly recently commented that on a short stroll through the park, he was asked if he wanted to buy illegal drugs on three separate occasions. The park is in dire need of a full makeover. As a city, we cannot afford to band-aid problems that require significant investment to solve. Though I applaud some of the things the council has moved forward on in the past months, more must be done.

I support Mayor Anderson’s approach to Pioneer Park. I believe the time has come to give Pioneer Park a facelift, giving it a sense of place, making it a part of a livable, safe downtown. Right now, it is an area that simply has not fulfilled its potential.

Most importantly, a strong, continued undercover police presence at the park is essential. Drug dealers and buyers should be vigorously prosecuted. Besides enforcement, many other improvements must be made. We need to have a stage for concerts, lectures, and community events. We need a playground area where parents are not afraid to take their children. We can turn a portion of the park into an off-leash area for dog owners. We literally can mold Pioneer Park into a place that our City can be proud of. But band-aids and half-hearted efforts simply will not do the job. Pete, you know as well as I do, that in business, the only thing worse than spending too much money, is spending too little to get the job done.

3. Historic preservation has traditionally taken a backseat to economic and developer demand in Salt Lake City. Do you feel this is a proper course of action for a city? What are your own feelings on Salt Lake’s historic properties? What would you do to protect or rid the city of them? Do you believe the RDA (Redevelopment Agency) has been a success in Salt Lake City? Should a government entity like the RDA be able to claim “economic hardship” in order to demolish historic properties in Salt Lake City?

Our city has so much heritage and history to show. The Mormon Pioneers, and the many that followed, have given us a rich legacy. As Mayor, count on me to preserve our legacy and heritage, leading the search for workable solutions for the community, the developers, and owners. Too often, these situations are approached in a zero-sum fashion, but frequently, the situations can be resolved in a win-win for all involved. It simply takes leadership, communication, and effort to get the job done right.

Historic preservation, whether of parks, buildings or any other cultural asset matters to me as resident, not just as your mayor. I’ve helped preserve buildings for adaptive reuse for example when I was a councilman, such as finding ways to fund the historic Eccles-Browning Warehouse and Cornwall Buildings to make way for the Artspace Projects. Maintaining our built legacy is essential, and I will work with all concerned to strengthen ordinances that protect all of our cultural resources.

The Brooks Arcade situation was very unfortunate, as you and I discussed. Working as a community, we can make certain that our city is a modern marvel for both its impressive infrastructure, and its historic treasures.

4. Liberty Park has received a lot of city funding while the Tracy Aviary has been largely ignored by the city. Promises of shared funding have also not been kept. What will you do to balance the attention of city funding for public facilities? Do you think the city needs an aviary?

The community at large must speak out on this issue. The only pertinent reason for the city to have an aviary is for public interest. If we can establish that there is a level of interest high enough to maintain Tracy Aviary appropriately, then I will find a way to do so.

5. Please tell me how you balance compromise and conflict, diplomacy and leadership.

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” – Theodore M. Hesburgh

There would be no need for diplomacy without leadership and a vision. Over the course of my life, both as an attorney (practicing for a dozen years, recovering for 20), and now with my businesses, I have learned to deal with this daily challenge successfully. That success has largely been built upon the fact that I listen to those around me, take the best advice I can find, and move forward with that vision. In my role as Mayor, I would take the same approach. The mayor is no dictator. As the Olympics proved, there is no limit to what this city can accomplish when we work together.

6. What is your priority list for your attention? Do you believe national and international problems should ever override your local focus? How do you prioritize public interest verses private commercial concern? What comes first for you?

My focus is Salt Lake City. My top priorities are:

Education. Our city has the most diverse population in Utah. It is marvelous. But this remarkable diversity brings a unique set of challenges to our city. I welcome these challenges, and I am convinced our city is better for it. As we discussed, I have a plan to improve education in our city through a public-private mentoring partnership called “Read by 3”, focusing on literacy.. You can read more at www.keithformayor.com. In essence, we can do more for the future of our children through education than any other area. As education improves, so does opportunity. As mayor, I will work hard with our community to make certain that when opportunity knocks, our children are ready and waiting to answer!

Crime. Our city has benefited from crime reduction for the past few years. We can do more. As mayor, crime prevention will be a hallmark of my administration.

There is a direct correlation between dropout/graduation rates in America and drug crime. In Salt Lake City, 86% of our crime is drug related. Therefore, it behooves us to address education, as I have set forth above. This will have the net effect of improving education, while dropping crime rates. That is something we all can look forward to.

Mayor Anderson’s restorative justice program has been a success. I will continue and build upon that strong foundation.

Our police force is truly second to none. As mayor, I will make certain that our police have both the personnel, and the physical resources necessary to adequately perform their function.

Enhancing Quality of Life. Our environment, our economy, our transportation system. These are fundamental building blocks of a livable city. We can do much to improve our quality of life through making the right decisions. With proper leadership in these areas, our future is bright.

7. Do you believe municipal fiber-optics are an essential part of an advanced city infrastructure?

Yes, and our city council missed a great opportunity.

8. Are you in favor of Utah’s liquor laws? Do you think they are appropriate for all areas of Utah? What role does government play in moderating adult behavior?

Our liquor laws certainly could use some tweaking. Thought the Legislature sets liquor laws for the state, our city ordinance relating to restaurants and private clubs proximity to one another is archaic and is significantly negatively impacting our city. It is poorly constructed, and overly restrictive.

Mayor Anderson has attempted to engage the City Council on this issue, but it appears they are uninterested. This issue is important, however, and I will proactively work with the Council to institute appropriate changes to our ordinance.

9. How do you intend to bridge the gap between belief systems in Utah?

I believe there is far more that unites us than divides us. We all want a more safe, livable community. We all desire a vibrant downtown. We all would like the west side to blossom to its full potential. We all breathe easier when our air is cleaner. These concerns unite us, but only if we cast aside some of our more petty differences, and work as one.

As mayor, I recognize unity is not achieved by one person. It must be a community effort. That is why I have begun assembling a coalition of mayors along the Wasatch Front. I have met with more than 20 mayors, letting them know that, if elected, I want all the mayors in our Wasatch Front Community to join together in confronting the problems of our day. Education, Crime, and Environment are all important to our community. Together with this coalition, we can tackle the major issues, working to make the Wasatch Front the most livable community in America. It can be done!

10. What are your opinions of the Utah legislature, and how do you intend to make sure Utah’s capitol city has a working relationship with the legislature?

It has certainly been a “rocky road” to the legislature for some time now. I am prepared to engage the legislature in discussion about Salt Lake that have for too long, and for partisan reasons, been ignored.

Obviously, there is a distinct difference between the capitol city, and the majority of legislators on Capitol Hill. That need not be an obstacle, however. Diversity of thought should not be an impediment to productive discussion of the issues that matter to Salt Lake.

When it comes to the legislature, I will speak passionately on behalf of our city, while maintaining a relationship of trust and respect with legislators. Having spoken with many of them over the past few months, I can tell you that such trust and respect will be mutual, and beneficial for Salt Lake.

11. All the mayoral candidates appear to be in favor of “Buying Local” according to the Vest Pocket survey. Where is your website hosted? If you have a business website, where is that hosted?

That’s above my pay grade. My campaign technology expert told me to leave him alone and let him do his job. Usually, that’s good advice.

Jenny Wilson’s campaign website is located here.

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1. What is your plan for action to rejuvenate Main Street and Downtown? This does not include the City Creek Center or plans by the LDS Church. How do you plan to encourage locally-owned business development?

I believe that the next decade is extremely critical and decisions made will make or break downtown. Currently, there are several initiatives and developments and a strong city Economic Development team and leadership from the Mayor’s office will be critical.

The City Creek Development will provide greater retail and housing. The housing component interests me very much as an increasing in housing will provide business and commercial opportunities in other sections of downtown and will provide greater flow on Main Street.

As we discussed over lunch, I believe that the block south of the new development is critical. I believe that the Utah Theatre would benefit the city as a film center and that the west side of that block (West Temple) can be redesigned and serve as delightful urban space. We need a passage through the block. I am currently holding conversations with property owners from a County perspective to begin piecing this together. Although funding resources have diminished, I am committed to continuing discussions about the development of an arts district and a new theatre in downtown Salt Lake City.

Another key downtown area that needs strong planning is the RDA west of the Gateway (Depot RDA). 200 South will become a key street within a year when the TRAX expansion to the intermodal is completed and Frontrunner arrives. This area has a lot of promise for eclectic business and interesting modern urban establishments.

I believe that the Salt Lake Chamber should be commended for their efforts on Downtown Rising, which is basically a conceptual master plan for downtown Salt Lake. It is a great beginning “visioning” process for what our city can be. As Mayor, I will look very closely at the ideas in the concept to determine both their need and feasibility, as well as solicit public input. Obviously not everything can be done immediately, but by carefully looking at the concept and using smart-growth and planning skills, we can incorporate much of this into a new downtown over several decades.

It is vitally important that we ensure the success of locally owned businesses and encourage their development. As part of my campaign, I have visited dozens of small, locally owned businesses, meeting with owners and managers and discussing the challenges they face. Not only did these visits help me realize the struggles that small businesses go through, but it also made me appreciate them even more. I have taken the things that I have learned through the visits, and under my administration, economic development would work more proactively to assist these small businesses. Each small business in our community is vital, as it has been proven that for every dollar spent locally, the economic revenue impact is equal to 7x that amount. The benefit and lasting impact of small businesses seems obvious to me, but then I see things such as the redevelopment of the Granite block in Sugarhouse and I am disheartened. This is an area that I have spent a lot of area thinking about and researching due to what has recently happened to Sugarhouse. How we allowed this to happen is disappointing to me and I think it is a significant failure of leadership.

2. Pioneer Park has consistently been a target of Mayor Anderson for revival. Do you feel the park is in need of revival? If so, what would your plan be?

Pioneer Park holds a significant amount of green space in Salt Lake City and will remain a great asset. There is no doubt that the park is in need of revival. What that looks like and how that is done, however, is still up for debate. The park holds a lot of potential, but also faces some serious challenges. I am supportive of the push to reinvest and revitalize Pioneer Park yet how much and when is an important question. Mayor Anderson has proposed a significant, ambitious overhaul of the park while the City Council has said that they prefer a smaller, more staged approach to improve Pioneer Park. Both plans have merit, but for either plan to work and to properly revitalize Pioneer Park, it is important to be honest and realistic about the current problems that the park faces. There are significant drug problems facing the park as well as transient and homeless issues, location challenges and even parking troubles. I feel that for any plan to be successful, we need to be realistic about these challenges and the revitalization efforts need to take them into account and properly address them.

3. Historic preservation has traditionally taken a backseat to economic and developer demand in Salt Lake City. Do you feel this is a proper course of action for a city? What are your own feelings on Salt Lake’s historic properties? What would you do to protect or rid the city of them? Do you believe the RDA (Redevelopment Agency) has been a success in Salt Lake City? Should a government entity like the RDA be able to claim “economic hardship” in order to demolish historic properties in Salt Lake City?

I believe that our historic properties are key to the character of our city. I believe and support strong community partnerships for the preservation of key buildings. Historic properties owned by Salt Lake City corporation need to be inventoried and treated carefully. I believe that the RDA is an important tool for Salt Lake City yet RDAs should not be “give aways” to developers and should be done to improve blighted areas and increase economic development. I am not familiar with the “economic hardship” claims to demolish historic properties (are you referring to the SROs?). Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

4. Liberty Park has received a lot of city funding while the Tracy Aviary has been largely ignored by the city. Promises of shared funding have also not been kept. What will you do to balance the attention of city funding for public facilities? Do you think the city needs an aviary?

I believe the aviary is a great asset to the city and improvements are necessary. I would expect that a city bond would be necessary to make dramatic improvements and would support taking this to the public. The city’s capital improvement fund likely would not provide enough resources for the scope and scale that is likely needed.

5. Please tell me how you balance compromise and conflict, diplomacy and leadership.

This balance is one of the challenges of being a governmental leader. There are often several different perspectives, numerous opinions, many options and nearly never a definitive right or wrong. This is the messy and sometimes difficult conditions in which public policy is crafted. I know this system; I have both studied and worked in it. I have a proven track record of being able to operate in it and get things accomplished.

How you balance this depends on the specific issue, but as a rule, I think compromise is always a better approach than conflict. But, as I have stated previously, I will also not be afraid to stand up for what I believe in and speak my mind. On several issues such as air quality and equality, for example, I may be unwilling to compromise and will not be afraid to do so if I feel strongly that doing so would weaken or limit the end result.

When it comes to diplomacy and leadership, it is less of a matter of either or and more of a choice of when and where. I will be a strong leader on the issues that I believe in and care deeply about. However, on other issues and when working with other elected officials and community leaders, a diplomatic approach may produce a better result. I am confident that I will be able to balance my leadership style to create compromise when needed, conflict, if appropriate and be a professional and diplomatic leader for Salt Lake City.

6. What is your priority list for your attention? Do you believe national and international problems should ever override your local focus? How do you prioritize public interest verses private commercial concern? What comes first for you?

I am running for Mayor of Salt Lake City. I want to focus on Salt Lake City and the needs of its residents. I want to work to make Salt Lake City a better place to live, work and play. I want to help the city grow to be a leader for the state, region and even country. We have so much untapped potential in this city. I feel that we are on the verge of a critical time in our city. The next mayor will be crucial in helping Salt Lake City enter a new era and become a great city that we all can be proud of.

I will be a Mayor that will focus on the affairs of the city. I want to be at my desk working on improving our city through new development, economic growth, life quality issues, the environment and enriching our diversity. National and international focus will never override my focus and obligations to Salt Lake City. But, as a leader, I will also not be afraid to speak my mind when appropriate on the issues that I care about and consider important for our time. This means that I will not spend my time organizing rallies on issues of national and international importance, but I will also not be afraid to attend a rally and speak my mind.

In local government these days, there is a great need and role for public-private ventures. It’s more and more difficult to separate private and public issues as they often overlap. As Mayor, however, I will be charged with doing what is best for Salt Lake City and its residents, looking at the costs and benefits both with short-term and long-term perspectives. I will have no problem doing what I think is best for this city and the good of the public will always overcome the desires of the private or commercial. That is a staple of good government and sound public policy and I have made it my career to work on these things.

As Mayor, my first and foremost priority will be the needs of our city. Without this focus in a Mayor, we will be unable to make the advances that we need to make the changes and improvements that our ripe on the horizon, as we work towards making Salt Lake City a better place to live, work and play.

7. Do you believe municipal fiber-optics are an essential part of an advanced city infrastructure?

It is the responsibility of government to provide basic civil and social services to its people. With the great strides we have made in technology, basic government services may one day include access to Wi-Fi and other technology services that are needed to not only perform business, but to simply function. As such, we have an obligation to both our future generations and our future technological development to wisely invest in technology when appropriate and where possible.

Advanced municipal fiber-optics are an essential part of an advanced city infrastructure. Buildings are no longer built without such critical components as networking capabilities, telephony systems, etc. We need to ensure that we are providing the same foundation for advanced technology to our residents, when and where possible. I believe in the need for fiber-optic technology and will always consider this as well as other new technology.

Salt Lake City had an option at converting to fiber-optics through the Utopia project. At the time, they choose not to participate, while other neighboring municipalities did. I think we can look to our neighboring cities that choose to participate in Utopia and look at their costs and gauge benefits from their participation.

8. Are you in favor of Utah’s liquor laws? Do you think they are appropriate for all areas of Utah? What role does government play in moderating adult behavior?

There is a great need for improvement in the current Utah liquor laws. They are archaic and mockery of adult agency and personal liberty. But, this argument is not going to help solve the problem. As you know, liquor laws are created on the state level and govern the entire state. There are only limited means in which the city has influence or control over liquor regulation. The majority of our legislature, which creates and influences our liquor laws, clearly feels differently than I do on liquor control and distribution. Because we would not see eye to eye on the fallacy and absurdity of our current liquor laws, it’s necessary to find an argument that would better resonate with them. For this reason, I would be willing to participate in conversations with other elected officials on the un-intended consequences of our liquor laws such as the image of the state, the effect on tourism dollars and the economic development repercussions that morality bills and laws have. It is instances like this and other opportunities for education that I feel that I can work with other elected officials on both sides of the aisle towards a workable compromise.

I do not think the government should be involved in legislating morality and should focus more on public safety. It seems to me on the instance of Utah liquor laws, the legislature has gone beyond public safety and stepped into morality. The Governor at one point in time said that he was willing to look at the current laws and indicated that he was willing to make some changes. I look forward to the opportunity to be a part of that process.

On-going civil discussions with the LDS church in this subject are key in making steps towards improvements.

9. How do you intend to bridge the gap between belief systems in Utah?

Salt Lake City is a diverse population. There are several ethnic cultures, races, languages, religions, political parties, sexualities, etc. throughout the city. But, we all have one thing in common–we share a city and there is much that unites us. The best place to start is through an honest, healthy dialogue that leads to better understanding and education.

I am hopeful that under my administration, there would less of a need to bridge the gap between belief systems in the city. For all the good that he has done, Mayor Anderson has also been a lightning rod and often acted like a wedge, dividing our communities, especially our LDS/non-LDS divide. As Mayor, I would stand up for what I believe in, but would not be as divisive as my predecessor has on personal issues such as religion and belief systems.

10. What are your opinions of the Utah legislature, and how do you intend to make sure Utah’s capitol city has a working relationship with the legislature?

Regardless of my opinion of the Utah State Legislature, I have been able to work collaboratively with them in the past and that would be no different if elected Mayor. Mayor Anderson has had a well-documented rocky relationship with several other elected members of state and local government. This combative-style of leadership is not my style. Working as a minority member of a legislative body in the Salt Lake County Council, I have had to work collaboratively with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come to come together in consensus. I have been able to do that and have been able to successfully create policy and get things done. This would not change if elected Mayor. I would continue to reach across party lines, build relationships, and collaboratively work towards solutions. I have been able to do so at the County and would be able to do so as Mayor.

11. All the mayoral candidates appear to be in favor of “Buying Local” according to the Vest Pocket survey. Where is your website hosted? If you have a business website, where is that hosted?

I am very much in favor of buying local and I applaud the success of the “Buying Local” campaign. They have brought together a collection of locally-based, small businesses in an effort to make the sum greater than the individual parts. It’s a great venture and I think there is even more potential in the current program. It is these innovative ideas that we need to rally behind to strengthen our local business economy and to make our city great.

My campaign website and online network are being generously hosted by your company, X-mission. I thank you for this generous contribution.

Some people have asked why I didn’t ask about a particular issue. My questionnaire is in no way meant to be exhaustive, but rather issues that are important to me. If you have a particular issue you’d like answered, I encourage you to contact the candidates directly.

Here is Dave Buhler’s response:

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1. What is your plan for action to rejuvenate Main Street and Downtown? This does not include the City Creek Center or plans by the LDS Church. How do you plan to encourage locally-owned business development?

Downtown revitalization will be a high priority of mine, as it has been during my 7+ years on the City Council.

And while you don’t want to talk about City Creek, I think it is important to start with that project because it represents an unparalleled private investment in our downtown. I have been working for several years with the developer (Taubman) and the property owner (LDS Church) to ensure that the new City Creek Center includes mixed uses including substantial housing, that the blocks are pedestrian friendly and include open space and that they provide connections to the surrounding blocks. These efforts have been largely successful, and if nothing else, the amount of new housing this will bring downtown will help all of downtown (as residents look for places to shop, dine, be entertained, etc.)

As Council Chair in 2002, I led the Council in developing a comprehensive policy statement for downtown, that was adopted in January 2003. As Mayor, I would work with the council to update and implement this vision. I have also worked to encourage development in south Main downtown, for example, bringing Channel 2 to Main Street, and finding a way to facilitate the construction of the new 222 South Main Office Tower. Both of these projects have or will bring people to downtown to patronize the shops, restaurants, etc. I have also supported a number of housing projects that have increased the number of people living downtown.

I mention these only to point out that what I will do will be similar to what I have already done.

Unfortunately, the City administration was asleep at the switch and allowed the Newspaper Agency Corp to relocate out of downtown to West Valley City, taking their hundreds of jobs with them. I will work with all of our businesses, locally owned and otherwise, to make sure they know that we are vitally interested in their success in SLC. I will be in their offices, accessible, and listen to them and help them work through the challenges they face. Government should be a facilitator, not a hindrance, to business.

I discussed at some length my views on locally owned businesses on the Vest Pocket Coalition website (for the full text see http://www.slcmayor.com/candidates/dave_buhler.html ). As the economy becomes ever more global, so does the importance of embracing and supporting those things that make our community unique, and that includes supporting locally based merchants, manufacturers, and businesses of all types. The definition of economic development is whether or not new dollars are brought into a community’s economy or, instead, taken from it. When we spend our money at local businesses all of the money stays in the community, while national chains send their profits elsewhere. Locally owned businesses invest back in their community and contribute to it in any number of ways. The jobs created by local businesses are often careers, rather than minimum wage jobs. Locally owned businesses enhance our quality of life, because each and every one is unique and doesn’t follow a set formula. Thus each adds to the vibrancy and richness of our community. And buying local can also be good environmentally as transportation costs are less if the goods or services are produced locally.

As a member of the City Council I have consistently supported policies aimed to help local merchants and businesses including creating the Business Advisory Board, revising the sign ordinance to allow “A-frame” signs in the public right of way to help local merchants, and changing zoning ordinances to allow outdoor dining. I spearheaded and served on a council subcommittee that revised our policies for small business loans. By setting new criteria and delegating the granting of loans to the administration (previously, each one came to the City Council for approval which unnecessarily added red-tape and the length of the process). Since making these changes the City has done a much better job and increased by more than ten-times the amount of loans to Salt Lake City businesses compared to the previous eight years. I will continue and expand upon these initiatives as SLC Mayor.

2. Pioneer Park has consistently been a target of Mayor Anderson for revival. Do you feel the park is in need of revival? If so, what would your plan be?

As a member of the City Council I have supported appropriating nearly $1.5 million for improvements to Pioneer Park. While this is less than proposed by Mayor Anderson, it would provide significant upgrades including helping it to better host the wonderful Farmer’s Market there sponsored by the Downtown Alliance. Given needs in parks and other city-owned facilities throughout the City, I cannot justify spending more than this amount right now in Pioneer Park.

3. Historic preservation has traditionally taken a backseat to economic and developer demand in Salt Lake City. Do you feel this is a proper course of action for a city? What are your own feelings on Salt Lake’s historic properties? What would you do to protect or rid the city of them? Do you believe the RDA (Redevelopment Agency) has been a success in Salt Lake City? Should a government entity like the RDA be able to claim “economic hardship” in order to demolish historic properties in Salt Lake City?

I am a big advocate of historic preservation. (I served on the Board of the Utah Heritage Foundation in the early 1990s, and sponsored legislation in the Senate that made the historic preservation tax credit more workable for homeowners.) Salt Lake City’s historic buildings are something that set us a part from other cities, and can provide a competitive advantage in differentiating us. Property owners, of course, also have rights which must be respected. As in most things, there are times when the proper balance must be found between competing rights and desires. On the City Council I voted to reject a fast-tracked application to remove the historic designation of a home in the Avenues (requested by the homeowner and the Mayor) and have supported several new historic district studies and a city-wide preservation survey now underway. As these studies and surveys are completed, I will work with the neighborhoods to find the best ways to implement them.

Redevelopment Agencies, also known as RDAs, are an important economic development tool for cities. Like any tool, it can be used properly or improperly. Overall, the RDA has been a success for Salt Lake City. Under Utah law, the City Council is the RDA Board of Directors. During my 7+ years as an RDA director, I have consistently supported using RDA tools to support local businesses, including the main street grant program which has aided such businesses as Sam Weller’s, Lamb’s Café, Big City Soup, City Weekly, and Bennion Jewelers, and more than a dozen other locally owned businesses. The RDA has also been very involved in supporting increased housing downtown as a way to aid the vibrancy of downtown and support businesses. The more we can increase the 24/7 population, the better it will be for all types of businesses in the downtown area.

RDA tools must be used carefully, however, to make sure that they are actually helping to create new wealth in the community and not merely using the power of government to subsidize some businesses at the expense of others. For example, I would not support using the RDA to subsidize big-box retailers. (In fact, I am proud of the fact that when Walmart and Lowes came to Salt Lake City, it was without any city subsidies, and in an area where the fit the current zoning.)

As Mayor I will be actively involved in the RDA, working closely with the RDA Board and management, to ensure that it is an integral part of our economic development efforts. I will also work to make sure that locally owned businesses are represented, have a seat at the table, and actively participate as members of the Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC). I would like to see at least one joint meeting annually between RAC members and the Business Advisory Board.

RDA’s should support historic preservation. For instance, I supported the original plan to preserve the Brooks Arcade, which was vetoed by Mayor Anderson. (In fact, I made the motion to override his veto, which failed without the necessary 5 votes.) As a result, we had to settle for preserving the façade, which was better than nothing but not as good as the original plan. I also supported RDA funds to assist Big-D renovate the Fuller Paint Building as their corporate headquarters.

I am only aware of one instance where the RDA has worked to remove a historic building–a small home–and that was only after every other alternative had been explored. In this case, it was necessary to revitalizing a challenging area of the city and a rare exception to our overall record of supporting historic preservation.

4. Liberty Park has received a lot of city funding while the Tracy Aviary has been largely ignored by the city. Promises of shared funding have also not been kept. What will you do to balance the attention of city funding for public facilities? Do you think the city needs an aviary?

Well, I disagree with the premise that the City has ignored Tracy Aviary. During my time on the City Council we have done more to assist Tracy Aviary than has been done for decades. For instance, I supported placing a $1 million bond issue on the ballot in 2003 to provide a needed infusion of money for capital improvements. The City Council also appropriates $250,000 a year to support Aviary operations, and appropriated nearly $500,000 in one-time money in 2007 to assist the Aviary. I am not aware of any unkept promises regarding “shared funding.” As a young boy, I grew up on 5th East, across the street from Liberty Park, and near the Aviary. So it has been a part of my life for many years. I would hate to think of SLC without it. But long term, there needs to be a private-public partnership of investment if the Aviary is going to survive and thrive. As Mayor I’ll work with the Aviary Board, the City Council, the business community and the public, to forge a realistic plan for the Aviary’s future.

5. Please tell me how you balance compromise and conflict, diplomacy and leadership.

My leadership style is to listen, study, reason and think, carefully consider all views, and collaborate and find agreement where possible to reach solutions. Leadership includes arriving at the best conclusion and then advocating for it and winning support, but only after listening, discussing, collaborating. Examples of my leadership on the City Council include dealing with the Monster House issue, devising a way to provide fair benefits for all SLC employees (which it appears that SL County is about to replicate), and the Salt Palace expansion. When you listen to people, you learn from them, and it also builds a relationship of mutual respect that is so important in order to win support for your position and get things done. My leadership has been recognized by my colleagues on the City Council which have voted me into leadership positions three times (Vice Chair in 2001, Chair in 2002 and 2006), and by the fact that three council members are openly supporting my candidacy for mayor.

When I served in the Senate I also forged a record of bi-partisan cooperation (as Rep. Becker acknowledged when we had a joint appearance at the University of Utah). As a leader you must be willing to take and make a stand, but your stands are more sound if they are arrived at after careful study, listening, and consideration. A certain amount of conflict comes with the job, and I have also demonstrated a willingness to take a stand on controversial issues as a member of the City Council. The same thing can be expected from me as Mayor.

6. What is your priority list for your attention? Do you believe national and international problems should ever override your local focus? How do you prioritize public interest verses private commercial concern? What comes first for you?

Education
A new partnership between the mayor and our schools can help extend educational opportunities to every child in the city and enable them to be self-sustaining, contributing adults. My approach to that priority:

• Supporting our neighborhoods means supporting our schools. Strong neighborhoods create strong neighborhood schools and vice versa.
• We have a strong educational infrastructure that needs to be maintained. We have the advantage of a school district that aligns with the city’s boundaries and a proactive school board, with great public support, that’s had the vision to invest in our neighborhood schools.
• As the home of many colleges and universities, we have a unique opportunity to partner with higher education center increase the opportunities we offer our young people.

Strong Neighborhoods
Salt Lake City has great neighborhoods in every part of the city. To protect and support them, we need:

• Increased safety, including reduced property and gang-related crime
• Improved infrastructure, including streetlights, sidewalks, and neighborhood and regional parks
• Increased home-ownership through innovative government support and private initiative
• Protection of the character of residential neighborhoods
• Initiatives to meet the specific needs of west-side neighborhoods.
• Support for neighborhood businesses

Vibrant Downtown
Downtown is about to be re-invented with over $1 billion in private investment. The city needs strong leadership to deal with the changes we’re facing, balance the interests of everyone who’s affected, and spread prosperity from downtown through our citywide business community. My commitments:

• Proactively work with the business community and other stakeholders to implement the goals of “Downtown Rising.”
• Clearly define and strengthen a downtown cultural district.
• Clearly define and strengthen a downtown entertainment district.
• Increase the city’s convention business by maximizing the use of the expanded Salt Palace
• Increase downtown housing options and affordability.
• Make public transit and TRAX a priority, including the creation of more lines downtown
• Develop the northwest quadrant to bring more residents closer to downtown

Stewardship
Salt Lake City must be a wise steward of the trust and resources of our people today and keep faith with future generations by protecting open spaces and the environment. My commitments:

• Increase the city’s inventory of open space from the foothills to our neighborhood parks.
• Create an Office of Sustainability to better coordinate the city’s environmental efforts.
• Operate a city government that’s accessible, accountable, and collaborative.
• Protect our taxpayers by spending tax money prudently and proactively.

As mayor, the public interest must override private concerns. Policy should be set on what benefits the city as a whole, rather than on what benefits a particular private party or concern. However, sometimes it is in the public interest to support private investment in the city, as a way of keeping it vibrant and to provide the tax base necessary to provide services to our residents and visitors to the city.

My focus will be on SLC 24-7, not national or international issues, politics or policies. Of course I will speak out and get involved, particularly on national issues, when they have a direct bearing on our city (such as federal funding for the city). For instance, I have actively worked to address with the federal government and our congressional delegation a contamination in our ground water which, unless addressed, could effect an important water source for Salt Lake City.

7. Do you believe municipal fiber-optics are an essential part of an advanced city infrastructure?

As you know, Salt Lake City has fiber-optic infrastructure, however, it is privately owned. This is important infrastructure for business, education, and citizens. I opposed putting city tax dollars at risk to participate in UTOPIA. I prefer to encourage private investment and competition. However, I am willing to re-look at the issue in the future if a compelling case can be made that the city should become directly involved in providing or expanding this infrastructure.

8. Are you in favor of Utah’s liquor laws? Do you think they are appropriate for all areas of Utah? What role does government play in moderating adult behavior?

Liquor laws are established by the Utah Legislature, not Salt Lake City, with one exception that I will address in a moment. When I served in the Legislature I demonstrated a willingness to take a fresh look at our liquor laws, and as it relates to our business climate and tourism, I would be willing to engage state policy makers in the future. For instance, one of the first bills I sponsored as a Senator and was successful in passing provided for credit-card and check purchases at state liquor stores (prior to that, it was cash-only). I was also interested in amending the proximity laws as it relates to restaurants, although I abandoned that effort when it became clear that I could not muster the necessary support. The one area that the city regulates is the ordinance that restricts bars or private clubs to one per block face. That policy should be reconsidered. Government only has a responsibility in governing adult behavior to the extent that it negatively effects others or the community at large.

9. How do you intend to bridge the gap between belief systems in Utah?

The Mayor can help by treating everyone with respect and leading out in providing civil discourse and by looking for opportunities to demonstrate that people have much more in common than what divides us. ALl of us should be careful to show respect for others in all of our communications, recognizing that in America everyone has a right to freedom of thought and religious expression or non-expression as the case may be. This is how I try to conduct myself.

10. What are your opinions of the Utah legislature, and how do you intend to make sure Utah’s capitol city has a working relationship with the legislature?

I have been involved with the Utah Legislature for many years–8 years in the state executive branch, 4 years as a State Senator, and 7 years working in Utah Higher Education. I know many of the legislators personally, and have good relations with members of both political parties. There are many good people who serve there, and while I disagree with some of the conclusions they arrive at, and at many more ideas that are proposed that are never enacted, I have a good feel for the legislature, how it operates, and how to get things done.

As a Council Member I have worked hard to advance the City’s interests on the Hill. It often has not been easy, since our Mayor seems, at times, to go out of his way to unnecessarily antagonize members of the Legislature. As Mayor I will make legislative relations a top priority because I have seen too many times how the Legislature can either help our hurt our city. I won’t always agree with their priorities or approach, but there needs to be a constructive and respectful relationship between the Capital City and the State Capitol.

11. All the mayoral candidates appear to be in favor of “Buying Local” according to the Vest Pocket survey. Where is your website hosted? If you have a business website, where is that hosted?

My website is hosted locally, currently at a temporary site, but soon at JibeMedia. I am also using a locally owned ad agency, Love Communications.

On March 27th, I sent off a questionnaire to all of the then ten mayoral candidates for Salt Lake City. I received written responses from three of the candidates, Ralph Becker, Dave Buhler, and Jenny Wilson. Jenny Wilson and Keith Christensen were also good enough to spend some time with me at lunch to discuss my questions.

Over the next week I will post the responses I received (alphabetically by surname), summarizing with an endorsement at the end. The mayor’s race is a non-partisan race and I have tried to approach it as such, basing my endorsement not on past friendships, party affiliation, or support of my own race for the U.S. Senate in 2006. I believe that all of the four candidates who took the time to respond to me are exceptional people of which any would make a great mayor and an asset to our city. Unfortunately, I can only endorse one.

Here is Ralph Becker’s response:

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1. What is your plan for action to rejuvenate Main Street and Downtown? This does not include the City Creek Center or plans by the LDS Church. How do you plan to encourage locally-owned business development?

Downtown Salt Lake City should be an international destination for trade and tourism, and it should be densely populated with a rich mix of retail, financial, cultural, recreational, and residential opportunities that attracts area residents, tourists, and employees alike. That can happen with City leadership in the following ways:
As mayor, I will develop a consensus vision that sets out a clear direction for downtown development using a collaborative approach to moving forward comprehensively along a well-specified path. (Downtown Rising presents a nice roadmap as a starting point.)

1. This vision must include:
   1. Residential as a key component
   2. Balanced, multi-modal transportation (draft plan is very promising)
   3. Promoting gathering places – private and public
   4. Moving the cultural district concept forward
   5. Making sure hospitality and entertainment are integral part of downtown plan
2. A focused RDA effort that keeps a level playing field for businesses of all sizes and is proactive in carrying out City vision.
3. A targeted small-business program that promotes locally-owned businesses downtown.
4. Lack of sustainable standards for new construction downtown
5. Mitigate construction’s effect on businesses

By focusing on the following, downtown can be revitalized:

• It’s the city’s responsibility to make sure that downtown is properly promoted, and a big part of that is emphasizing the nightlife.
• As a hub for arts of all kinds, we need to bring local artists back to downtown, with an emphasis on small/medium-scale art spaces.
• The RDA’s governing strategy needs to be revisited – both in terms of the process itself and in terms of what it funds.
• The City must work closely with County and State to concentrate cultural facilities downtown. Not having the RSL stadium in downtown SLC is a tragedy, for example.
• Above all, I will focus on partnering with the LDS Church, the Chamber, and other organizations who are working to develop downtown so that the focus is on the entire downtown and its relationship with the city and region. It’s the mayor’s job to be the collaborator-in-chief, and I embrace that role.

2. Pioneer Park has consistently been a target of Mayor Anderson for revival. Do you feel the park is in need of revival? If so, what would your plan be?

There are definitely things we can do to Pioneer Park that will make it a more attractive place to be. But I would be very resistant to any major development of the park that takes away the open space that it contains. A better walking/jogging path, for example, would complement the open space amenity, as would some kind of interactive historical monument or educational exhibits, but I feel strongly that large-scale structures are not as appropriate there.

What the park needs most, however, is more people – look at the energy and atmosphere that it has during the Farmers Markets. I will work to increase the density of housing and commercial structures in the vicinity of Pioneer Park so that a critical mass of residents and visitors feel comfortable being in the park both day and night.

We also need a sensitive, sensible way to address the large homeless population that occupies the Park now, scaring away other City residents much of the time.

3. Historic preservation has traditionally taken a backseat to economic and developer demand in Salt Lake City. Do you feel this is a proper course of action for a city? What are your own feelings on Salt Lake’s historic properties? What would you do to protect or rid the city of them? Do you believe the RDA (Redevelopment Agency) has been a success in Salt Lake City? Should a government entity like the RDA be able to claim “economic hardship” in order to demolish historic properties in Salt Lake City?

As you know, Peter, I have a long history of working to protect historic structures. (I’ve received a “going to bat” award from the Utah Heritage Foundation for my work to save the Cache County Courthouse.) Historic structures are irreplaceable sources of beauty, character, and heritage. City policies should put preservation and renovation first. Having historic districts helps. Making it more difficult for property owners to allow historic buildings to become dilapidated needs to be strengthened. Redevelopment is part of change, but protecting our historic heritage should always be part of the equation. I’ve commented on the City’s RDA above, but let me add that I would want to look at how the RDA addresses historic properties. For example, the final result for the Brooks Arcade was tragic; we had a good restoration in place that was scuttled in favor of a facadectomy (my word).

4. Liberty Park has received a lot of city funding while the Tracy Aviary has been largely ignored by the city. Promises of shared funding have also not been kept. What will you do to balance the attention of city funding for public facilities? Do you think the city needs an aviary?

Tracy Aviary is a great asset in the City and Liberty Park. I’m not aware of the specifics of the City’s failed promises. The Aviary is a great way for our residents, particularly our children, to learn about birds and ecosystems. I’d want to see how the City can be a good partner for Tracy Aviary. I’ve been encouraged by some of the recent changes there.

5. Please tell me how you balance compromise and conflict, diplomacy and leadership.

Pete, you have known me for quite awhile and know how I operate as a public official. The best public solutions come from engaging the stakeholder and the public in a meaningful process that brings everyone to the table. I built a successful public and business career around that approach. Achieving desired, lasting results entails good decision making processes. I have been part of a national effort for state governments to promote good governance called Policy Consensus Initiative (PCI). You can find out information about the work I’ve engaged in: http://www.policyconsensus.org. Collaborative decision making starts with respect for all views; that does not mean that principles and values are compromised.

6. What is your priority list for your attention? Do you believe national and international problems should ever override your local focus? How do you prioritize public interest verses private commercial concern? What comes first for you?

If I must list a specific issue that is my top priority, it would be education. There is so much that a municipality such as ours can do to make our public education system stronger, and the SLCSD is ready to partner with the city in that effort. I’ll be issuing a portion of my platform on this topic soon.

I don’t think that non-local issues should “override” our day-to-day issues here in Salt Lake City, but I do think that some national issues directly affect us and that there are times that the mayor should speak to them. With education, for example, federal restrictions on the use of education funding are an issue that I would be very vocal about with national leaders. Same with federal housing policy: decisions that are made in DC in terms of who is eligible for HUD housing can have an immediate and direct effect on our city’s ability to attract and retain teachers, and it influences as well our approach to homelessness and low-income housing. So I would judiciously use the mayor’s bully pulpit; it would, however, certainly be constrained to issues that I feel affect our lives here in Salt Lake City. In my opinion, an elected official should carefully choose issues to address that go beyond our boundaries.

As for balancing the public interest and private concerns, I do believe that a balance must be struck: we have to create an economic environment that encourages innovation and creativity, but ultimately the government is charged with oversight. The market is not perfect. There are definitely times when the city should step in and both provide leadership where private enterprise may fear to tread, and also regulate the private sphere to ensure that it does not marginalize those who are unable to keep up economically.

7. Do you believe municipal fiber-optics are an essential part of an advanced city infrastructure?

Pete, you heard my answer to you at the Hinckley forum and you know my record on UTOPIA at the Legislature. We need to step up as a City; if the private sector won’t provide necessary infrastructure, the City residents should be given the opportunity to vote our taxes to accomplish making Salt Lake City a leader in fiber optics.

8. Are you in favor of Utah’s liquor laws? Do you think they are appropriate for all areas of Utah? What role does government play in moderating adult behavior?

Utah’s liquor laws should make sense; they don’t. I believe in quiet diplomacy to try to bring sensibility to this issue.

9. How do you intend to bridge the gap between belief systems in Utah?

This is one area where visible and active leadership is crucial. As I wrote above, I bring a collaborative approach to decision-making. As an example, I have a very good working relationship with legislators who embody a wide spectrum of political and cultural beliefs. Coming from a position of respect and openness can go a long way toward bridging the differences between the different cultures in Salt Lake City.

10. What are your opinions of the Utah legislature, and how do you intend to make sure Utah’s capitol city has a working relationship with the legislature?

Pete, you know my history and approach here, and I’ve indicated much of my response in previous answers. I will build on my strong relationships in the Legislature to bring better results for Salt Lake City. My work to bring the Legislature to Salt Lake City for its annual site visit this year I hope will open some eyes to our City and it’s issues, as well as show them a good time.

11. All the mayoral candidates appear to be in favor of “Buying Local” according to the Vest Pocket survey. Where is your website hosted? If you have a business website, where is that hosted?

Xmission. Xmission. I appreciate your services and have to say that your customer service people are very personable and responsive.
I have had a local business for more than 20 years, am a member of Vest Pocket and Buy Local First, and appreciate the need and benefits of local businesses.

I wasn’t going to jump on the bandwagon, but watching this explode has been an interesting example of what happens when an organization thinks they can control what happens on the Internet. The Motion Picture Association of America has been sending DMCA take-down notices to sites that have been reposting a 16 byte code that unlocks the content on HD-DVD discs. Yes, you read right, they’re demanding that websites stop repeating what amounts to 16 consecutive numbers.

One of my favorite sites, Digg, complied with these notices, removing submitted stories containing the key, and as a result has had to deal with the fury of their users. As of this moment, every single story on the front page of Digg contains the key. These stories are being “Dugg” faster than anything I have ever seen before and are remaining prominent. This is not to mention the hundreds, maybe thousands of comments also containing the key.

Google counts the pages containing this code at 9,670 and climbing fast.

Like the prior attempt to censor the DVD decryption algorithm DeCSS, there are many artistic and humorous translations of the naughty code. Some of my favorites: A PNG image made from the color values of the code, T-Shirts in eBay auctions, the inevitable YTMND version, poetry and haiku.

Now I don’t condone theft of artistic works. Creators should be paid for their work. What I find amusing about this episode is that once again, someone somewhere believes you can pass a law and then everyone on the Internet will automatically fall in line. Not only is it foolish, it is doomed to fail spectacularly every time a heavy hand tries to enforce it.

Complete audio of the entire BYU Alternative Commencement is here.

The most sobering commentary of last night was from the students whose parents had chastened, berated, and even outright abandoned them over their involvement in this event. For a community that prides itself on family values, I was ashamed of what these young men and women have had to go through to speak their conscience. If my children were ever doing a similar event and I disagreed with their politics, I would still be by their sides, cheering them on. I can expect a random knucklehead passing by to lob a thoughtless comment at these individuals, but if you are a parent who abandoned your own child over this, I find it utterly disgraceful. You should be so lucky to have sons and daughters as bright and committed as these.

The text of my speech follows.

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Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

“Not exactly Donald Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney stuff.” – I stole that line from Kurt Vonnegut. I miss Kurt Vonnegut.

My family’s history is rooted in the great conflicts of the 20th century. I am fortunate that these conflicts did not prevent my family from having a history.

My grandfather signed up for World War I and was selected for sniper duty. No doubt due to the amount of time spent sniping deer in the hills of Bountiful, Utah. His entire regiment was called up to be shipped out to France but my grandfather fell ill with the flu. Because the scarlet fever was ravaging America and depleting troops that shipped out with the infection, his commanding officers decided he would stay on base in California until he was well. This short illness saved his life. Nearly all of his regiment was wiped out in France. Snipers primary amongst them.

My mother was ten years old when the Germans overran Denmark in a day. She would vividly recount to me as a child how the Nazi commanders rode horses into the gymnasium of her elementary school in a show of force only to have them defecate on the floorboards. She, like many of her generation in Europe, held a deep seated distrust of anything German for the rest of her life.

My father was 16 when he wanted to join the Navy to fight the Japanese menace in World War II. He pleaded with my grandmother to sign the permission documents. She ended up signing these documents through her tears. At 16 he must have felt immortal because he requested submarine duty, one of the most dangerous jobs in the Navy. Yet my father, who has had 20/20 vision for most of his life, failed the eye exam. He told me that the hand of God must have been on his shoulder at the time. I think he was wrong, for it most definitely was in front of his eyes. Much to the dismay of an eager, immortal 16-year-old, he was placed on a supply ship in the Pacific that never saw any action for the duration of the war.

Throughout most of my childhood, an atomic mushroom cloud floated over my head. The Russians had their finger on the button and Hollywood did a good job of painting the inevitable outcome to me on a regular basis. I caught the tail-end of the ridiculous “duck and cover” and bomb shelter campaigns while I was in kindergarten.

Although I believe these conflicts have little in common with the war we find ourselves in today, one thing remains the same. My grandfather and my parents were told by their governments that the people we were fighting were savage, inhumane animals who cared less for their own children than they cared for world domination. The enemy were not individuals but hive-minded automatons who would fight to the very last man.

Then some wonderful things happened to my family. My older brother was called on a mission to Japan. I struck up a lifelong friendship with a fellow computer geek in Germany. The cold war ended, the Soviet Union collapsed, and now I count many former unknown enemies as my greatest friends.

My brother eventually married a woman from Japan whom he met while studying at BYU. Her father witnessed the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast and lost a sister who was vaporized because she was standing on the train platform unlike his other sister who was standing below it. I had the good fortune to visit the Shimamoto family in Hiroshima and to be taken to the peace memorial that has been constructed on ground zero. Visit this hallowed ground at least once in your lifetime. It is the most profound, moving sight I have ever seen. It changed me forever and convinced me to run for political office. I have no doubt that a day at this memorial can motivate even the hardest heart to work for the abolition of nuclear weapons and for global peace.

Peace between the United States and Japan, Germany, and even former Soviet Union countries seems to be a natural fit now. It is incomprehensible that we would ever find reason to declare war on these former enemies, for we have trade, communication, and most importantly an understanding of people who were once as alien as another planet.

I lament when I read Plato stating, “Only the dead have seen the end of war.” Will Plato be interminably right until mankind blows out the candle of its existence? I have but one hope. That if Plato had foreseen the Internet, he wouldn’t have been so pessimistic. Communication and trade are the foundations of the Internet, but more importantly, communication and understanding are the foundations of peace.

Today, insurgents, radicals, extremists, the ignorant and the insane have turned war into an entrepreneurial sport. We can no more fight teenagers using bombs and cell-phones with multibillion-dollar-aircraft-carriers and the latest jets than we can kill mosquitoes with a shotgun. If the Iraq war has taught me anything it is that our traditional methods of nation-state defense are currently useless against committed individuals. The inability to grasp this realization is what dates many politicians as dinosaurs in a modern world.

It is said that if you fear death you have a life worth living. The reverse is also true, if your life is worthless you welcome death. This country must work with its allies to make life worth living for all on this planet, or we will face suicidal bombers and campus killers for the remainder of our existence.

Today, I urge you to respond to the entrepreneurs of war by being an entrepreneur of peace. Try an experiment. Go to Google and search for “Iranian Blogs”. You may be surprised by what you find. Reviews of American movies, love poems, cyclists going on European tours. Barely an anti-American rant in sight. Instead a great admiration for our country’s culture and, imagine this, a zest for the basic things in life outside politics.

Then try this, email an Iranian and strike up a conversation. Ask them about the weather. Then wonder if you’ve just been put on a government watch-list in the land of the free and home of the brave. I hate that feeling.

In addition to exporting peace, work on it here at home. Find some common ground with your fellow Americans who may disagree with you politically. Respond to rhetoric with reason. Be open to changing your own mind. The best way to get rid of your enemies is to make them your friends.

Service is an essential part of all our lives. Give back at every opportunity, not only when it is convenient. Through my involvement in Rotary I have learned it costs $2500 to bring clean water to a village, $20 to cure some forms of blindness and $5 for a mosquito net that prevents the most common killer in Africa, malaria. How many hearts and minds could this country win with these cheap, life saving implements rather than expensive machines of death bought on a payment plan? America should be a beacon for what is right with humanity, not a pulpit for ideology.

Congratulations on your graduation. You have met a great challenge and the best is yet to come. There is much work to be done, and I know you can do it. Every day think about peace. Every day think about service. Every day believe that people can coexist no matter our cultural differences. Every day question your political leaders no matter the party and do not fear to speak your mind. This gathering is more than a response. This gathering is the future.

“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul – ”We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

Peace on earth is the most virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy goal I can imagine. I ask you to share it with me.

I have been invited to speak at the BYU Alternative Commencement tomorrow. I am honored to accept.

Here is a recording of the RadioWest program that I participated on this morning. I was asked in email to post links to some of the things I talked about.

Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee Membership.
Here are the classes that XMission provides at the Salt Lake City library on filtering and tools we make available to parents.
Here is how to use the filter XMission makes available to anyone using our network, including the free wireless locations, at no extra cost.
Here is a list of locations XMission provides free wireless Internet to.
DansGuardian is the open-source software we use to provide filtering.
URLBlacklist.com maintains the filters we use and contribute to.
According to this site, China is #1 in pornography revenue. Over double what the US revenues are. This for a country that has officially “banned” pornography.

Yesterday, during my KCPW debate with Unspam’s Mathew Prince on the new Utah keyword registry, Mr. Prince pointed out that if you searched for “xmission” on Google, an advertisement came up on the left for Comcast. Oddly enough, nobody had ever mentioned this to me before, but there it was with the creative tagline, “Better internet than XMission” (lower-case “Internet” not mine). Even though apparently Comcast was treading on my trademark, it really didn’t bother me because the rest of the page is filled with links to the XMission website. If Comcast is desperate enough to bid on adwords against little ol’ XMission, we must be doing something right.

Then something funny happened. Today the adword disappeared. Now either Comcast is afraid of getting sued and moved with lightning speed to correct the situation, or Comcast didn’t place the ad. If I hadn’t had my own experience trying to order Comcast’s mythical “gigabit business connection” after they advertised it at the Salt Lake City Council UTOPIA hearings, I would have suspected the former. What I know about Comcast now is that they’re about as quick as snails in salt.

Who would have motivation to place this adword and only for a day? I don’t care to speculate. What I think is humorous is that the advertisement disappeared without a call to my attorneys and without a regressive law to hold my hand.