Candidates doin' the twist
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No comments [ Add Comment ]By Scott Schwebke
Standard-Examiner staff
sschwebke@standard.net
Fliers sent to Ogden voters feature conflicting crime figures
OGDEN -- Mayor Matthew Godfrey and challenger Councilwoman Susan Van Hooser are taking pot shots at each other over local crime statistics as Tuesday's election approaches.
Earlier this week, Godfrey and Van Hooser mailed brochures, but each presents a drastically different pictures of criminal activity in Ogden.
Godfrey says crime is down; Van Hooser says crime is up.
The conflicting messages in the two brochures could mystify some voters, said Bryson Morgan, communications director at the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics.
Some voters may tune out the anti-crime messages in both brochures because they are puzzled by the disparity in crime statistics, he said.
However, some may accept claims in the brochures at face value, particularly if they already support Van Hooser or Godfrey, Morgan said.
"It depends on how they view the credibility of a particular candidate."
The brochures may spur a small percentage of voters to do research to determine if Godfrey and Van Hooser are telling the truth about crime reduction, Morgan said.
For some voters, the litmus test may be a gut feeling regarding whether they feel more safe since Godfrey took office, he said.
It's risky for a candidate to tell voters crime has gone down -- even though that may be true -- because of public perception that crime is on the rise everywhere, Morgan said.
Also, it's common for incumbents to focus on their successes and for challengers to concentrate on their opponents' failures, he said.
Many candidates for elected offices in Utah rely on "contrast" advertising to distinguish their political positions from those of their opponents, but rarely engage in outright personal attacks, Morgan said.
"Utah hasn't dipped to that level," he said, adding that the influence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may contribute to the state's genteel political climate.
"It's possible in the future that campaigns could cross that really gray line that separates contrast ads from outright political attacks."
Van Hooser said crime reduction is a key part of her platform, because many residents don't feel safe.
"During my walking campaign, that's what I've heard most from residents," she said. "They don't see police officers as they would like in their neighborhoods."
She said her crime reduction proposal to put more police on patrol seems to be resonating with voters.
"They want to see boots on the ground and need a feeling of security that you get by having police officers on the street."
Godfrey said fighting crime is also a key component of his campaign.
"It's critical to the revitalization of Ogden to have better neighborhoods," he said. "The first priority is safety. We have made great strides in lowering crime. We know we can continue this into the future."
Godfrey said voters seem receptive to his anti-crime stance.
"This is clearly something that is important to the citizens of Ogden."
