Corroon stumps in Junction City

OGDEN -- A small crowd huddled Tuesday afternoon outside the Ogden Municipal Building, braving the cold to listen to Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon on his second stop of the day to officially announce he will be a Democratic candidate for governor.

Corroon focused his speech on goals related to jobs, education and energy.

Steve Olsen, Weber County Democratic Party chairman, said there is a belief that Democrats cannot win in Utah, but Corroon's victories in Salt Lake and bipartisan support have proved otherwise.

"I know it will be a tough race," Corroon said, "but I'm willing to work hard."

Utah's best days are ahead, he said, but some changes need to be made to better support locally owned businesses.

He also said education funding can't continue to be cut.

If he were governor, Corroon said, the recent huge budget cuts in education would not have happened.

He said many of the issues the Top of Utah faces are similar to what he has been working on in Salt Lake County. He is prepared to address the concerns of people in Northern Utah on such issues as economic growth and public safety.

Air quality was once seen as more of a Salt Lake City issue, he said, but it's growing worse in the northern part of the state, which affects federal funding for transportation. Corroon said air and water quality in Utah are two of his main environmental concerns.

"There is a strong agricultural community in the northern part of the state. We should make sure we're good stewards for the land," he said.

His opponent, Republican Gov. Gary Herbert, drew criticism from some when he expressed doubt about human-caused climate change shortly after entering office.

Corroon said taking care of the environment is part of his push toward energy independence for Utah by the end of the decade. He is also pushing for a greater use of renewable energy sources.

"My philosophy is to think globally and act locally."

Corroon also differs from his opponent in his support of anti-discrimination measures for gay residents and said The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' recent support of the issue indicates more of a widespread support across the state.

"Everyone should be able to work and live without fear of discrimination," Corroon said.

He has raised about $350,000 in campaign donations, roughly a quarter of Herbert's $1.3 million fund, but Corroon said it isn't about the amount of money raised, it's about getting residents to understand his campaign issues.

He acknowledges that one of his bigger challenges is letting people know who he is and why he wants to be governor.

Related link: This article is a topic of discussion at Weber County Forum.

Updated 10:55 p.m.

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Corroon promotes energy in bid for Utah governor

By Brock Vergakis

The Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — Democrat Peter Corroon launched his gubernatorial bid Tuesday by saying Utah should become energy independent within 10 years by investing in renewable energy.

“While our federal government talks about it, Utah can achieve it.” the mayor of Salt Lake County said in a speech officially announcing his candidacy. “We can and should become self-sustaining like the pioneers before us.”

Utah has an abundance of energy resources — including coal, natural gas and wind energy — to meet the goal, he said.

Department of Energy statistics show Utah already produces more energy than it consumes but not in every category.

For instance, the state produces about 19.5 million barrels of petroleum a year while consuming 55.7 million barrels.

“That’s a pretty big gap,” said Rayola Dougher, senior economic analyst for the American Petroleum Institute. “It’s not realistic or realizable for Utah” to meet its own petroleum needs.

However, she said states should look to their resources to keep more jobs and money at home.

In an interview following his speech from the steps of Salt Lake Community College, Corroon said he doesn’t want to restrict the availability of any resources.

“It’s about expanding natural gas stations in Utah. ... It’s about using solar panels on buildings so buildings can create their own energy,” Corroon said. “It means that in Utah, we can supply enough of those energy resources to take care of our own demand.”

Corroon said he wants state government to support job creation in the energy sector. He also promised a greater investment in education to help drive economic and energy development.

Corroon is challenging Republican Gov. Gary Herbert in a special election to complete the term of Jon Huntsman.

Huntsman resigned in August to become U.S. ambassador to China, handing over the reins to Herbert, who had served as lieutenant governor since 2005.

Herbert spokeswoman Angie Welling said Herbert’s office had no immediate comment about Corroon’s announcement.

“When the time is right and when both the mayor and the governor are their party’s nominee, there will be plenty of time to campaign,” she said. “His focus has been on leading and the legislative session which we know will be difficult.”

Democrats believe Corroon is their best chance to win a gubernatorial election since Scott Matheson did so in 1980.
Corroon has maintained high approval in the state’s most populous county by developing a reputation as a fiscal conservative. He won a second term in 2008 with 66 percent of the vote but isn’t well known outside the county.

Both candidates believe promoting energy and economic development along with improving education could lead to victory at the polls. Herbert first highlighted those themes during his inauguration speech.

Herbert is also relatively unknown around the state, but the bully pulpit of the governor’s office allows him to drive the state’s political conversation and give voters a chance to get to know him.

Herbert also has a significant fundraising lead with $817,000 in the bank compared with Corroon’s $306,000.

Corroon said he would likely need at least $2 million to spread his message.

Corroon favors campaign contribution limits for the state but said he wouldn’t place any self-imposed limits on his campaign.

“I’m not going to put myself at a disadvantage,” he said. “I’m going to comply with state law and when I become governor then I’ll change the state law and we can all work under the same system with same limits.”

Herbert has said he favors rapid disclosure over contribution limits. Most of Herbert’s campaign contributions — some as large as $50,000 — have come from real estate and energy-related companies.

Corroon’s largest contributors were WordPerfect founder Bruce Bastian and labor unions.

Neither Herbert nor Corroon was expected to face any challengers within their own parties.

Updated 6:51 p.m.

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SALT LAKE CITY — Democrat Peter Corroon launched his gubernatorial bid Tuesday by saying Utah should become energy independent within 10 years by investing in renewable energy.

“While our federal government talks about it, Utah can achieve it.” the mayor of Salt Lake County said in a speech officially announcing his candidacy.

“We can and should become self-sustaining like the pioneers before us.”

Utah has an abundance of energy resources — including coal, natural gas and wind energy — to meet the goal, he said.

Department of Energy statistics show Utah already produces more energy than it consumes but not in every category.

For instance, the state produces about 19.5 million barrels of petroleum a year while consuming 55.7 million barrels.

“That’s a pretty big gap,” said Rayola Dougher, senior economic analyst for the American Petroleum Institute. “It’s not realistic or realizable for Utah” to meet its own petroleum needs.

However, she said states should look to their resources to keep more jobs and money at home.

In an interview following his speech from the steps of Salt Lake Community College, Corroon said he doesn’t want to restrict the availability of any resources.

“It’s about expanding natural gas stations in Utah. ... It’s about using solar panels on buildings so buildings can create their own energy,” Corroon said. “It means that in Utah, we can supply enough of those energy resources to take care of our own demand.”

Corroon said he wants state government to support job creation in the energy sector. He also promised a greater investment in education to help drive economic and energy development.

Corroon is challenging Republican Gov. Gary Herbert in a special election to complete the term of Jon Huntsman.

Huntsman resigned in August to become U.S. ambassador to China, handing over the reins to Herbert, who had served as lieutenant governor since 2005.

Herbert spokeswoman Angie Welling said Herbert’s office had no immediate comment about Corroon’s announcement.

“When the time is right and when both the mayor and the governor are their party’s nominee, there will be plenty of time to campaign,” she said. “His focus has been on leading and the legislative session which we know will be difficult.”

Democrats believe Corroon is their best chance to win a gubernatorial election since Scott Matheson did so in 1980.

Corroon has maintained high approval in the state’s most populous county by developing a reputation as a fiscal conservative. He won a second term in 2008 with 66 percent of the vote but isn’t well known outside the county.

Both candidates believe promoting energy and economic development along with improving education could lead to victory at the polls. Herbert first highlighted those themes during his inauguration speech.

Herbert is also relatively unknown around the state, but the bully pulpit of the governor’s office allows him to drive the state’s political conversation and give voters a chance to get to know him.

Herbert also has a significant fundraising lead with $817,000 in the bank compared with Corroon’s $306,000.

Corroon said he would likely need at least $2 million to spread his message.

Corroon favors campaign contribution limits for the state but said he wouldn’t place any self-imposed limits on his campaign.

“I’m not going to put myself at a disadvantage,” he said. “I’m going to comply with state law and when I become governor then I’ll change the state law and we can all work under the same system with same limits.”

Herbert has said he favors rapid disclosure over contribution limits. Most of Herbert’s campaign contributions — some as large as $50,000 — have come from real estate and energy-related companies.

Corroon’s largest contributors were WordPerfect founder Bruce Bastian and labor unions.

Neither Herbert nor Corroon was expected to face any challengers within their own parties.

Related link: This article is a topic of discussion at Weber County Forum.

Updated 6:00 p.m.

Corroon kicks off campaign for Utah governor

SALT LAKE CITY -- Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon has announced his bid for Utah governor.

Corroon gave a campaign speech Tuesday to formally kick off his candidacy.

The moderate Democrat is hoping to unseat Republican Gov. Gary Herbert. Herbert took office in August after Jon Huntsman resigned to become U.S. ambassador to China.

Corroon will now embark on a two-day tour of the state.