It appears the mudslinging in Utah’s House District 16 race is picking up.

Last week Bob Stevenson, Davis County Commissioner, authored a letter voicing his support for write-in candidate Steve Handy, the previous incumbent in the seat ousted at the GOP nominating convention earlier this year (according to delegates I spoke to, this was mainly due to Handy’s voting record advocating for issues like red flag laws & tax increases).

Stevenson’s letter was riddled with inaccuracies about the record and character of the Republican Party nominee, Trevor Lee. Foremost among these inaccuracies, Stevenson falsely claimed that Lee was “censured” by the Davis County Republican Party (DCRP).

This lie is absurd. The DCRP overwhelming elected Lee at the state nominating convention and have publicly disavowed Stevenson’s claim. Delegates, elected by their neighbors, extensively vetted each candidate, and concluded Trevor Lee was best suited to fight for their interests and the Republican Party in Utah.

In addition to the inaccuracies of Stevenson’s letter, Stevenson included his official title as Davis County Commissioner in the letterhead. I find this grossly inappropriate for a public official, especially considering that Steve Handy’s campaign paid for the distribution of the letter.

I have gotten to know Trevor Lee over the past year on the campaign trail. I know the personal sacrifices he has made to fight for the people of northern Utah — not the establishment — and have zero doubt he is the best candidate for this seat. It’s time for a new generation of conservative leaders to step up. Simply put, business as usual in Salt Lake is not cutting it.

Political races should focus on the records and positions of candidates. Personal attacks unrelated to this, especially carried out indirectly and through surrogates, are a sign of weakness and desperation, not strength.

I call upon Stevenson to retract his inaccurate letter attacking the Republican nominee Trevor Lee and — just as the GOP delegates did at the party convention — urge every District 16 voter to closely evaluate the records of each candidate and draw their own conclusions ahead of the 08 November election.

Andrew Badger

Ogden

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