Editor:

This yearís local election season is showing yet again that some Utah political candidates have forgotten their manners and are ignoring Utahís oft-stated emphasis on integrity, respect, and fair play. ##M:MORE##For example, take the Republican primary election between Becky Edwards and Paul Neuenschwander for the District 20 seat in the Utah House of Representatives. Even though Mr. Neuenschwander enjoys the power of the incumbency, some of his vocal support has also found it necessary to shade and in some cases replace the facts about Mrs. Edwardsís past and political views, most recently at public meetings and in election e-mails.

Neuenschwander and his supporters appear to resent another Republican entering the political process after he has served only a single term in the State House. Edwards chose to enter this race be-cause she, like most Utahns, believes that our State Legislature has ignored its constituentsí views on issues like school vouchers.

I have known Becky and her family for more than 10 years...She is principled, honest, open, generous, and cares passionately about our community....She would serve well in the State House. As the primary and fall elections approach, it would be refreshing for the candidates and their supporters to stick with the facts and the issues, rather than spending so much time calling names, pointing fingers, and using innuendo.

Carl W. Barton

cbarton8286@gmail.com