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Governor Leavitt encourages students to vote
By Heather Wardle
Jackie and Mike Leavitt address students Tuesday at Utah State University. / Photo by Michael Hamblin "New Hampshire and South Carolina have received so much attention, but what about the West?" This was the question posed by Gov. Mike Leavitt Tuesday morning, during a rally at Utah State. Both Gov. Leavitt and his wife, Jackie, came in an effort to encourage students to vote and take part in the first-ever Western states primary. According to Leavitt, campaigns are a very important modifier of how government is shaped. While California and Texas are never missed during election time, the majority of the interior west seems to be left behind. Leavitt has been working with other governors on a plan to get the west its own primary, and was happy to announce that on March 10, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming will be participants in the first primary for the Western interior. While Leavitt got support of only three states, rather than the anticipated eight, on the primary, he felt very good about strengthening support in upcoming years and told students that he hoped more states would participate in forthcoming years. Leavitt also spoke to students about his choice for president in the upcoming election and said," I come today wearing two hats," one to encourage Utah to be aware of the March 10 primary and to focus on which candidate they would like to vote for, and the other to let people know that he had already made his choice and wanted to promote George W. Bush as candidate for president. Leavitt spoke highly of Bush and said the two had worked closely together over past years. He told students that during Bush's six years as governor of Texas he had achieved results in very difficult situations. Bush has taken on issues in education in which he has changed the structure of teaching in the schools and has decreased welfare reform by half, which according to Leavitt, were great accomplishments. Leavitt also vouched for the more personal side of Bush, and told students that Bush, "is a person who's heart I think I know a little bit about." Governor Leavitt and his wife Jackie said this was an exciting time,
and reminded students that most people cast their first vote for president
while in college. They encouraged USU students to register to vote,
and to support the political process as it will have a great impact
on their lives now and in the future. |
Archived Months:
September
1998 |
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