John Curtis: Difference between revisions

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[[John Curtis]] is the mayor of Provo. He is running as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat in the [[November 2017 Election, Utah]].
[[John Curtis]] is the mayor of Provo. He is running as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat in the [[November 2017 Election, Utah]].


Our overall view of John Curtis is negative. Having run as a Democrat in 2000 strongly tarnishes his image. We do not think that anybody with a good head on their shoulders and solid conservative principles could join the Democratic Party without wrestling mightily against his conscience. One of our voting principles has always been "don't support a party platform you do not think is generally good" and the [[Democratic Party]] has never had a platform that we have recognized to be generally good. It would seem that either John Curtis does not subscribe to that principle, or his principles otherwise are not solidly conservative. Either way it is bad. If he were to say, "hey, that was dumb of me, and I've come to realize that those principles were not correct" it might be easier to give him a pass here, but the most he can muster seems to be a regret that the decision hurt him politically. To pour salt on the wound, he further shows a disregard and disrespect for constitutional principles by taking advantage of [[Utah/Senate Bills/2014/54|SB 54]] to avoid the scrutiny of a caucus. That this is politically expedient, we do not deny, but it is bad form and further supports the idea that there is a deficiency in his principles. Although he can cite a couple of areas in which he aligns with conservatives, his overall behavior leaves us focusing more on this question: "what did he find so agreeable in the Democratic Party that he felt inclined to join?" Another question that comes to mind is: "Is he fighting all out to benefit Utah, or is he doing it for himself." John's behavior suggests that John is only fighting for John.
Our overall view of John Curtis is negative. Having run as a Democrat in 2000 strongly tarnishes his image. We do not think that anybody with a good head on their shoulders and solid conservative principles could join the Democratic Party without wrestling mightily against his conscience. One of our voting principles has always been "don't support a party platform you do not think is generally good" and the [[Democratic Party]] has never had a platform that we have recognized to be generally good. He has explained that he got the local party to change its platform to be acceptable to him. This improves things, but his explanation still begs many questions. If he were to say, "hey, that was dumb of me, and I've come to realize that those principles were not correct" it might be easier to give him a pass here, but the most he can muster seems to be a regret that the decision hurt him politically. To pour salt on the wound, he further shows a disregard and disrespect for constitutional principles by taking advantage of [[Utah/Senate Bills/2014/54|SB 54]] to avoid the scrutiny of a caucus. That this is politically expedient, we do not deny, but it is bad form and further supports the idea that there is a deficiency in his principles. Although he can cite a couple of areas in which he aligns with conservatives, his overall behavior leaves us focusing more on this question: "Why did he not find a competing party that was more conservative and constitutional already?" Another question that comes to mind is: "Is he fighting all out to benefit Utah, or is he doing it for himself." John's behavior suggests that John is only fighting for John.


John Curtis has expressed, regarding the Trump/Russia investigation, that the new FBI director should continue to investigate independently.<ref>Lisa Riley Roche, [http://www.ksl.com/?sid=45065881&nid=148&title=herrod-opposes-special-prosecutor-investigating-russia-trump-ties "Herrod opposes special prosecutor investigating Russia-Trump ties"], KSL, 18 Jul 2017</ref> He has been endorsed by [[Gary R. Herbert]].<ref>Lisa Riley Roche, [http://www.ksl.com/?sid=45159792&nid=757&title=gov-gary-herbert-endorses-provo-mayor-john-curtis-in-3rd-district-race "Gov. Gary Herbert endorses Provo Mayor John Curtis in 3rd District race"], KSL, 25 Jul 2017</ref>
John Curtis has expressed, regarding the Trump/Russia investigation, that the new FBI director should continue to investigate independently.<ref>Lisa Riley Roche, [http://www.ksl.com/?sid=45065881&nid=148&title=herrod-opposes-special-prosecutor-investigating-russia-trump-ties "Herrod opposes special prosecutor investigating Russia-Trump ties"], KSL, 18 Jul 2017</ref> He has been endorsed by [[Gary R. Herbert]].<ref>Lisa Riley Roche, [http://www.ksl.com/?sid=45159792&nid=757&title=gov-gary-herbert-endorses-provo-mayor-john-curtis-in-3rd-district-race "Gov. Gary Herbert endorses Provo Mayor John Curtis in 3rd District race"], KSL, 25 Jul 2017</ref>


John Curtis used [[Utah/Senate Bills/2014/54|signature gathering]] to bypass party convention for his 2017 bid for a congressional seat.<ref>Ryan Morgan, [http://www.ksl.com/?sid=44647745&nid=148 "11 GOP candidates hoping to win Chaffetz's seat gather in Lehi"], KSL, 14 Jun 2017</ref> He has explained that he did not think that he would get a fair shake in the caucus due to his history of having run as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] against the [[Republican Party]] in 2000. He counters that he is a moderate who is anti-abortion and a supporter of gun rights and further that his principles haven't changed, but that he has simply chosen to apply his principles in different parties at different times.<ref>Courtney Tanner, [http://www.sltrib.com/home/5407172-155/provo-mayor-john-curtis-says-running "Provo Mayor John Curtis says running as a Democrat 20 years ago tarred him with many conservatives"], Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Jun 2017</ref>
John Curtis used [[Utah/Senate Bills/2014/54|signature gathering]] to bypass party convention for his 2017 bid for a congressional seat.<ref>Ryan Morgan, [http://www.ksl.com/?sid=44647745&nid=148 "11 GOP candidates hoping to win Chaffetz's seat gather in Lehi"], KSL, 14 Jun 2017</ref> He has explained that he did not think that he would get a fair shake in the caucus due to his history of having run as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] against the [[Republican Party]] in 2000. He counters that he is a moderate who is anti-abortion and a supporter of gun rights and further that his principles haven't changed, but that he has simply chosen to apply his principles in different parties at different times.<ref>Courtney Tanner, [http://www.sltrib.com/home/5407172-155/provo-mayor-john-curtis-says-running "Provo Mayor John Curtis says running as a Democrat 20 years ago tarred him with many conservatives"], Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Jun 2017</ref> John's campaign website further explains that, concerned by the negative affects of party myopia, he got the region's Democratic party to change its platform and support him as a challenger to the Republican candidate.<ref>John Curtis, [https://www.johncurtis.org/blog/2017/6/3/questions-about-my-party-affiliation "Questions about my party affiliation"], John Curtis for U.S. Congress</ref>


He ran for the Utah State Senate in 2000 as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]].<ref>http://www.utahcounty.gov/dept/clerkaud/Elections/ElectRslts/2000_gen/INDEX.asp</ref>
He ran for the Utah State Senate in 2000 as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]].<ref>http://www.utahcounty.gov/dept/clerkaud/Elections/ElectRslts/2000_gen/INDEX.asp</ref>

Revision as of 20:11, 25 July 2017

John Curtis is the mayor of Provo. He is running as a Republican candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat in the November 2017 Election, Utah.

Our overall view of John Curtis is negative. Having run as a Democrat in 2000 strongly tarnishes his image. We do not think that anybody with a good head on their shoulders and solid conservative principles could join the Democratic Party without wrestling mightily against his conscience. One of our voting principles has always been "don't support a party platform you do not think is generally good" and the Democratic Party has never had a platform that we have recognized to be generally good. He has explained that he got the local party to change its platform to be acceptable to him. This improves things, but his explanation still begs many questions. If he were to say, "hey, that was dumb of me, and I've come to realize that those principles were not correct" it might be easier to give him a pass here, but the most he can muster seems to be a regret that the decision hurt him politically. To pour salt on the wound, he further shows a disregard and disrespect for constitutional principles by taking advantage of SB 54 to avoid the scrutiny of a caucus. That this is politically expedient, we do not deny, but it is bad form and further supports the idea that there is a deficiency in his principles. Although he can cite a couple of areas in which he aligns with conservatives, his overall behavior leaves us focusing more on this question: "Why did he not find a competing party that was more conservative and constitutional already?" Another question that comes to mind is: "Is he fighting all out to benefit Utah, or is he doing it for himself." John's behavior suggests that John is only fighting for John.

John Curtis has expressed, regarding the Trump/Russia investigation, that the new FBI director should continue to investigate independently.[1] He has been endorsed by Gary R. Herbert.[2]

John Curtis used signature gathering to bypass party convention for his 2017 bid for a congressional seat.[3] He has explained that he did not think that he would get a fair shake in the caucus due to his history of having run as a Democrat against the Republican Party in 2000. He counters that he is a moderate who is anti-abortion and a supporter of gun rights and further that his principles haven't changed, but that he has simply chosen to apply his principles in different parties at different times.[4] John's campaign website further explains that, concerned by the negative affects of party myopia, he got the region's Democratic party to change its platform and support him as a challenger to the Republican candidate.[5]

He ran for the Utah State Senate in 2000 as a Democrat.[6]

External Resources

References

  1. ↑ Lisa Riley Roche, "Herrod opposes special prosecutor investigating Russia-Trump ties", KSL, 18 Jul 2017
  2. ↑ Lisa Riley Roche, "Gov. Gary Herbert endorses Provo Mayor John Curtis in 3rd District race", KSL, 25 Jul 2017
  3. ↑ Ryan Morgan, "11 GOP candidates hoping to win Chaffetz's seat gather in Lehi", KSL, 14 Jun 2017
  4. ↑ Courtney Tanner, "Provo Mayor John Curtis says running as a Democrat 20 years ago tarred him with many conservatives", Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Jun 2017
  5. ↑ John Curtis, "Questions about my party affiliation", John Curtis for U.S. Congress
  6. ↑ http://www.utahcounty.gov/dept/clerkaud/Elections/ElectRslts/2000_gen/INDEX.asp
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