Rolly Report: Athlete, Ambassador, Politicians Lining Up at Gubernatorial Gate [Utah]

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | May 25, 2003 | Paul Rolly

[JohnnyZ]

A former professional athlete who starred in his sport for several years, attended Brigham Young University during the off-seasons and now lives in Utah County has talked to several professional political consultants about running for governor in 2004.

It's not Steve Young.

Dale Murphy, a native Californian who made news during his 15-year major league baseball career not only for his exploits with the bat, but also because of his conservative Mormon lifestyle in the fast lane of professional sports, says he has been encouraged by a number of people to seek the Republican nomination.

He spoke first to Evan Twede, a public relations and advertising consultant who landed on the political map more than a decade ago with his unique ads featuring close-ups of Republican Bob Bennett, the upset winner in Utah's U.S. Senate race in 1992.

Although they talked, Twede will not be working for Murphy. He has spoken to other, perhaps more viable, potential Republican candidates as well.

Murphy is being helped, however, by a California-based sports marketing firm that has helped former pro athletes get into politics in the past, including Oklahoma Congressman Steve Largent.

Murphy, 47, spent most of his career with the Atlanta Braves. He retired in 1993, settled in Alpine and has been attending and coaching Little League sporting events, as well as dance recitals and other activities involving his eight children. He says he is active in the Republican Party's Elephant Club, is a busy public speaker and is involved in community events, "but I am a political newcomer with little experience in this field."

He did, however, hit 398 career home runs.

Elsewhere on the gubernatorial-campaign front:

* Merit Medical Co. President Fred Lampropoulos has attended nine Lincoln Day dinners, 15 Republican county conventions with seven to go, had 148 personal visits with small groups and taped 51 two-minute radio spots.

"Nobody's done more than Fred," says Dave Hansen, the former executive for the Utah and national Republican committees who is running the Lampropoulos campaign.

* Jon Huntsman Jr., who resigned his ambassador-level position with the U.S. State Department last month to return to Utah and run the Huntsman Family Business Holding Co., has had several "cottage meetings" with delegates and other interested Republicans in Utah, Salt Lake and Davis counties. He describes his recent activities as a "listening tour," in which he has exchanged ideas with attendees and gauged his own political viability. Huntsman repeatedly has said he will not run if Gov. Mike Leavitt seeks a fourth term, but he can't wait for the governor to formally announce. "I'm not letting the grass grow beneath my feet," he said, reiterating his commitment to step aside if Leavitt runs.

* House Speaker Marty Stephens continues to shore up delegate support and raise money for a shot at the governor's chair. He has raised about $225,000, mostly from his annual Constitutional Caucus, sponsored in part by the conservative Sutherland Institute.

* Former House Speaker and current Board of Regents Chairman Nolan Karras remains on the fence, but one well-connected lobbyist claims Karras would gain instant heavy support, including 75 percent of the Republicans in the Legislature, if he commits to the race. Karras was told last week that his support remains solid, but if he remains silent much longer, commitments will be made to other candidates already aboard.

* Gov. Mike Leavitt has said he will announce in the fall whether he will run for a fourth term. Those close to him say he talks vibrantly of long-range plans that would indicate he plans to be around for awhile.

* Some are calling Utah County Commissioner Gary Herbert a Republican dark horse. He has held no formal fund-raiser, but he quietly has raised more than $100,000.

* Democrats Ron Allen and Scott Matheson plan a formal meeting later this week to discuss the gubernatorial nomination for their party. Allen, a state senator from Tooele, says that he and Matheson, dean of the University of Utah law school and son of the late Gov. Scott M. Matheson, have agreed with Democratic leaders that there will not be a divisive party fight for the nomination and at some point, everyone will get behind the person perceived as the most viable candidate.

Meanwhile, John Swallow, the 2002 Republican candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, mailed letters to party loyalists last week stating he needs to raise $100,000 by the end of June and more than $200,000 by the end of the year. He plans to once again challenge Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson in 2004. Tim Bridgewater, who Swallow defeated in the GOP primary last year, says he also is considering another try at Matheson's seat.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Dale Murphy is by all accounts a really nice guy, and was a fine slugger and centerfielder. But why doesn't he run for a lower office before jumping into the gubernatorial race? Not only doesn't he have any political experience, I don't think he has any business experience either.

The most interesting snippet in the article was John Swallow's fundraising drive. If he can start spending money early in his campaign against Matheson, and with Bush's coattails, there's no way he can lose.