- How do you see your role if you are governor during a future pandemic?
Madeline Kazantzis (Rep.Write-In): I would reject the forcing of people to stay home or close their businesses and would not mandate masks. I believe in the case of a pandemic, I would do my best to ensure that all Utahns have the best actual, factual and up-to-date information related to the pandemic. I would trust Utahns to use their freedom to take that information and make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): The role of the Governor and the Government in general in a pandemic is to educate the citizens and let them make informed decisions. The law follows the actions of the citizens and not vice versa. This highlights the problems with the current pandemic. Our government displayed only a single side of the story and then made laws and mandates that were inappropriate and ineffective. If the citizens were not doing what the government wanted that means that the Governor and his employees were doing a bad job educating the citizens. The opposite is also true that the citizens looked at the facts and felt that this was not something to be worried about. Either way, using force is not appropriate.
Greg Duerden (Independent American): The role of a Governor in any pandemic is to lead but not to unconstitutionally act as Gov Herbert & Lt Gov Cox have done and are continuing to do. But first, THIS Crisis is NOT a pandemic! Yes it has gone to many, if not most, countries around the world, but it has not met the definition of Pandemic! A pandemic involves a majority of the population (or significant portion) and a significant portion of the geography. When it first arrived in the US it was only in 10 Counties in three states. Here in Utah it is in the most populous counties of our state (Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Summit, and part of Tooele, Cache, San Juan and Weber counties) NOT so much in the other 20 counties! The numbers we see and hear are actually statistically insignificant when looked at as a whole (1100 cases a day out of 3.2 million population is pretty small!!). While ANY deaths are regrettable, the .6% deaths in Utah is actually the lowest in the nation!! The role of Governor is to belay fear and panic NOT instill fear in the population. NOT to trample the rights of the people but to protect and defend the Constitutional Rights of the People. Not to violate their oath of office but to uphold and defend the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Utah. Unlike what Herbert and Cox have done!
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: The governor’s first responsibility is to uphold the Constitution and protect the individual rights of the citizens of Utah. The proper role of the governor during a pandemic is to apprise the citizens of the situation and allow them to make their own decisions for themselves, their families, and their businesses. History has shown that once a government usurps power over a people, it is not easily relinquished.
2)What would you do, if anything, about the Constitutional earmark that reserves income taxes for education?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): Although the Governor’s role would not include judgement of the removal/acceptance of earmarks in the Utah State taxation laws that I am aware of, I believe that an allocation of public funds can be utilized for our children’s education but we must closely examine where the funds ultimately reside. I do not support the use of State tax dollars toward funding unions or other interest groups but rather toward students and families directly through some other means.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): I would leave this in place. However, I would want it to also cover expenses for children who are home schooled and expenses for private schools equal to public education.
Greg Duerden (IAP): – I would keep the earmark because the Legislature has a history of lying to the Utah Students and not keeping their promises to the Pub-Ed teachers. The Legislature cannot be trusted to keep Pub-Ed funding at current miserable levels and we need something to keep the constitutional system afloat, such as the earmark. I would NOT use taxes to increase the funding for Public Ed but would use alternate revenue streams or cost cutting in other areas.
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: In 1946, Utah residents voted to earmark income tax for K-12 education. In 1996, Utahns passed a state constitutional amendment which expanded the earmark to include higher education. A new proposed amendment would further expand the earmark to include programs for children and residents with disabilities. While constitutional amendments are passed when the majority of Utah voters vote in favor of them, we are still interested in the candidates’ views on this issue.
3) Do you support a sales tax on groceries? To what extent?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): I am not a fan of taxes at all. I believe that taxation is theft. Tax reform legislation that passed at the end of 2019, but was later repealed, had grocery tax moving from 1.75% tax to 4.85% tax. That’s a huge increase. The way that those who were for it justified it, was by sending out grocery rebates. This is not something I support because it suggests that the government is better at managing the people’s money than they are. I am not a fan of the government labeling themselves as my bank and forcing me to give them my money to hold on to until they are ready to return it. If the Country were to collapse economically, the money would never be returned. This also would take food out of the people’s mouths from paycheck to paycheck. This would also harm businesses because individuals wouldn’t be able to purchase as many items with the higher grocery tax rates.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian: There are already many taxes on groceries. I believe in the people right to determine how they are taxed. The people have spoken that they don’t wish to have any more taxes on groceries and I support that.
Greg Duerden (IAP): ): I would push for full repeal of any and all food tax and would veto any bill pushing such forward. I am also planning to eliminate most of the excise taxes (e.g., gas tax, etc.) as well. We have a plan to replace that lost revenue with our Proctor Plan, which does not involve taxation!!
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: Although it is the role of the Utah State Legislature to levy taxes, we are interested in the candidates’ opinions regarding this tax.
4) How should Utah select members of the state board of education?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): As far as I have researched, currently, the school board members are elected in their respective districts. I prefer that the public votes on the members of office that represent them but am not privy on how well that is serving Utahns and would like to learn more if there is information that can be shared with me.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): In the Utah Constitution it says that the board members must be elected. I am unaware of the problems with the current system. Additionally, since it’s a constitutional requirement I am not sure how you could change the current system without a referendum or the legislature changing the statutes how they are elected (meaning changing districts or numbers of members).
Greg Duerden (IAP): Non-Partisan School Board selection is okay, but I would reorganize the bord to include the State Charter School Board (thereafter eliminating that extra-constitutional board as well as the State Charter School superintendent, which is also extra-Constitutional).
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: In a republic, the Utah State School Board should be elected by the people they represent and should not be appointed by the governor.
5) Do you agree with the way our state has responded to COVID-19?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): I absolutely do not agree with the way our state has responded to COVID-19. Shutting down businesses harmed Utahns livelihoods. Social distancing measures impeded on our right to peaceably assemble and even go to church. The mandating of masks in our schools is not only unhealthy and virtually medically useless for such a small viral particle but it is classic government overreach. We the people, never voted upon the masks and even when our legislators spoke out against the continued State of Emergency, which gives the Governor emergency power to be able to mandate masks, the Governor completely ignored our representatives. This is not at all the role of the Governor. Governor Herbert and Lt. Governor Spencer Cox are not legislators. More needs to be done to limit the power of the State Health Department as well and I would encourage that the Legislature do just that.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): Spencer Cox has done a horrible job of educating Utahans about the virus and its risk relative to other activities we do daily. They also have done a poor job comparing it to other disease processes which we live with on a daily basis. The declaration of emergency was unwarranted and has remained in place to long. The lock downs were a bad idea and were in place far to long. The have done a poor job of telling us who is dying from the virus. This has lead to an unwarranted environment of fear. If elected I will spend more time educating and less time declaring false emergencies.
Greg Duerden (IAP): I definitely DO NOT agree with the State Response!! The State response to Covid has been abysmal and totally unconstitutional. Closing business violates the last part of the Fifth Amendment, the literal TAKING of people’s businesses and livelihoods without Due Process OR Just Compensation. We encourage businesses to take their second quarter P&L statement to their local legislators and lay a claim for Just Compensation from the STATE … which can then lay a claim to the Federal government for re-compensation. The First Amendment allows for peaceful assembly of citizens in any number (not 10, 20, 100 groups but en masse) The First Amendment also does not allow the State to ask the Churches to close, as Lt Gov Cox DID, whatever the reason! I also do not agree with the privacy violation of asking visitors to the state to tell the state where they came from or where they are going to and who they are visiting. The app the state tried to use to track people is questionably constitutional at very best if not outright unconstitutional. The No-Bid spending by the state is another violation of good practices, even if an ‘emergency’ is the justification, is a fiduciary violation and should be criminally pursued. So, NO I am not a fan of the way the State has responded to this Pandemic – which has never been a pandemic by definition!!
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: The state of Utah has responded unconstitutionally to the Covid19 threat. Governor Herbert has used a perceived public health emergency to disregard the Bill of Rights. Prohibiting the number of people allowed to gather violated the First Amendment which states that the people have a right to peaceably assemble. Limiting the number of people attending church services violated the free exercise of religion as well as their right to peaceably assemble. Requiring healthy people to quarantine at home violated the Due Process Clause. Closing businesses because they were deemed non-essential violated both the Due Process and the Equal Protection Clause.
6) How do you feel about the movement of taking the federal government to court in order to obtain control of our state lands?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): The Utah Transfer of Public Lands Act initially required the federal government to give the majority of federal land back to our State. The Utah Legislature paid $400,000 to a nonprofit group, Foundation for Integrated Resource Management, to pursue the lawsuit against the federal government to regain our lands but as far as I’ve found, the group still has not done so. I would advocate for this lawsuit to be pursued. The federal government should not control the land in our State. Local control is what I favor.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): I totally support the idea that Utah should have more say on its public lands. However, the state will never win this battle and all the states in the west have tried this at one time or another and lost. I’m not sure spending millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money on something I can’t see the state winning is a good idea. A western compact of Governors working with our elected representatives to craft legislating giving us more say on those public lands would be an approach more likely to win support.
Greg Duerden (IAP): A lawsuit to obtain the State Lands back requires a couple of things first.
- we must amend the State Constitution’s Article III (Ordinances), paragraph two, which states:
“The people inhabiting this state do affirm and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries hereof, … that until the title thereof shall haven extinguished by the United States, the same shall be and remain subject to the disposition of the United States …”
- pursuant to the US Constitution Article 4, Section three, paragraph two, provides Congress the power to return the lands
- THEN Utah can sue the Federal government for return of the lands … if negotiation to that point has failed.
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: The Founding Fathers intended that the federal government would promote the sale of public land. They did not intend for the federal government to own, manage, and restrict the use of land within the individual states. Citizens for Constitutional Government supports the transfer of federally controlled land within our state back to the state. In regard to this question, we are interested in if and how the candidate intends to achieve this but do not offer our own statement as to how it should be achieved.
7) Would you be willing to refuse the 2% of Utah’s education budget that is tied to Sage/Rise testing requirements?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): I don’t believe that it is right to sell out our children’s privacy to a research institute for funds, especially not for a measly 2%.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): I am not sure how to answer this. I am unaware of how 2% is tagged to the education budget or how a Governor could refuse to use something that has been appropriated by the legislators. The Governor of Utah has limited powers to refuse something that has been legislated. I also support testing requirements to monitor progress.
Greg Duerden (IAP): Sage Testing would be part of the nullification of Federal Education Programs in the State of Utah, since the US Constitution does not give the Federal Government ANY power to be involved in our Public Education.
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: Federal opinions, mandates, and monies have no place in Utah education as they always have strings attached. We would like to see all federal monies (6% of Utah educational budget) refused. Therefore, we certainly believe that a mere 2% can be refused to allow Utah parents the right to opt-out of Sage/Rise testing.
8) Have you read Frederic Bastiat’s, The Law?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): You gave me a copy and I finally have free time this week, until Wednesday, to curl up with some short books and read away. It’s important to me to learn from history so that the errors are not repeated. If elected, I want to know as much as possible regarding not only the proper role of the government and the role of the governor but also the law itself.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): I have twice.
Greg Duerden (IAP): YES, a most excellent book.
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: We believe this is a foundational book that every candidate would benefit from reading.
9) Have you read Ezra Taft Benson’s, The Proper Role of Government?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): I also have a copy of this and plan to read this week. This campaign has been hectic but preparation to serve is a priority. In fact, if I may, I’ll check in when I have finished both.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): I have not
Greg Duerden (IAP): Proper Role of Govt is the basis for the IAPs 15 Principles of Good Government (aka: 15 Principles of Liberty), so YES; but, not only have I read it I espouse it as the basis of my campaign.
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: We believe this is a foundational book that every candidate would benefit from reading.
10) How do you intend to use your nullification power, if at all?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): There are many federal laws that are not Constitutional. I believe it is the duty of an elected State official, as part of upholding the oath they took to support and defend the Constitution, to advocate for nullification of federal laws that are unconstitutional. In the past, The Supreme Court has rejected nullification attempts but that does not mean that the states should give up and fall silent because that is how tyranny takes over. Further reading on this, “Under the Constitution, the federal courts therefore have the last word,” said Daniel Webster in 1830. He also said that the Constitution does not give the states a power of constitutional interpretation, and that any such power would result in as many conflicting interpretations of the Constitution as there are states. James Madison and Thomas Jefferson wrote The Kentucky Resolution of 1799 and in it added that when the states determine that a law is unconstitutional, nullification by the states is the proper remedy. I’m highly inclined to agree with James Madison here as he was the primary author of the Constitution.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): The Governor does not have nullification power at his disposal without involving the legislature. I don’t think our current government is ready to pay taxpayers dollars to fight those types of battles.
Greg Duerden (IAP): Nullification is a Constitutional option we DO plan to use. We will seek a nullification bill for all of the Federal Education programs within the State of Utah, first and foremost. We also would like to nullify the BLM, Forest Service and other agencies as part of our State Lands program – we can manage our own lands far better than the Feds!! And, we will be looking at nullifying other obtrusive Federal Programs as well, DHS, NSA, etc.
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: The governor should exercise his power of nullification whenever the federal government overreaches into undelegated power.
11) Will you keep Utah a member of the National Governors Association?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): If elected, I would not be a member of the National Governor’s Association. In fact, upon seeing this question, I researched further than I previously had and found that the NGA has taken millions of dollars in donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement Common Core throughout the states. To that, I say, “No, thank you.”
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): Yes
Greg Duerden (IAP): Initially I would like to see what the NGA (National Governors Association) is … but as for being active or a leadership part of it, as Herbert has done, I’m unsure at this juncture.
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: Membership in the NGA is a show of weakness, not strength. Utah needs no permission or consensus from any other governor for what it would like to implement. Utah is a sovereign state united with all others only under the Constitution and needs no other ties to bind or influence it.
12) Do you feel there should be benchmark testing requirements for homeschoolers?
Madeline Kazantzis(Write-in): As a homeschooling mother myself, I do not believe in testing requirements for homeschoolers. I believe that testing violates our children’s right to privacy. I believe that parents ultimately know what educational path is best for their child and that shouldn’t be scrutinized by the State or the Federal government.
Dan Cottom (Libertarian): I believe that the state should be blind to where the children are educated. I also believe in standards not time-based learning like the current education system. So I would support the same testing standards for all students regardless of where they are educated. When they meet the standards, they graduate regardless of the time spent. This would allow bright student to finish early and allow the state more resources for those who need more time.
Greg Duerden (IAP): Homeschooler testing is as essential as any public school testing; as a way to determine progress and evaluate where the student is on the learning curve. Even Sage Testing has credible grounds for being used but shouldn’t be mandated by an outside agency or program. Utah teachers and educators can relied upon, as professionals, to do the testing and determinations.
Chris Peterson (Democratic Party): Thus far Chris Peterson has not responded
Spencer Cox (Republican Party): Thus far Spencer Cox has not responded
Citizens for Constitutional Government: Unqualifiedly, NO. The state has no place in our home. If we allow the state to insert its own opinion about what is right and acceptable into our own home, then we must allow the state to enter into our home and make any mandate whatsoever. We cannot allow this and so are of the firm belief that the state has absolutely no right to set regulations on homeschoolers.
