The issue of nuclear waste storage in Utah is a cause for debate between third district congressional candidates, Chris Cannon and Nancy Jane Woodside.

With the election less than three weeks away, the Republican incumbent Cannon is defending his support to store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, while his Democratic challenger Woodside opposes transporting nuclear waste to the West.

Woodside said there is no difference between storing nuclear waste in Utah and transporting it through Utah. Nuclear waste should stay in the east where it is created. If waste is stored in Utah, then jobs and revenue for Utah should accompany it, she said.

Woodside said that Cannon did not represent Utah when he voted for the bill to store nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain.

Cannon is the incumbent; he has served three terms in congress since 1997. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a law degree.

He is married and has eight children ranging from elementary age to a college graduate.

He has been involved in venture capitalist work for many years. He and his brother were also responsible for restarting Geneva Steel.

"I feel I have helped create thousands of jobs for Utahns," Cannon said. "I think I have credibility with the business community and understand the issues."

Woodside, however ,said Cannon is too far removed from the constituent base to really understand the issues.

"Chris Cannon does not understand the common man because he is not the common man, he is a wealthy entrepreneur," Woodside said.

Woodside ran for the Utah County Commission in 1998, and has served since then as the Chair of the Utah County Commission Democratic Party. She graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1995 with a Juris Doctorate.

She is a single mother who worked for Ford Motor Company for 16 years to raise her two daughters.

"I do understand the needs of the people of this district," Woodside said.

"I don't know what her qualifications are, I just don't understand where she is coming from," Cannon said. "I've expected to be engaged in issues but apparently (Woodside) has come to my way of thinking on the issues."

"I think its partly because the way I view the issues is the way my constituents view the issues, if she has a chance to do anything she has to be like the constituents," he said.

The proper role of the federal government in education funding is another hot topic in this congressional race.

Woodside said she wants the federal government to fully fund special education. She said she is opposed to vouchers and opposed to giving money for religious education.

Cannon said he wants to keep the federal government out of Utah education. He said their needs to be more localized control. Cannon said he wants to work with Washington to use Utah's resources to fund education.

The two candidates do agree on the issue of military action in Iraq.

Cannon said he will give President George W. Bush the flexibility to protect our nation, and if that includes military action then he will support the president.

Election day is Nov. 5.

"We need a new voice in Washington," Woodside said.

Cannon said Utahns should realize he has represented Utah and is active in working with his constituents.

"My main focus has been Washington. Trying to get bills passed has consumed my time," Cannon said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 24 Oct 2002