Anti-Voucher Group Opposed to Gov's Plan for Feb. Election

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Governor Jon Huntsman Junior is inclined to put vouchers on the presidential primary ballot in February rather than call a special election this year. That's according to his spokesperson Lisa Roskelley, who says a special election would be too costly. But voucher opponents think it should happen sooner.

"From a strategic stance, November 07 may be best because it's already on the minds of voters," says Lindsay Zizumb, spokesperson for Utahns for Public Schools which is behind the referendum to overturn vouchers.

The election this November is not statewide and state officials say it would cost three million dollars to make it one. Zizumbo says it's worth the money to give the public a vote. But there's another catch - the Utah Attorney General has suggested that vouchers will go into effect in the interim, thanks to a second voucher bill passed by lawmakers. Zizumbo says the anti-voucher movement disagrees.

"There's two sides to every legal opinion and from our counsel, we believe that by putting a referendum on HB148 - and if it qualifies - that will also hold HB174," says Zizumbo.

Tomorrow is the deadline for county clerks to finish certifying signatures collected for the voucher referendum. If Huntsman indeed waits until next year to put the issue to a vote - and if state officials implement vouchers in the meantime - the issue is likely to end up in court. Zizumbo says Utahns for Public Schools is quote "ready to fight any legal battle they have to."

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