Democratic candidate Nancy Jane Woodside garnered support from her Libertarian opponent at a debate Tuesday Oct. 15.

After dropping from the race, Kitty K. Burton announced in a statement that she was endorsing Woodside.

Former City Councilwoman Shari Holweg, who represented Burton at the debate, read a statement from Burton that encouraged her supporters to vote for Woodside.

"It is my firm belief that Cannon's intention to have Nancy Jane Woodside and Kitty K. Burton show up at the organized debate and debate one another, not the incumbent, was to split the vote," Holweg said.

Woodside said the announcement came as a surprise and she appreciates the support.

She hopes it is a testament to her ability to bring together people of different political parties.

Scott Wares, Republican Chris Cannon's campaign manager, said they had expected Burton's withdrawal from the race and believe Woodside was involved in the decision.

Woodside was the only candidate to actually appear in person at the debates.

State senator Curt Bramble stood in for Cannon, drawing fire from the representative's opponents.

Woodside said she has yet to have an open debate with Cannon.

"When you can get the actual candidate to come, it (the debate) is a core part of our democracy and our democratic way of making a decision about who the best candidate is," Woodside said.

Wares said Cannon was unable to attend the event because he was needed in Washington D.C. for congressional votes taking place Tuesday.

The debate was attended by about 40 people including members of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce.

The candidates and their representatives discussed education policies, Medicare and social security.

The issue of storing nuclear waste in Utah brought debate over the issue of transporting it through the state versus storing it.

Woodside said the two issues cannot be separated. Bramble said Cannon would support storing the nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain because it would keep the waste from being stored in Utah.



Copyright Brigham Young University 16 Oct 2002