March 7, 2000
It was an embarrasing moment for Utah Democrats today.
"I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT GREGG WAS ABSOLUTLY OUR FIRST CHOICE, AND WE WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT."
But the Democrats' first choice for Governor is going to have to wait.
The hand-picked candidate to run against Governor Mike Leavitt isn't eligible to run this year.
Political specialist Richard Piatt has more.
As if it weren't hard enough to run against Governor Leavitt: Democrats found out at the last minute, the man they wanted for Utah's top job doesn't qualify.
The Lieutenant Governor's office was packed.
It's the first day for candidates to register.
Merrill Cook took this first step to keep his job.
Greg Hawkins made it official he wants to overthrow Orrin Hatch.
Democrats made a showing, too, with Donald Dunn.
And the man they planned to run for Governor: Gregg Lassen.
But Lassen was cut short.
"YOU MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN MORE THAN 33 YEARS OLD AT TIME OF ELECTION.."
But it turns out Lassen didn't meet one qualification to run for governor.
The short story is he hasn't lived in Utah long enough-- a disappointing oversight.
Gregg Lassen/Candidacy Postponed: "EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WAS MAKING A BIG SACRIFICE IN MY CAREER TO BE A CANDIDATE. AND IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO SERVE THE STATE.
The requirement is unique to the Governor's race, so unique that it slipped past Democratic leader Megan Holbrook.
Megan Holbrook/Utah Democratic Party: "THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT IS THE FULL FIVE YEARS FROM THE PRECEEDING ELECTION. AND THAT'S MY FAULT."
Lassen was clearly the Democrats first choice.
The second choice now may make a run at governor.
But the party isn't saying who that is, or what they'll do if that candidate doesn't work out.
"YOU KNOW WHAT, LIFE IS VERY INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?"
Democrats still have several weeks to find and register a candidate.
And Holbrook assures us there will be a Democrat running against Mike Leavitt this year.
