Former Congressman Merrill Cook, has announced that he will run against Chris Cannon to represent Utah's 3rd district.

Merrill Cook up against Cannon
March 16, 2006

Former Utah Congressman Merrill Cook is entering the race for the state's 3rd Congressional District, which will put him in a contest with fellow Republican and ex-House colleague U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon.

Cook was elected 2nd District congressman in 1996 and served two terms before losing in the 2000 primary election. He said he's been urged to run by people concerned about the direction of the Republican Party.

"A number of people in the 3rd Congressional District approached me," he said. "These are traditional Republicans who feel the party in some areas has veered off course."

Cannon was not available for comment Wednesday, but campaign spokesman Nathan Rathbun said the new entrant wouldn't change Cannon's course.

"Whether Merrill Cook's in or out of the race, we're going to run the same race and talk about the same stuff," Rathbun said. "He's always said that he'll continue to serve as long as his influence and his ability to be effective on behalf of the state continues to grow.

"That is the case."

In his campaign announcement, Cook said he was focusing on four areas: illegal immigration, globalization and trade issues like the North American Free Trade Agreement, government spending and the influence of lobbyists.

"I think we need to stand up a lot stronger for American sovereignty," Cook said.

He said the United States and Utah have become "a magnet" for illegal immigration, and he voiced opposition to a proposal he referred to as "amnesty that masquerades as a guest worker program."

He also expressed concern at the U.S. trade deficit and said free-trade agreements have hurt American workers.

Cannon is co-sponsoring legislation that would allow agricultural workers in the country illegally to gain some legal status if they meet certain requirements, which will "allow us to know who they are and what they are doing," according to his campaign Web site. The site also argues for policies that would tighten border security while still allowing workers to immigrate here, although there are few specifics.

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http://www.teamamericapac.org/
http://merrillcookforcongress.com/