Pete Ashdown

By: Krystle Russin

Pete Ashdown is running for U.S. Senate in Utah, and the state Democratic Party is hoping on him to improve its chances of winning the Republican state’s seat in 2006.  Besides the usual Democratic positions, he is courting young people of the iPod generation with his stance on copyright law.

“Technology is becoming the foundation of everything we do,” he said when asked which issue was most important.

Q: Has your view that copyrights should allow more things into the public domain been popular with people you have met?  Do you think this is a realistic idea considering that the music and movie industries are trying to retain their copyrights?

A: Most people I have spoken with understand the societal benefit in allowing material to age into the public domain.  They also believe, as I do, that authorship should be rewarded and individual creators should be protected.  I believe it is a realistic idea because as the Supreme Court stated in Eldred v. Ashcroft that Congress has the rights to limit copyright term.  I think reducing copyright term is a more popular idea with technologists because of the rapid aging of technology. Marketability tends towards zero after five years.

Q: You disagree with the continuing use of oil.  What do you think is a good alternative to fossil fuels?

A: I don't disagree with continuing the use of oil.  What I disagree with is putting all our energy needs into the hydrocarbon basket.  Oil will continue to have a place long after my lifetime.  What we need is balance in our energy policy and governmental support in renewables such as solar, wind, and fusion.  Algae biofuel also holds great promise for reducing our dependency on oil.  My concern is also directed towards the health implications of coal power generation.  Utah has a coal plant in the middle of the desert that California has recently decided not to buy any more power from.  That same location would work very well for solar technologies.  I would like to see that happen.

Q: What has it been like as a Democrat in a Republican area?

A: I don't recall any Republican who has treated me with anything but respect and courtesy.  Self-declared independents outnumber either party in this state.  Most Utahns vote on the individual rather than blind-straight-party.  The problem lies in getting my message in front of them.

Q: What do you plan to do to convince GOP voters to switch over for once?

A: The fact that I am a businessman who has dealt with balancing budgets and income-to-debt ratios is an ideal that strikes to the core of Republican ideals.  I have firm beliefs in privacy and the Bill of Rights, beliefs that I have put into action in my business. My efforts towards transparency and openness in government have had appeal across the line.  Since my business has run without a political agenda and has supported non-profits and candidates across the spectrum, most people realize that I'm striving for a better America rather than party rhetoric.

Q: What do you think are important issues facing voters on a statewide level?

A: There is a huge disconnect between not only the individual but local officials and the Federal government.  Where the Feds attempt to micromanage in areas such as education, wilderness, and homeland security, they fail disastrously in Utah.  I want to see more empowerment of locals and bottom-up management.

Q: Which issue would you work on most if elected to the U.S. Senate?

A: Breaking down the barriers of communication between the Federal government and the people.  Right now the government looks at interaction on the Internet as a one-way street.  We have more two-way interaction with services like eBay than we do with our government.  The Internet continues to transform business and communication, government needs to adapt and embrace technology at all levels rather that continue to fight against it.

Q: What is the most important reason why you should be elected?

A: Technology is becoming the foundation of everything we do.  It is time we had someone in the congress who knew more about it than where the power button is.