Candidates 2008 - UT-2: Jim Matheson

By Dan Bammes

Washington, DC – We continue our conversations with candidates with Congressman Jim Matheson. Matheson is a Democrat who was first elected in 2000 in Utah's 2nd Congressional District. Back then, it included only areas of Salt Lake County. By the next election, new lines had been drawn that include not only St. George but many other areas of rural Utah. He won re-election in the new district and is now campaigning for a fifth term.

Before that, Matheson worked with companies in the energy business, developing new power plants and consulting with companies about how to use their electric and natural gas resources efficiently. Matheson sponsored a provision an energy bill that passed the House last week that opens up leasing for oil shale on federal land. But he says he's not a member of the "drill, baby, drill" school of energy production in the West.

Our thanks to Peter Granitz of Capitol News Connection for recording Congressman Matheson in Washington.