North Logan's Scott Bradley aims for Hatch's Senate seat

By Diana Hurren

April 3, 2006 | NORTH LOGAN -- Stealing a Senate seat from incumbent Orrin Hatch is something many ambitious politicians have tried and failed to do, but North Logan resident Scott Bradley has decided to take his chances and compete for the seat, representing Utah's Constitution Party.

"I have never, ever, ever wanted to hold office, but the principles are what's at stake and I want people to vote for the principles," said Bradley, 54.

The Constitution Party is a conservative third party started in 1992 that shares many views on platform issues with Republicans. Bradley said the main difference between the two is his party's goal, which is to restore government back to exactly what is specified in the U.S. Constitution.

"If we do this, everything else will fall into place," he said.

Much like this nation, the Constitution Party was founded by Christians, Bradley said. The Founding Fathers recognized God and some of the core elements and laws they put in place come directly from scripture. They intended for America to have religious freedom but that they never wanted atheism in government, he said.

One of the party's main platforms is protecting and restoring the family unit. Bradley said families are under assault in America, but they should be recognized as the most important organization the country has.

Bradley, who is director of Utah State University's telecommunications and telephone services department, said the Constitution is one of his first loves, and he has studied intently since college. Nobody has the right to violate the Constitution yet the current government seems to be doing it all the time, he said.

"It is the core foundation of our country and it has been strayed from so far," said Bradley.

The party's answers for resolving the many complicated issues the U.S. faces all rely on returning to the foundation of the nation through governing by and restoring the original intent of the Founding Fathers, he said.

One thing the Constitution Party would like to do is repeal the federal income tax and leave the taxing of people to the individual state governments. Bradley said the national government's job is to collect money from outside the country through tariffs and other means, and that Congress never should have received the power to collect tax from citizens.

Bradley is a former Republican and served that party as a county and state delegate many times. He said he became interested in the Constitution Party not only because of its emphasis on that important document, but because of the values and principles the party upholds and wants to restore to government.

The Constitution sets forth the rules for our country and it is so important because, Bradley says, "If everybody plays by the rules we'll stay free and if we don't we won't."

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