Bennion Spencer
Encyclopedia
Bennion Lloyd Spencer is a journalist and professor, and was the 2008 Democratic
candidate for Utah's 3rd congressional district
running against Republican
Jason Chaffetz
.
, Spencer served a two-year mission for the LDS Church in England
and Wales
. In 1976, he received a Bachelor's degree
in Broadcast Communications from Weber State College. After five years as a reporter, he completed a Master of Science
in International Relations
from Utah State University
in 1985.
Spencer spent 25 years as a journalist in both Texas and Utah. In Salt Lake City, he was a television news reporter at KTVX, from 1980-1985. He then became news producer at KSL-TV
from 1985-1996. Moving to Beaumont, Texas
, he was TV news director at KBMT
from 1996-1998.
Spencer now resides in Riverton, Utah
.
Spencer has also been an instructor at Salt Lake Community College
, Utah Valley State College and Neumont University
. While at Salt Lake Community College, he developed a broadcast journalism program for Spanish-speaking students. Spencer was also faculty advisor for Operation Smile
at Utah Valley State College.
In 2007, he helped Dick Nourse
, former KSL anchor and colleague, establish the Dick Nourse Center for Mass Communications and Journalism at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah
.
District 5
in 2000, and again in 2002 for District 11, losing both races.
and unopposed as the Democratic candidate for Utah's 3rd Congressional District. Spencer was considered a long shot against Jason Chaffetz
in the heavily Republican 3rd district.
In August 2008, he received international press for commenting to The Salt Lake Tribune
about how Jesus
would vote. Thinking that he might write a book about it, he said Jesus would oppose the Bush tax cuts
and partisan politics, and support compassionate immigration policy. Spencer questioned Chaffetz's religious conviction for proposing illegal immigrant "tent cit[ies
] because of their ethnic persuasion," adding, "God looks at all of his children equally." Spencer thought he would win Jesus' vote, a statement he later backed off from.
Bennion lost with 28 percent of the vote to Chaffetz's 66 percent.
Utah Democratic Party
The Utah State Democratic Party works to elect Democrats to office in the state of Utah. The Utah Democratic Party, like other national, state, and county parties, maintains a party platform that lists general principles or issues of importance to members of the Utah Democratic Party and maintains...
candidate for Utah's 3rd congressional district
Utah's 3rd congressional district
Utah's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. It currently covers nearly all of Utah County and the west side of Salt Lake County, in central and west central Utah....
running against Republican
Utah Republican Party
The Utah State Republican Party works to nominate and support the election of Republican candidates in partisan races for public office in the state of Utah...
Jason Chaffetz
Jason Chaffetz
Jason E. Chaffetz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Provo and includes large portions of central and west-central Utah.-Early life, education and career:...
.
Biographical background
A native of Layton, UtahLayton, Utah
-External links:*...
, Spencer served a two-year mission for the LDS Church in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. In 1976, he received a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Broadcast Communications from Weber State College. After five years as a reporter, he completed a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
from Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
in 1985.
Spencer spent 25 years as a journalist in both Texas and Utah. In Salt Lake City, he was a television news reporter at KTVX, from 1980-1985. He then became news producer at KSL-TV
KSL-TV
KSL-TV, virtual channel 5, is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. KSL-TV is owned by Bonneville International Corporation, which is in turn owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
from 1985-1996. Moving to Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, he was TV news director at KBMT
KBMT
KBMT is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Golden Triangle area Southeast Texas that is licensed to Beaumont. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter in Mauriceville. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 5 and in high definition...
from 1996-1998.
Spencer now resides in Riverton, Utah
Riverton, Utah
Riverton is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 38,753 at the 2010 census. Riverton is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state of Utah, and was ranked by CNN Money Magazine as the 60th best...
.
Spencer has also been an instructor at Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College is the largest higher education institution with the most diverse student body in Utah . The College offers and operates throughout the Salt Lake valley. Even with its large student body, the College maintains a student to faculty ratio of just 20 to 1...
, Utah Valley State College and Neumont University
Neumont University
Neumont University was founded in 2003 by Graham Doxey, Scott McKinley, and Marlow Einelund. It is headquartered in South Jordan, Utah. Neumont's South Jordan campus is located in what has been labeled Utah's s between other technology-oriented companies like Ibahn, eBay, Oracle, and...
. While at Salt Lake Community College, he developed a broadcast journalism program for Spanish-speaking students. Spencer was also faculty advisor for Operation Smile
Operation Smile
Operation Smile is a not-for-profit medical service organization based in Norfolk, Virginia , founded in 1982. A secular NGO, the children's medical charity provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide, assists countries in reaching self-sufficiency with these surgeries, and...
at Utah Valley State College.
In 2007, he helped Dick Nourse
Dick Nourse
Dick Nourse is a retired award-winning Salt Lake City, Utah television news anchor. He most recently worked for KSL-TV 5 Television. Nourse joined the KSL news team in 1964 as the station's weekend anchor/reporter. Six months later, he was named the station's weekday anchor...
, former KSL anchor and colleague, establish the Dick Nourse Center for Mass Communications and Journalism at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah
St. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
.
Campaigns
Spencer ran for Utah State SenateUtah State Senate
The Utah State Senate is the upper house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The Senate is composed of 29 elected members representing an equal number of constituent senatorial districts. Each senatorial district is composed of approximately 91,000 people...
District 5
5th Utah Senate District
The 5th Utah Senate District is located in Salt Lake County, Utah. The current State Senator representing the 5th district is Karen Mayne. Mayne was appointed to the Utah Senate on January 16, 2008 to fill a seat that was recently vacated when her husband Senator Ed Mayne died...
in 2000, and again in 2002 for District 11, losing both races.
2008 congressional race
In May 2008, Spencer was nominated by Dick NourseDick Nourse
Dick Nourse is a retired award-winning Salt Lake City, Utah television news anchor. He most recently worked for KSL-TV 5 Television. Nourse joined the KSL news team in 1964 as the station's weekend anchor/reporter. Six months later, he was named the station's weekday anchor...
and unopposed as the Democratic candidate for Utah's 3rd Congressional District. Spencer was considered a long shot against Jason Chaffetz
Jason Chaffetz
Jason E. Chaffetz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Provo and includes large portions of central and west-central Utah.-Early life, education and career:...
in the heavily Republican 3rd district.
In August 2008, he received international press for commenting to The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune is the largest-circulated daily newspaper in the U.S. city of Salt Lake City. It is distributed by Newspaper Agency Corporation, which also distributes the Deseret News. The Tribune — or "Trib," as it is locally known — is currently owned by the Denver-based MediaNews Group....
about how Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
would vote. Thinking that he might write a book about it, he said Jesus would oppose the Bush tax cuts
Bush tax cuts
The Bush tax cuts refers to changes to the United States tax code passed during the presidency of George W. Bush and extended during the presidency of Barack Obama that generally lowered tax rates and revised the code specifying taxation in the United States...
and partisan politics, and support compassionate immigration policy. Spencer questioned Chaffetz's religious conviction for proposing illegal immigrant "tent cit[ies
Tent City
A tent city is a temporary housing facility made using tents. Informal tent cities may be set up without authorization by homeless people or protesters. As well, state governments or military organizations set up tent cities to house refugees, evacuees, or soldiers...
] because of their ethnic persuasion," adding, "God looks at all of his children equally." Spencer thought he would win Jesus' vote, a statement he later backed off from.
Bennion lost with 28 percent of the vote to Chaffetz's 66 percent.