Herbert, Cooke square off in first debate

PAUL FOY
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Republican Gov. Gary Herbert says Utah is on the right track and voters should stick with him in the November election.

His Democratic challenger, retired Army Reserves Maj. Gen. Peter Cooke, calls Herbert a salesman and says Utah needs a leader instead.

The candidates squared off in their first debate Friday before a convention of the Utah League of Cities and Towns.

Cooke painted a dire portrait of the economy, while Herbert says Utah is on the road to recovery.

The candidates drew their biggest difference on Herbert's threat to sue the federal government for control of national forests and other public lands.

Cooke calls the threat a waste of time and money.

Herbert is running for his first four-year term. He took over in 2009 when then-Gov. Jon Huntsman resigned to become U.S. ambassador to China.

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