Arent and Beck say campaigns are being hampered
By Amy Joi Bryson
Deseret News staff writer
Two women Democratic legislators running for re-election are struggling to overcome computer viruses that are complicating their campaigns.
Reps. Patrice Arent, D-Holladay, and Trisha Beck, D-Sandy, have spent the past several weeks combating the effects of computer viruses that have caused both incumbents to do a lot of explaining.
In the case of Arent, assistant minority whip who is running for a Senate seat, her computer began e-mailing obscene advertisements promoting a sexual product in mid-September from her campaign address.
Arent says she has been confronted by friends asking about the communication.
"I've had complaints and some anonymous calls from people who can't believe I am doing this," she said. "I'm not."
Beck's computer was infected with a spying program, which she learned records every single keystroke she makes.
Beck said she's been unsuccessful in ridding her computer of the program. Instead, she says she is copying files in anticipation of having to get a new computer.
In the interim, Beck is dealing with uncomfortable notion someone out there can read whatever she's writing — or somehow alter it.
Both candidates, who are relying heavily on their computers in their efforts to get re-elected, say the viruses are making a tense time even more complicated.
Beck says she gets e-mails from constituents asking her questions, but she says she can't respond unless they happen to include a telephone number.
"I hope people understand that I am unable to reply unless there is a number," she said. "I have concerns about appearing unresponsive."
Beck, who is running for a fourth term against Republican LaVar Christensen, said this campaign isn't the first time she's been confronted with an unsavory computer problem.
Two years ago during her run for re-election, her computer e-mailed 250 communications of child pornography. It was an uncomfortable coincidence that, at the time, Beck was chairwoman of a council on sex crime victims.
Arent, first elected in 1996, said this is the first time her computer has been inflicted by this type of virus.
"It is disconcerting to have your computer sending this stuff," she said.
Arent, who was chiseled out of her House seat in the 2001 redistricting by the majority Republicans, is in a Senate race this year against Majority Leader Steve Poulton. With such interest from both parties, it is on track to be the most expensive legislative race in the state's history.
Although both women say the timing of the computer glitches during the campaign season is "curious," they stop short of accusing the Republicans of any underhanded shenanigans.
State Democratic Party Chairwoman Meg Holbrook said both women are in key races targeted by the Republicans and she called the timing of the computer problems a "meaningful coincidence."
Scott Simpson, executive director of the Utah Republican Party, said no Republican candidates have reported any computer viruses to him. House Speaker Marty Stephens, R-Farr West, is also unaware of any complaints.
"There are people who do that kind of things for kicks and giggles," he said. "We are as susceptible as anyone else."
Courtesy of Deseret News
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,410018188,00.html
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