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The Businessman Taking On Mia Love (Video)

By Abby Livingston and JM Rieger
Posted February 20, 2014 at 10:00am

The candidate:  Businessman Bob Fuehr
The member:  Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson is retiring from Congress after seven terms.
The district:  Utah’s 4th is House Republicans’ most certain pickup this cycle. Matheson had a unique political brand and without him in the equation, the battle to watch for this seat is the GOP nomination process. Fuehr will face off against Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love.

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With Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson out of the political equation in Utah’s 4th District, Republican businessman Bob Fuehr might be the only thing standing between Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love and Congress.  

Love, the GOP’s 2012 nominee, had been preparing to challenge Matheson again before his surprise retirement announcement in December. She is currently favored for the nomination , and many Washington Republicans hope that Love, an African-American, will come to Congress and present a more diverse image for the party.  

But Fuehr, a retired telecommunications executive who lost a bid in 2012 for the 2nd District, cautions against some of that thinking.  

“I’m better qualified. I have greater depth and breadth of experience than Mrs. Love,” he said. “And I think that Mrs. Love is a fine person. But I think getting an African-American woman into Congress ought to be the result of the election, not the goal of the election.”  

Fuehr’s hopes start — and could end — at the April 26 state party convention. Unless a candidate takes 60 percent of the delegate vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in the June 24 primary.  

“First we’ll start with the convention,” he said. “I’ve got to convince a majority of the delegates at the convention that I have a better chance of beating the Democratic challenger than Mrs. Love does, and get into the primary.”  

Fuehr also brushed off questions that, as a non-Mormon, he could have a tougher time running for office in Utah.  

“Well, seeing the fact that I am a Roman Catholic and I’ve never been an LDS running for office before, I don’t really know,” he said. “The religion aspect, or the religion question, really hasn’t come up in the campaign.”  

This video interview series questions the scores of congressional hopefuls who visit the CQ Roll Call offices each cycle. Responses and questions have been edited and condensed. Have a question for a candidate? Follow us at @RollCallPols to learn about upcoming interviews.
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