It is a multi-faceted, orchestrated attack using misinformation, suggestions of disastrous consequences if one’s opponent is elected, creates an “us versus them” environment, spreads anonymous rumors through conversation, online, and text messages, and uses organizations and people who are outside the campaign to attack opponents, etc., etc., etc. I struggle to keep in mind that people are not the enemy, but it is the weakness within them that causes them to resort to strategies like Negative Campaigning.

One recent use of Negative Campaigning is a Guest Opinion in the Herald from The Utah Taxpayers Association (published October 15, 2025). This letter praised the current mayor’s leadership, endorsed him and two incumbent Council members running for re-election, and portrayed Orem’s past leadership as incompetent. It warns of consequences if the opposing candidates are elected.

This Guest Opinion illustrates the classic Negative Campaigning technique called proxy attack, where a seemingly independent outside organization is used to initiate an attack against one’s opponents. Their Guest Opinion reads like a campaign ad for the mayor and company. What we need to understand is that this is not a neutral organization, but a lobbying group.

Also, this is not the first time the Utah Taxpayers Association has inserted itself into our elections. In 2022, when we were voting on Proposition 2 (the Orem-only School District), The Utah Taxpayers Association came out in support of Proposition 2.

Another issue is that the UTA letter credits the mayor for the building of the new City Hall. I thought we had settled all that, and that many forward-thinking people deserve the credit and not just a few current city leaders. Planning for future capital needs and building costs, including replacing the City Hall, began in 2015. The mayor was elected in 2022.

How does Negative Campaigning affect democracy? An essential part of democracy is informed consent. People should be provided with correct information so they can make free, informed, and rational choices.

Negative Campaigning undermines the decision-making process by corrupting the information. Without correct information there can be no real informed consent and no real democracy. Officials can’t claim a mandate from the people when voters have been manipulated into voting for them. Negative Campaigning uses voters as a means to an end. (For more information on Negative Campaigning, peacemaking, and finding the truth in politics, see the Guest Opinion by Quinn Mecham, “Let’s build the political culture that we deserve,” published October 14, 2025).

We are witnessing an assault on democracy, both nationwide and here in Orem. The spreading of false political information erodes public trust and undermines fair elections. Democracy is built on a foundation of trust. Misinformation seeks to weaken that foundation, leaving us divided and vulnerable.

When people lose the ability to agree on what is true and what is a lie, we lose something valuable, our shared sense of reality. Let’s put a stop to this downward trend as soon as possible and as peacefully as possible. Let’s refuse to be divided by misinformation but rather seek out the truth.

My vote goes to Karen McCandless, Quin Mecham, Doyle Mortimer, and Angela Moulton because nothing is more important than restoring the peace that we used to have in our community.

Virginia Sokolowsky is a resident of Orem.