RadioWest Transcript: October 11, 2000
By Jenny Brundin

HOST: Relatively new on Utah's political scene is the Natural Law party. In the 1998 election, Natural Law candidates typically garnered a few hundred votes, but in several races, candidates drew more than 10 percent of the vote. The party-- which was founded in 1992-- grew out of the teachings of transcendental meditation leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The party seeks pragmatic, creative solutions to society's problems. It promotes preventative health care, increased use of renewable energy sources and campaign finance reform. A handful of Natural Law candidates are running in this November's elections. KUER's Jenny Brundin spoke with candidate Lilli Decair.

DECAIR: This is my altar, and it's kind of where I do a lot prayer work, a lot of people ask me to do some prayers...

BRUNDIN: Lilli Decair is running in House District 25 in Salt Lake City. Dressed in black, with black hair and a big smile, Decair is a minister with Heartspace Ministry. She teaches classes in miracles, and reiki (RAY-kee)

DECAIR: "'Re' is like the radiant cosmic energy of the sun and 'keys' is like turning on the keys to universal life energy."

Decair shows off her altar, covered with spiritual momentos, like a Native American staff, a papier-mache dragon and wizard from a science fiction convention, and a tiny U.S. marine-- her son's in the marines. When Decair isn't teaching, she's working on social justice issues in the community. There's little time for campaigning.

DECAIR: "One minor issue would be money-- I don't have a great deal of the green, elusive stuff."

And the other issue is cancer. Decair was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and she has no health care to cover chemotherapy. But she has a robust sense of humor.

DECAIR: "How many votes do I expect? I have no expectations. I did run previously for the Senate once and received 3 percent of the distirct in votes, which surprised me because I spent $68 on my entire campaign."

So why run for office?

DECAIR: "I think they need some new energy. They need something that is coming from a more feminine perspective. They need something that's coming from a less corporate, less structured, less moneyed perspective. And people without a voice need to be represented."

Decair co-chairs the board of JEDI-- Justice, Economic Dignity and Independence for Women-- a low-income advocacy group. She's participated in guerilla theatre at the State Capitol to lobby to have the marriage age changed from 14 to 16 in Utah. Decair is deeply concerned about the lack of child care and health care in the state, and is attracted by the Natural Law party's prevention-oriented solutions. For example, preventative health care-- that's promoting nutrition and physical activity-- and preventative programs to reduce crime and teen pregnancy.

(Bit of sound of Decair) "Oh good...there's a bird joining in." (laughs) "I have a cat, too she's under the bed."

While Decair has no illusions of winning, she remains positive. Despite her poor health, Decair pulls out a note book, takes a deep breath, and belts her a campaign song.

DECAIR: (singing) "Hey, Mr. Politician Man, we see you got the plan, take the child from the home, leave more mother 'lone. oh you talk the talk but who walk the walk..."

(over song) DECAIR: "As long as your heart and mind are still functioning, you can keep on, keepin' on."

DECAIR: (singing) "...you talk the talk but don't walk the walk..."

For KUER News, I'm Jenny Brundin.

DECAIR: (singing) "...we see you got the plan, promise women they get paid, only if they be the maid..."

To hear this news story, listen to this short Quicktime audio clip. Listen to this news story by downloading a free version of Quicktime.