Central Committee meeting had two incidents to break the monotony. One was a debate over a by-law to have someone besdies the Treasurer check the budget for audit. The vote was close to send it back to committee to address later. Another incident happened when the candidates for LD57 sent someone else to grab their credentials. They've changed it to empower the check-in volunteers to credential candidates.
Kirby Glad plugged the new VoterClick app, which will make convention voting go muuuuch faster in 2016. I'm excited for that development.
HD60 - Incumbent Rep. Dana Layton and challenger Brad Daw both spoke. Layton went first, gave a pretty good normal speech about how it's been a privilege to serve you, I'm a small business owner, I'm a mother, etc. Daw's wife then spoke first for Brad, saying she had been suffering breast cancer at the time the spurious attacks from the Powers/Swallow machine swamped her husband, and he hadn't been able to take the time to respond appropriately, and she held up a Daily Herald article from 2012 entitled "Dana Layton's Campaign Fib." (Talk about coming out swinging!) Brad then spoke, said he's available to everyone, gave a couple examples of constituents who've helped him with legislation. The vote was 64-50 for Daw. (56% to 44%). There will be a primary. While they were adding up the votes, they counted our wristbands, which seemed like a moot point. Of the 125 possibles delegates, 116 were there, which meant two credentialed people in the room didn't vote. Wouldn't have made a difference.
Then met with Sen. Margaret Dayton, who's running unopposed. She let us know some of the thing going on in the district but dismissed us a few minutes early so we could have more time to speak with candidates from other races.
Main meeting:
Casey Voeks is UCRP chair and conducted. Gov. Gary Herbert had a nice ovation, said he'd be brief, gave a 12-minute speech about all the great things going on in Utah. Utah A.G. Sean Reyes was next. He had a much louder ovation and had cheers throughout his speech. He had a standing ovation from about 75% of the delegates when talking about defending Amendment 3, and he had another standing O when he left. Rock star. He should go for Orrin Hatch's seat in 2018 whether that Tough Old BirdTM runs for re-election or not.
=Utah County Commission Seat B=
Carlton Bowen - Spent whole time talking about his love of traditional marriage, said he'd pass an ordinance to refuse marriage licenses to any same-sex couples. Lady in front of me crossed his name out once he was done.
Casey Allen - Retiring Commissioner Doug Whitney introduced her before she spoke about her experience in the office and her ability to take over.
Bill Lee - Rep. Jake Anderegg introduced him, said it was his honor - no, his privilege! - to endorse Lee. Lee mentioned his work for Sen. Mike Lee (no relation) and how he was a Republican by choice and a conservative by practice.
Oscar Saldana - Worked for county in surveyor's office for 25 years, lived in UC for 35 years.
Lorne Grierson - Endorsed by his son and then a friend who said you can always get a hold of him. Grierson spoke of varied experience, has solutions now and visions for the future.
David Acheson - Mentioned his experience in different fields, including as former chair of UCRP. Said he's against raising taxes or expanding beyond three commissioners.
Heather Jackson - She remembers as a little girl when her parents let her stay up late to see Ronald Reagan was elected president.
=Utah County Commission Seat A=
Howard Stone - Politicians get Mafia-like support from each other, and it's hard to break in. Very conspiratorial tone to his speech. We have been "brainwashed" to believe that candidates know what's best.
Johnny Revill - Rep. Jake Anderegg was up again to say it was his honor (not privilege?) to endorse Revill for Seat A. Revill asked "Is it important to have a commissioner who has a proven record of service? If yes, then I am your candidate." I tell myself right then if Anderegg personally introduces anyone else on stage today, I'm voting for the other guy.
Greg Graves - We have a debt problem. We need to change course right now. Name-drops Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. First, we need debt elimination. Second, lead by example. Third, be transparent. Pounds pulpit on "We can do better."
Gary Anderson - Gary Ratcliffe endorses him, saying he's principled and will move heaven and Earth to do what he says. "We've had a lot of fun making Utah County the best county in the universe." If you like roads and freeways, I'm your guy.
95% attendence for UCRP. 68% for SLCRP. 1547 delegates credentialled.
=Utah County Attorney=
Jeff Buhman - Sheriff Tracy endorses him. Served in Afghanistan in 2013. The only candidate with experience, I'm the only one who works with police and defense attorneys.
Ben Stanley - Went to BYU. Experienced to work for largest companies in the world, trusted by CEO's and statesmen. I love UC, but we have seen injustices here. I felt moral obligation to press the case. We need a change of culture. We don't need another prosecutor. We need a shield of true justice and integrity.
=Utah County Clerk/Auditor=
Jacob Atkin - John Dougall endorses him. I will stand together with our AG, our Gov, our state leg in defending Amendment 3. I will work to ensure everyone receives a correct ballot so no one loses their vote. UC needs to lead the way in election efficiency.
Bryan Thompson - Said he's avoided endorsements so people will know he's independent. Said he stood up for traditional marriage when he held off handing out licenses to same-sex couples.
=Utah County Recorder=
Raphael Millet - Randy Covington endorsed. Millet said he could have moved on from recorder's office, but he wants to be here, wants to be our UC Recorder.
Jeff Smith - Nearly everyone in my office is endorsing my campaign.
=Utah County Treasurer=
Kim Jackson - Kris Poulson (UC Assessor) endorsed. His slogan is Trusted. Reliable. Experience. T.R.E. are the first three letters in "Treasurer" and that's about as creative as he gets because he's a numbers guy.
Cary McConnell - Robert Kirk (outgoing UC Treasurer) endorsed. Total of 15 years county experience. We distribute to the tax districts throughout the county. I've been safeguarding your tax dollars.
State Auditor John Dougall then gives a little speech, saying he will have been at 16 conventions today.
The first round of results for UCC Seat B were in order Bill Lee, Lorne Grierson, Heather Jackson, David Acheson, Casey Allen, Oscar Saldana and Carlton Bowen. Lee, Grierson and Jackson moved to next round.
LD48 - Keven Stretten wins 93% of vote.
LD57 - Brian Greene wins 69.8% of vote in 2nd round.
LD60 - Dana Layton (44%) and Brad Daw (56%) go to primary.
LD63 - Dean Sanpei wins 71% of vote.
LD64 - Norm Thurston wins 69% of vote.
LD66 - Mike McKell wins 65% of vote.
SD11 - Multi-county but Howard Stephenson likely nominee.
The first round of results for UCC Seat A were Greg Graves, Gary Anderson, Johnny Revill and Howard Stone. Graves and Anderson moved to the next round.
Utah GOP chair James Evans made it, gave some words. Called Utah County the center of the Utah Republican Party.
So final results:
Utah County Commissioner Seat A - Greg Graves wins
Utah County Commissioner Seat B - Bill Lee & Lorne Grierson to primary
Utah County Attorney - Jeff Buhman & Ben Stanley to primary
Utah County Clerk/Auditor - Jacob Atkin & Bryan Thompson to primary
Utah County Recorder - Jeff Smith wins
Utah County Treasurer - Cary McConnell & Kim Jackson to primary
Actual numbers here.
Some thoughts:
- Not a good day for female candidates. Rep. Dana Layton made it to primary, and all other female candidates who had an opponent lost.
- If the guy who sent the fraudulent FGA letter to LD57 delegates was a Brian Greene supporter, then his plan worked. But if you feel the need to cheat and lie to help your guy win, maybe your cause isn't that righteous. I hope they catch whoever that Jason Powers wannabe is.
- Again, I'm excited for the VoterClick app. It'll make voting go much more quickly, and those without smartphones can still vote by paper, but it'd be 20-25% of the time to add those up.
- I was there 8+ hours and left a few minutes after I cast my last possible vote.
