Resolution Supporting the Caucus Convention System Passed

At tonight's Wasatch County GOP central committee meeting we passed the below resolution and donated $1,500 to Utah First in defense of the caucus convention system. 

A Resolution In Support of the Utah Caucus Convention System and Utah First

WHEREAS, The Wasatch County Republican Party believes the caucus convention system should be protected against the Count My Vote initiative which would implement a direct primary for all county and state elections; and, 

WHEREAS, We support the local, civic involvement of the delegate system where every elected official must meet face to face with the individuals in our community; and,

WHEREAS, We believe the political voice of our rural county will be diminished by a direct primary where campaign advertising will be focused on urban areas of the state, and the incentive to visit small rural counties will be reduced; and,

WHEREAS, We seek to avoid the added influence of money and special interests that come with a direct primary system, where candidates require larger budgets to run mass-market campaigns against multiple opponents; and,

WHEREAS, We oppose the undemocratic nature of a direct primary where a majority of voters is not required to be selected as the nominee; and,

WHEREAS, A political issues committee (PIC) called Utah First has been organized by grassroots volunteers from across Utah to defend the caucus convention system;

BE IT RESOLVED, That the Wasatch County Republican Party fully supports the efforts of Utah First and pledges the resources of our party to assist in protecting our caucus convention system against the Count My Vote initiative.

Passed by unanimous vote of the Wasatch County Republican Central Committee on 11/19/2013

Agenda For Next County Central Committee Meeting

There are many exciting changes and challenges facing the Republican Party right now. At our next central committee meeting we will be talking about the changes to the caucus system for 2014.    

These changes include:

(1) A pre-meeting right before caucus to meet those that are running for delegate and officer positions.

(2) Electronic check-in to reduce check-in time to fifteen minutes or less.

(3) A same day absentee ballot system to allow those that can’t attend to cast a vote. 

(4) Changing the name of the meeting to “Neighborhood Caucus Election”. 

(5) Guidelines that the meeting should be more friendly, open, welcoming and respectful. Also that the meeting should last no more than two hours. 

(6) A new faster voter procedure. 

At our upcoming meeting, we will be voting on the new proposed caucus voting procedure.  We will also be voting on supporting the group that has been organized to protect the neighborhood caucus meetings, called Utah First. 

Utah First is a non-partisan PIC (political issues committee) with support from leaders across the state from both parties.  They are working to stop the “Count My Vote” referendum that seeks to change Utah to a direct primary system.  You can get more information on Utah First at http://www.neighborhoodelection.org

Best Regards,

Aaron Gabrielson, County Party Chair

Wasatch County GOP Central Committee Agenda

DATE:  Tuesday, November 19, 2013

PLACE:  Wasatch County Building, 25 N. Main Street, Heber City

TIME:  7:00pm

1.      Welcome:   Chairman Aaron Gabrielson

2.      Prayer / Pledge:   TBD

3.      Adoption of Agenda:   Chairman Aaron Gabrielson

4.      Approval of Minutes:  Betty Smedley

5.      Officer Reports:

Chairman Aaron Gabrielson

Vice Chair Morgan Murdock

Treasurer Brent Titcomb

6.   Essay Contest:  Chairman Aaron Gabrielson              

7.   Caucus Voting Procedure:   Chairman Aaron Gabrielson

8.   Resolution in support of Caucus System:   Chairman Aaron Gabrielson  

9.   Financial Support of Utah First:   Chairman Aaron Gabrielson

10.  Caucus Locations:   SCC Rep Kim Powell

11. Adjourn

Wasatch GOP Calendar - Updates available at http://www.wasatchgop.com

Tuesday, November 19^th - County Central Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 14^th - County Central Committee Meeting

Saturday, February 8^th - Lincoln Day Breakfast

Thursday, March 20^th - Neighborhood Caucus Election Night

Thursday, April 3^rd - Wasatch County Nominating Convention

Saturday, April 26^th - Utah Republican State Nominating Convention

Tuesday, June 24^th - Utah primary election day (Tentative)

Tuesday, November 4^th - General Election Day