How did we get to the point where the Utah GOP is suing the State of Utah when most of those that supported 2014 SB 54 were Republicans?
Pretty simple. The future Count
My Vote backers showed up to conventions and picnics in 2009 (Jowers and Doug
Wright for example). People at the time were tired of being over taxed and the
Feds trampling our rights, (same as today). The delegates didn't fawn over them
at the time and then Tim Bridgewater beat Sen. Bennett at convention in May of
2010 (yes Mike Lee squeaked out as well) and the backers met at the Alta Club
and decided they wanted to get rid of the current system. Sen. Bennett backed
Tim Bridgewater for the 2010 Primary, but Mike Lee won. Professors at both BYU
and UofU plus Doug Wright have been blasting the caucus/convention system ever
since. Some had been blasting it already when Gov. Walker got in the 2004 race
too late and lost.
When polls and stats (Y2/BYU) showed
Sen. Bennett would have lost even with the 2012 "Hatch" delegates
they (the CMV backers) decided to work on changing the delegate voting
threshold and "other" changes by threatening demands from the outside
the Party.
When those changes failed (other changes later passed, such as helping fire fighters, etc. vote), they launched Count My Vote. They used a deceptive and poorly
written "bill" and legal analysis from a DC lobbyist expert and had
trouble getting the signatures in several parts of the state as required. They
hired a group to help who violated the laws and official complaints were filed
against them. So they compromised with the Utah Legislature directly, bypassing
the Parties, and got things they didn't even try to get with CMV because they
thought they would lose in court.
Members of the Utah Legislature believed CMV would still get the signatures and already had the media and so
agreed with the compromise. When the party announced just before the grand
Compromise in March 2014 that they would protect their rights and that at least
CMV violated their rights - people ignored them. When almost 4000 state
delegate said we should protect our rights against SB 54 in April of 2014
people ignored that as well. So when the Party did sue in Dec of 2014 people
wondered why.
Notes:
Jowers 2009 GOP State Convention ice cream social, Wright, Salt Lake County GOP 2009 Constitution Day Picnic.
Alta Club Meeting
Bennett/Bridgewater
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700030688/Utah-GOP-delegates-dump-Sen-Bob-Bennett-at-state-convention-Bridgewater-Lee-to-battle-in-primary.html?pg=all
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/11/bennett-endorses-former-rival/
Poll and Stats released publicly by Quinn Monson at the State Young Republican meeting Nov. 9, 2013.
Threatening demands
http://www.publiusonline.com/lavarr-webbs-insiders-weigh-in-on-utahs-nomination-system-poll/
Writers of CMV
Matthew T. Sanderson
Stephen W. Owens.
Source: Nov. 9, 2013, CMV, Taylor Morgan
Poorly written, CMV
http://fairelectionsutah.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-resolution-declaring-count-my-vote.html
http://fairelectionsutah.blogspot.com/2013/11/5-reason-not-to-sign-their-petion.html
Volations:
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/legislature/group-questioning-count-my-votes-petitions/article_d7e74a33-e847-58cb-9d7e-0b9c8a7a0a70.html
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865597116/Count-My-Vote-ballot-initiative-attacked-on-two-fronts.html?pg=all
Lose in Court, Unaffiliated Voters
http://www.countmyvoteutah.org/s/Constitutional-Memorandum-and-Letter-wso2.pdf
(notice it specifically says CMV doesn't open the primary to unaffiliated)
Poorly written legal analysis
http://www.scribd.com/doc/211089967/Memorandum-rebuttal-of-initiative-constitutionality-2-25-14-3-pdf
Prior to the Grand Compromise, Party to protect it's rights
Delegates back Fight.
2014 Utah GOP Nominating Convention vote, estimates of over 95%
Conclusions are those of Fred C. Cox, and may not represent others or parties.
