Central Committee Minutes 9 June 2012

Before I share the minutes I want to say that this was a great meeting; the best one I’ve attended yet.

Brent Cook and I attended along with about 200 other people. After the meeting opening the chair asked for new Precinct Chairs and Vice-Chairs to stand.  It looked to me as if as if half the audience stood up.

Here are my brief notes:

• On Saturday October 20th the county will hold a breakfast and literature pick-up event. Each precinct is expected to send representative to pick up campaign literature for the Republicans running to be distributed within the precinct. We will be asking for volunteers. Please consider that this can be a family event/service project. I have good memories of handing out literature with my father as a young boy.
• We approached an initial budget of $2,600 for a scholarship program for youth. The county will be sponsoring a video and speech contest on the topic of “the party platform” and/or why it is good to be a Republican. A number of ideas were mentioned such as rather than using age use year in school. Breaking into to groups; high school and fresh/sophomores in college (this was Brent’s). A committee will work out the details but everyone was excited about the idea.
• Creating a county Teenage Republicans (TARS) club was also discussed. A long-term goal would be to have clubs in the high schools.
• On Saturday Feb 2, 2013 will be holding its Lincoln Day dinner fund raiser. The county is looking for volunteers to help organize and promote this event. This years Lincoln day dinner cost $37K and cost $10K to put on.
• County Finances: We have about $50K in the bank, most of which will be allocated to support our candidates (local candidates only—state leg and senate, county commissioners  …) in the general election.
• About 45 minutes we devoted to training and reviewing how the party operates. Something that we previously never had time to do.
• We also heard from some of the Republican candidates for this falls general election (those that did not have a primary) including Mia Love who will be running against Jim Matheson in the nearly created 4th district. Although, we are in the 2nd I would encourage all to consider supporting her in some way.

Primary 2012 Information

Important Dates

• Voter Registration Forms must be to the elections office by May 29^th. Click here to get Registration form.
• Absentee Ballots must be requested no later than June 22^nd for domestic and June 6^th for overseas. Click here to get Absentee ballot form.
• Primary date Tuesday June 26th @ Lone Peak High School.

Candidates

US Senate:

• Orrin Hatch: http://www.orrinhatch.com/
• Dan Liljenquist: http://www.danforutah.com/home/ 

State Attorney General

• Sean Reyes: http://www.seanreyes.com/about-sean/ 
• John Swallow: http://www.johnswallow.com/home/ 

State Auditor

• John Dougal: http://jdougall.com/ 
• Auston Johnson: http://www.austonjohnsoncpa.info/

State House District 27

• Mike Kennedy: http://kennedyhousecalls.com/
• Sarah Nitta: http://www.sarahforutah.com/index.html

County Commissioner Seat C

• Larry Ellertson: www.larryellertson.com
• Lorne Grierson: http://www.votegrierson.org/

Make Your Voice Heard and Your Opinion Count at Public Hearing Tuesday April 17 Highland City Hall City Council Chambers

The following email was sent my Larry Mendenhall in response to the unsigned letter entitled “Open Letter to Highland Residents”. That was distributed last week. It is well work a read.

From: Larry Mendenhall <larrym30@msn.com>

Date: April 15, 2012 9:33:10 PM MDT

Subject: Make Your Voice Heard and Your Opinion Count at Public Hearing Tuesday April 17 Highland City Hall City Council Chambers

There will be a public hearing held Tuesday, April 17, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. at the City Hall, regarding SUNDAY Business Opening and other related municipal code modifications.

Please attend and make your voice heard. 

I was the Chairman of the Planning Commission when the Highland Market Place development (the NE corner of SR92 & SR74) was approved.  At the time of approval the developer fully understood and acknowledged that Sunday Closing was a requirement by code as well as a Community Standard. Now, in the name of jump starting development and making Highland a less 'difficult place to do business', forces are gathering to change the development and municipal code to allow businesses to be open on Sunday.

Highland has a well established Community Standard prohibiting and limiting Sunday Opening.  This Community Standard, I believe, is a standard shared by the majority of the residents of Highland regardless of religious affiliation.

The residents of Highland all received the "Open Letter to the Citizens of Highland".   This letter is very cleverly written.   I have been asked if this letter came from Highland City. It absolutely did not.  Mayor Lynn Ritchie has the integrity and courage to sign any information letter sent from the City of Highland in communication with the residents.

This "Open Letter to the Residents of Highland" was not signed.  There is no indication in the heading of the letter or in the body of the identity of the sender(s).  Only a coward or someone who has an urgent need to promote Sunday Opening and wishes to maintain anonymity sends a letter of this nature unsigned. 

Further.....This a letter couples the urgent need for road funds with the premise that sales taxes generated by new businesses in the commercial areas
of Highland City will reduce or eliminate the need for property tax.  There has been no formal analysis or a pro-forma produced by a reliable source which projects the increase in sales tax revenue if Sunday Opening were allowed nor has any projected property tax increase been made available.

The open letter is a "scare" letter.   No hard accurate numbers have been made available to back up claims made in the letter.  Let's get the facts ahead of the legislative action.

If you take the opportunity to speak in the Public Hearing on Tuesday please urge the City Council  to continue the item until such time as accurate bona fide information is available so that an informed decision can be made.

A note in closing......This matter came before the Planning Commission labeled "by request of the City Council".   There was no action by the City Council as a body to ask the
Planning Commission to review the Sunday Closing ordinance.  The request came from two City Council members who, to my understanding, suggested that the request be
labeled a "request by the City Council".   I am concerned with the lack of openness and transparency in the initial request to bring the matter before the Planning Commission,
in the "Open Letter to the Citizens of Highland", in the description in the City Council Agenda "Amending the Highland City Municipal Code Section 5.04.170 Hours of Operation
removing the restriction regarding days of operation.  While the language does, in fact, state the purpose of the change it would have been much more open and transparent if the language made reference to Sunday Opening.

Please forward this e-mail to all who have an interest in being part of the governing process and urge them to attend the Tuesday City Council Meeting/Public hearing.

Thanks,
Larry Mendenhall, Highland Resident
larrym30@msn.com
801-372-5544

2012 Delegate Duties and Responsibilities:

ALL DELEGATES

• Be a registered, affiliated Republican, having on file your name, telephone number, mailing address, and email address.
• Be a resident of the Utah County voting precinct or legislative district you are elected to represent.
• Be at least 18 years old by the November 6, 2012, General Election.
• After being elected, attend legislative district training meetings for further instruction.
• Willingly receive and act upon communications from the UTGOP, elected officials and GOP candidates.
• Help distribute campaign literature and post signs.
• Educate yourself about all the candidates. Expect to receive from them mailings, emails, phone calls, invitations, etc. during their campaigns. Study the material they send.
• Attend “Meet the Candidate” events and take other opportunities to listen to and become acquainted with them, in preparation for the yearly conventions.
• Serve the precinct you represent for two years.
• As part of the precinct leadership, work to advance the work of the precinct.
• Enjoy your service to your fellow citizens and the new friends you will make in the process!

STATE DELEGATES

• Attend and participate in the 2012 Utah Republican Party State Convention on Saturday, April 21, 2012, at South Towne Expo Center in Sandy.
• Be prepared to cast an informed vote for the Party's nominees for the following elected offices: Governor/Lt. Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, State Treasurer, United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, National Committeeman and Committeewoman, National Delegates, Presidential Electors, Alternate National and Presidential Electors.
• You may also be voting in multi-county State Legislative races.
• At the convention you may also debate and vote on changes to the State Party Constitution, Bylaws, Platform, Rules of the Convention and Resolutions.
• Attend the 2013 State Organizing Convention where the State Party Officers will be selected by the State Delegates.

COUNTY DELEGATES

• Attend and vote at the 2012 County Nominating Convention at Timpview High School, 3570 N 650 E in Provo, and the 2013 County Organizing Convention.
• Be prepared to cast informed votes for the Party's nominees for the following elected offices: Utah House of Representatives, Utah County Commissioner Seat C and some State Senate races--those where the Senate District falls entirely within the County boundaries and the seat is up for election this cycle.
• Attend the 2013 County Organizing Convention where County Party Officers will be selected by County Delegates. Those officers include: Utah County GOP Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and State Central Committee members. At the Organizing Convention you may also ratify or reject decisions of Central Committee and vote on resolutions.