Sunday, March 30, 2008

There's a family fight going on in the Republican Party over favoritism.

State Republican Party officials are being blasted for what appears to be a pre-convention endorsement in a fundraising flier for incumbents in the Legislature, mostly from Utah County.

Dave Duncan, who identifies himself as a state GOP delegate from Orem, sent an email to The Trib questioning whether some party leaders should resign over the flap.

"This mailing is a direct violation of the Bylaw!" says the email from Duncan.

He then cites the Party bylaw in question, which says no party officer "shall endorse or oppose any Republican candidate . . . while the candidate is opposed by another Republican candidate for the same office."

The mailer in question is notice of a fundraiser for five GOP members of the House. The April 10 event just 16 days before four of the five face intraparty challenges in the Utah County Republican Convention is advertised by a flier paid for and sent by the state party.

It says the lawmakers -- "the Fabulous Five" -- "will be at the forefront of a battle to retain their seats from others whose agendas call for more government intrusion, higher taxes and restricted freedoms."

That despite the fact one of the incumbents -- Rep. Ken Sumsion -- is challenged only by Republican Jared Sepulveda and Constitution Party candidate Michael J. Barron. A Democrat who filed his candidacy later withdrew it.

The Republican opponents of those incumbents are furious, of course.

State Party Chairman Stan Lockhart denies there is any favoritism going on -- insisting the flier does not constitute an endorsement. And he promises to assist the challengers in a similar way if they'd like.

"The party works very hard to treat all Republican candidates the same," he told the Deseret Morning News.

Does that mean the challenger candidates all get Jazz tickets from lobbyist Lockhart's employer, Micron, too?

-- Dan Harrie