Is candidate a stalker?

Just when it appeared internal Utah Republican politics couldn't get much stranger, well-known GOP dissident and U.S. Senate candidate Mike Ridgway was served Thursday night with an anti-stalking injunction that could keep him from addressing Saturday's Utah Republican Convention, where delegates will vote on Senate candidates.

Party activist, delegate and former state Senate candidate Mark Towner said he testified before a 3rd District judge Monday

(he doesn't recall the judge's name) and presented evidence that Ridgway — who was stripped of his party offices last year by party leaders — was a danger "to me, my wife, my daughter and others."

Judge Sandra Peuler signed the order, which says Ridgway must stay away from Towner and several other people cited in the order.

Asked if he sought the injunction as one way to keep Ridgway from the convention, to be held in the South Towne Expo Center, Towner said, "Absolutely."

Towner said he did not act with any authority by the state Republican Party but as an individual who fears for his safety.

GOP executive director Jeff Hartley said Thursday night that he did not know of the action until informed by a newspaper reporter.

"We're going to have to look at this," Hartley said. "I hesitate to interfere with anyone who feels threatened by another."

A disagreement between two people personally "is not the party's concern," Hartley said. "But when it becomes a matter between a delegate (Towner) and a candidate (Ridgway), it certainly is the party's concern," he added.

Ridgway and two other Republicans — Brian Jenkins and Ronald Levine — filed against longtime U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Under convention rules, the four candidates will each get seven minutes to address the convention Saturday morning before delegate balloting takes place.

Ridgway and Towner both believe Ridgway should not attend, since Towner will be at the convention and Ridgway could be arrested if he is in close proximity to him.

"I have no idea how to respond," Ridgway said.

"If I go to the convention, I get hauled away in handcuffs," Ridgway said Thursday night from his home, where he said he had a "documentary crew" recording his latest hassles with the Utah Republican Party hierarchy. Towner said he believes Ridgway could have someone else speak for him before the convention. "His name is still on the ballot. Delegates can vote for him," said Towner.