Utah County Republicans quiz hopefuls on party stands

OREM — A form asking Utah County Republican candidates if they agree with the local party platform and if they have signed an ethical government initiative is just one way to hold candidates accountable, according to a party official.

"The bottom line is we want people to declare their position on the initiative and to know if they have disagreements with the platform. We'll let the candidates decide what to do with it," said party chairman Taylor Oldroyd.

The form will be distributed next week to Republican candidates seeking office in Utah County and returned to party leaders prior to the April 24 county nominating convention at Mountain View High School.

Oldroyd said the party's executive committee decided to circulate the form last week, but it has made no decision how the information might be used.

"We will probably have a way to inform the delegates and the voters what the results are," Oldroyd said. "Maybe we'll give the results to the candidates and let them decide what to do with it."

Candidates who were contacted Thursday had yet to see the form, but most, like Rep. John Dougall, R-American Fork, who is running for re-election, wanted to examine the document before commenting on it.

Dean Sanpei, a candidate from Provo who is running for the seat now held by retiring Rep. Stephen Clark, said while he hadn't seen the survey, "I don't think it will be a problem, as I have been supportive of the party platform as well as any official positions that have been taken by the party."

The form asks candidates to sign the document stating they "will demonstrate fitness for public office, including but not limited to maintaining the highest degree of honesty, morality and integrity and refraining from any conduct which would cause embarrassment to the party."

It also asks for a yes-or-no answer to two questions:

"I agree with all the provisions of the Utah County Republican Party Platform."

"I am a supporter and/or signee of the 'Utahns for Ethical Government' (UEG ) efforts."

The correct answers, according to the county party, are yes to the first question and no to the second.

Both the Utah Republican Party and the Utah County Republican Party have gone on record opposing the UEG initiative.