S.L. County GOP dumps House member at convention

SANDY — Salt Lake County Republicans dumped one moderate state House member Saturday and picked a County Council and treasurer nominee, as the typical contentious annual meeting went off without any real fireworks.

There were mumblings of discontent when U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, addressed the group. Local and national arch-conservative groups want Bennett defeated this year. And Bennett's GOP challengers were cheered in their speeches before delegates.

But no one was arrested at the South Towne Expo Center or forced from the premises — as has happened before in previous Salt Lake County GOP conventions.

Many of the 1,500 county GOP delegates were new this year — which brought excitement and perhaps a bit of caution to a convention that has seen its share of political and rhetorical skirmishes in years gone by.

But the delegates Saturday were polite, even if they did treat a few GOP officeholders harshly in the balloting.

Long-time state Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, was run over by a conservative, anti-incumbent tide that is sweeping the state and much of the nation. Attorney Ken Ivory was picked by the House District 47 delegates to be on November's ballot, ending Mascaro's tenure.

And Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan, was forced into a June GOP primary with Steve Roberts in House District 50.

Mascaro is just the latest GOP moderate to be pushed aside by GOP conservatives in the Legislature the last few elections.

Before his delegates voted, Mascaro told the Deseret News: "I may get swept away by this new wave of right-wingers that have come into the convention this year. I'm a moderate, and I guess that's OK."

A few fellow GOP legislators turned against Mascaro. Ivory was nominated by Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, and Senate Majority Whip Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy. Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, stood up with Wimmer and Niederhauser for Ivory, but did not speak.

Wimmer said that Mascaro's district needs "a principled conservative who will stand up for smaller government."

And in addressing the delegates Ivory talk more about fighting against the federal government than Utah needs.

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff nominated Mascaro, saying the lawmaker supports state's rights and law enforcement. Mascaro said he has worked hard for his district, supported a dozen state's rights bills in the 2010 Legislature and has labored 43 years in his community.