Complaint against Utah County GOP chairman Taylor Oldroyd is dismissed

OREM — Utah County Republican Party Chairman Taylor Oldroyd retained his job after a two-hour closed session of the party's executive committee Thursday night.

Committee members met to consider a complaint that Oldroyd's involvement in a non-partisan race in the recent Provo City Council election reflected poorly on the party.

In a tersely-worded statement, party Vice Chairman Mark Cluff said the committee "unanimously dismissed the complaint because the alleged infraction did not violate the party's constitution or bylaws."

Neither Oldroyd nor Keri Witte, the Provo resident and party member who filed the complaint, spoke to the press following the decision, both claiming that they had agreed to let Cluff make any comments.

As a member of the committee, Oldroyd was allowed to participate in the vote, an action which Cluff said was in line with the committee's bylaws and Robert's Rules of Order. He said the vote was taken by raised hand.

Witte's complaint was based on Oldroyd's activities with StopCindy.com, a negative campaign to oust three-term city council member Cindy Richards.

Witte had argued that because of Oldroyd's high profile in the party, his actions in the campaign implicated the party by association, even though the election was non-partisan.

Oldroyd, who is the CEO of the Utah County Board of Realtors, maintained throughout the election that he was acting as a private resident, and not as party chair, in his StopCindy.com activities.

According to finance disclosure forms filed on Oct. 27, the StopCindy.com PAC was funded almost exclusively by the Utah County Board of Realtors. Final financial disclosure forms must be turned into the city by Dec. 3.

Richards lost the election to political newcomer Sterling Beck, who received 53 percent of the votes in Provo's Council District 5.

e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com