West Valley City Council encourages participation in neighborhood caucuses

WEST VALLEY CITY — No government or committee meetings will be scheduled in Utah's second-largest city on the same nights as neighborhood caucuses.

The West Valley City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night to make sure no city meetings conflict with the March caucuses, when neighbors elect precinct officers and state and county delegates.

"These elections are critical because the delegates decide who will be on the ballot to represent their political parties at their respective party conventions," the resolution states.

The council also calls on "other governments, religious organizations, businesses and community groups to adjust their schedules in March" to accommodate the neighborhood caucuses.

Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City, has legislation in the works that would prohibit public meetings on the same nights as neighborhood caucus meetings and require that the meetings be better advertised.

The Utah Republican Party also has organized the Caucus Awareness Project to help educate the public on the importance of participating in the caucus system.

The party is in the process of hiring and training "caucus ambassadors" who will set up presentations with organizations and companies to explain Utah's caucus system and how to get involved.

— Jared Page