Reader comments
Pignanelli & Webb: Utah's system is outdated — or optimal

LaVarr writes: "If you can't win by playing by the rules then, of course, you want to change the rules."

Or if the rules are rigged -- which they are in favor of the special interests that may not dominate each other, but collectively dominate Utah citizens -- then you want to change the rules.

FairVote: The Center for Voting and Democracy offers good reforms for American elections.

It would be a shame to illiminate the caucus, going to the neighborhood meeting is a good place to first get involved. Anyone can end up a delegate to the state convention. Back in the 70's my husband was elected at the caucus as the delegate. He had a ball at the convention and I took our two toddlers, we wore hats and waved flags. My daughter still remembers it. Don't turn it all over to that faceless big democracy idea. Who will be the delegates to the convention, how will they be selected? By party insiders?

Webb is so right on the money and Frank scares the crud out of me!

If Frank got his way, the only people with any chance would in fact either be millionaires or owned by special interest, like Larry Miller owns the Utah Jazz. I get the sense that Frank knows this, and would like it. SCARY!

And regardless of how the Democrats spin it, the State Convention is pretty close to the primary. Probably the best example is Throckmorton v Cannon in 2004. Cannon got 58% in both the convention and the primary. There is variation but not that much, meaning the convention in this case was identical to the wishes of the primary voters.

Please, don't sale our elections to special interest. Keep the caucus conventions!

I am a Republican but agree with Frank completely. In the case of the GOP, why should approximately 2,000 delegates get to decide who runs on the GOP ticket for Governor? That's 2,000 people in a state with a population that exceeds 2.6 million. The recent Salt Lake City elections are a good example of the results of an open primary. Other than the filing fee and residency requirement any one could run. There were a lot of good candidates for both mayor and city council. This is repeated every two years in city elections throughout the state. There is extreme bias in both the democratic and republican caucus process that results in conventions that fall short of consistently providing Utah with the best candidates. Many people who would serve well in elected office will not file under our current system because of the craziness that now exists. It is time for change.

Webb is right on the money in this case. Our caucus/convention/primary system allows candidates without a lot of money or name recognition to stand a chance at getting their message out before being overwhelmed with money.

Those who complain the loudest are those who can't get elected: democrats and some liberal republicans who would like to be able to make emotional appeals without ever discussing real issues. Also complaining from time to time are big money special interests who don't like current grassroots control. Ironic and flat out deceitful they claim our system somehow favors special interests.

A legislative candidate can and MUST discuss real issues with his 100 to 200 delegates to ever get the chance to make those emotional appeals to the masses.

Our system works well as presently constituted. Those who care enough to get involved and really vet candidates have some extra influence before we turn things over to the shallowness of mass market elections and the liberal press.

I started as a Republican candidate for legislature six years ago. I enjoy the Conventions and have been a State delegate for two election cycles and hope to do so again, however, I can confidently lay the blame for our "wacky" legislature on the current nominating process. I would like to see a primary system established, at least for the County and Legislative positions.

I don't see how it should be a hardship for any candidate for Legislature to have to secure 20 or 60 signatures and pay a little more for filing fees. It wouldn't be much different from running for city office. It isn't so much a matter of money as it is a matter of time. Honestly, if you can't find the time to go out campaigning door to door, you shouldn't file.

In a state where most districts are "safe" and a safe district's dominant party could nominate a St. Bernard and win, a legislator is only representing the 20 or 60 delegates who get him/her out of convention. In my opinion, that makes a farce of our representative system.

I vote for a change. Mr. Pignanelli, how do we go about doing it?


Andrew Parker