Reader comments
GOP flier raising a ruckus

Sour grapes | 12:37 a.m. March 29, 2008

Sounds like sour grapes from perpetual whiner Lisa Shepherd. Lord help all of Utah county if she wins.

mike leach | 7:29 a.m. March 29, 2008

Sounds like the same old crooked GOP "Mormon" type politics that is a constant thorn in side of rational thinking people.

Loren | 7:53 a.m. March 29, 2008

If Lockhart and his party staff members want to support these candidates run for office they should RESIGN.

Party leaders need to stay neutral until party members select the Republican candidates. AFTER the candidates are selected party leaders can enthusiastically support them.

Comments continue below

Smartguy | 9:36 a.m. March 29, 2008

I received the mailer, until I read this article I didn't even notice the small print on the piece at the bottom coming from the state Republican Party, it certainly wasn't designed as a campaign endorsement piece. Anyway, it seems more than fair to allow the opposition candidates a free campaign mailer, which would be way more than this thing was.

BBKing | 9:43 a.m. March 29, 2008

Having played GOP politics a time or two, this is pretty bad. It is a case of the machine supporting the machine.

Someone needs to be terminated over this, and I don't have a dog in this fight. I know a couple of the legislators and one of the challengers. Doesn't matter who you want to win, even the post about Lisa Shepard. If integrity matters at all, then someone gets fired over this.

And it is kind to offer the challengers the same priviledge. Is Mr Lockhart also going to go find the lobbyists who will pay for it, just like the lobbyists paid for the incumbents mailer?

A story was run in the Deseret News about how over 95% of all campaign funds come from lobbyists. For many, many legislators they get 100% of their funding from lobbyists.

So unless Mr Lockhart is willing to raise the money for the mailer for the challengers from lobbyists, like the incumbents, it is an idle offer.

Again, I know a couple of these legislators and there is NO WAY they have a couple thousand dollars for a mailer like this. Not picking on them, this was funded by lobbyists.

maybe | 10:28 a.m. March 29, 2008

Great points BBKing. I really, really doubt Lockhart will do anything to anyone about this. Look how many heads didn't roll over the float last year.

I know Lisa Shepherd and those calling her whiny just dislike her stance against vouchers. The entrenched Republican power brokers don't like the moderates coming after them on education.

Conservative Cathy | 11:33 a.m. March 29, 2008

If Utah County knows what is good for us they will throw these guys out and replace them with moderates. Stan Lockhart is part of the right wing nut cases along with his wife Becky Lockhart. Why would he want to throw his own out...he supports them financially and behind the scenes. Stan supports nonsense like this but gives little attention if anything to the moderates. Conservative, liberal or whatever, ever individual should have an opportunity to access the process, this is America. When the party gets involved supporting candidates in any way before the general they are disinfranchising the American citizens.

BBKing | 1:35 p.m. March 29, 2008

I am not concerned about about the level of 'conservatism' of Stan, his wife or these incumbents. I am concerned about the ethical lapse.

First you have the legislators running bills to increase the amount of money going to charter schools, then they are building charter schools; you have members of leadership accepting "consulting" fees from companies heavily regulated by the State; you have Aaron Tilton and Mike Noel chairing the committee that oversees nuke regs and then starting their own nuke business, etc, etc, etc.

Apparently ethics does not mean a thing to the GOP. I guess we are just waiting for the Justice Department to intervene. Oh, Orrin Hatch has personally appointed and hand selected that crowd as well.

Such a simple rule, and Mr Lockhart ignored it. Too bad.

yorktown | 2:42 p.m. March 29, 2008

Problem #1: This same thing happened in Utah County last year. Stan gave the same empty excuses. Bramble had the printer show up and apologize and take all the blame. How many years do we wait before we take action?

Problem #2: The damage has been done and another mailer will not compensate the challengers. You can put the same stamp on it, but the incumbents already have the advantage.

Problem #3: I really liked these Reps.

This calls for an independent investigation. Somebody's resignation, probably Stan Lockhart, ought to be submitted after we find out the truth.

Fed Up | 2:46 p.m. March 29, 2008

They're trying to pin the blame on the postage meter monitor this time around. Blame the GOP mailman. That should work this time. Last time we fell for "the printer made the error."

Same trick. Same play book. Same lame excuses.

Do we look like we have amnesia, Stan?

Utah County | 9:53 p.m. March 29, 2008

Leave it to the Utah County Republicans to mess things up. They have way too much control in the legislature and the Utah GOP.

Fed up with you... | 1:09 p.m. March 30, 2008

Stan Lockhart needs to resign and the Republican party needs to see that it happens. These is no accident

One who admires... | 11:42 p.m. March 30, 2008

I've known Lisa Shepherd for nearly 20 years and she is no whiner. Few people have done more for their community and helped the party than Lisa. She is an amazing woman and an important person to have in state government. She really does have an honest and legitimate issue with the flyer and it shouldn't be ignored. I hope Stan Lockhart will make things right. He's a good man. I have no doubt that if Lisa were elected we'd be in safe, competent hands.

The View from Up North | 11:46 p.m. March 30, 2008

Stan Lockhart is the best party chair in recent memory. He is doing a great job and does not need to resign. Let anyone with heartburn send an identical postcard and get on with the real work of the campaign season.

I know | 12:46 a.m. March 31, 2008

The reason these candidates did this desperation mailer is that they know they have competent challengers. The one I know is Lisa Shepherd. I know her level of integrity and she does not want to wrestle in the mud with these types of ethics. She wants to fight against them.

She has been the Republican Legislative District Chair and has been extremely active in the Utah County and State Republican Party. She was elected by all of the county delegates to be one of their representatives on the State Party's Governing Body. She was one of the top vote getters. The delegates who know her trust her. I am one of the people who asked her to run. She is a leader who will not compromise. This is why the party leaders do not want her. They just want to continue to have their LAP DOGS there to vote however they are told. This is not her.

Whiner? I work with her. I do not know one time she has ever whined. She has kept a watchful eye out for the problems and pays attention to detail. She always helps the party with everything.

Ta'ahina Tukeolunga | 7:31 a.m. March 31, 2008

A very wise person once said, "You can put a hot poker in, but when it cools you can't always pull it back out." That's what Tina said and I agree. Once the flier went out, how can that be made right again. These candidates are owed something and the state GOP needs to find the best possible way to make it right. Come on, Stan, let's do the right thing.

17th? | 8:11 a.m. March 31, 2008

.. Why is it "ethical" prior to March 17th, but unethical after that? I realize it was the candidate filing deadline, but is one day really the difference between right and wrong? Candidates began filing well before that, so it would be unethical then. And pushing the mailing as close to the deadline as possible feels like gaming the system.

Should the mailings be prohibited from Jan 1st on?

WatchDog | 9:54 a.m. March 31, 2008

How to I contact the Constitution Party? I am sick of our party leaders and their manipulation!

RE: 17th? | 9:55 a.m. March 31, 2008

The issue isn't the filing deadline, it is that the official party can not support one GOP candidate over another until after the primary election when only one GOP candidate exists for each race against the opposing political parties. At that point the party can and should support the nominee. When GOP candidates face off in a primary, the party must by its own rules remain neutral. I hope that makes sense.

Eagle | 10:35 a.m. March 31, 2008

Chairman Stan Lockhart said; ï¿½the whole mess is a case of bad timing.ï¿½ When would it have been good timing? The ï¿½Fab Fiveï¿½ could not send out any campaign material during the Legislative Session as that was against ï¿½House Rulesï¿½. The Legislature was in session from January 21 to March 5 and Candidates could file for office from March 7-17 so that only leaves March 6-7. That also tells us that the ï¿½Fab Fiveï¿½ knew without question that this was campaign material and they knew that three of them had opposition in the party and the Party leaders and staff workers also should have known.
Each candidate in the party must sign a ï¿½CANDIDATE DISCLOSUREï¿½ in which they say that they support the Party Platform. The Platform list:
ETHICS AND STANDARDS
ï¿½We demand honesty, integrity, morality, and accountability of our public officials. We will work to expose and stop corruption.ï¿½
How can we hold the members of the Legislature to those ï¿½ETHICS AND STANDARDSï¿½ and not hold party officials and paid office staff to the same; We Canï¿½t! I call upon the Chairman, Office Manager and anyone else involved to resign their positions immediately.

Eagle | 2:59 p.m. March 31, 2008

The Question on timing; that is simple to figure out. The "Fab Five" could not campaign during the Legislative Session as that is against "House Rules". The Legislature was in session from January 21 to March 5. Candidate filing was from March 7-17 and most of the "Fab Five" filed on the 7th. One of the challengers filed on the 10th so that leave the only days to send the invitations March 6-9.
Each candidates in the party must sign a "Candidate Discloser" in which they say that they support the Republican Party Platform:
ETHICS AND STANDARDS
"We demand honesty, integrity, morality, and accountability of our public officials. We will work to expose and stop corruption."
How can we hold public officials to those standards and not the Party Leaders; We Can Not! The Chairman of the Party needs to be held accountable for his and the actions of the paid staff when he gives them the authority to make decisions like this. The "Fab Five" should have known what the rules were also. They knew what the "House" rules were, why not the Party Rules?

Not again | 8:48 p.m. April 1, 2008

I think it's time to ask the Utah County GOP chair, Marilyn Moynihan, to step down. These "slip ups" are happening on her watch. I, for one, have had enough. Resign, Marilyn. You have served long, but you are now doing the party a disservice. We want better. We demand better.

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