Reader comments
GOP candidate says he was encouraged

Typical power politics by the GOP. Nothing unusual here.

No rule broken maybe, but how about the law?

See Utah code section 20A-9-204. Inducements not to become candidate.
(1) (a) It is unlawful for any person to pay or reward, or promise to pay or reward, another in any manner or form for the purpose of inducing that other person to be, or to refrain from or cease being, a candidate.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to solicit any payment, promise, or reward from another for the purpose of inducing that other person to be, or to refrain from or cease being, a candidate.
(2) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

Trust me, if you knew the Towner's, a power play is beyond their capacity. Blatantly bizarre behavior, maybe, but not power plays.

Mark Towner decided he wants to change party affiliations after all. In March he became a delegate for the Dems. That was a surprise, as one thought was on many minds: What is he planning now ?!

Who needs conventions and primaries for deciding which Republican candidates will get the party's nomination and the right to appear on the November ballot when self-aggrandizing party leaders such as Mark and Carrie Towner (oh, wait, Mark isn't a Republican anymore; I guess I forgot) can decide for us who the Republican nominees will be in each race -- and all for the low price of one an anti-stalking injunction?

After all, conventions are so expensive. And primaries even more so.

Think of all the money we Republicans and the taxpayers could save if we just junk our conventions, do away with primaries, and let "candidate recruitment specialists" like James Evans, Carrie Towner, Greg Curtis, Curt Bramble, and Enid Greene make all of these decisions for us.

Sad truth is, for all intents and purposes, they already do.

Don't believe me? Try looking up the Deseret News Article that ran on Jan 5, 2007, titled "Provo House vacancy filled; State GOP chief selects developer for District 62." The "GOP chief" referred to is none other than current candidate for Utah Republican National Committeewoman, Enid Greene. If she wins the seat, expect four more years of the same.

Mr. Bernick,

You need to correct several factual problems with your article.

1) House District 35 splits between 2 Senate districts, Senate district 2 is one of those.

2) Why would you use my name when Carrie specifically told you last night on the phone I was no longer involved with the Republican party, and was in fact an elected Democrat delegate. You had my phone number, but you did not call me for a quote.

3) Mr. Alexander is a supporter of Ron Paul, along with Mike Ridgway et. al. Just look at the members of the Salt Lake County Ron Paul supporters and you will see a list of all the Mike Ridgway Kool-Aid drinkers including Rob Alexander. This was nothing but a smear.

4) Carrie was one of 12 congressional candidates in 2002, was elected as party tres., finance chair, state central committee whenever she has run, she ran to fill the remaining several month term of the Vice Chair when Enid Greene filled Joe Cannon's seat. She is the Chair of the Salt Lake Action Plan committee. The bottom line was you were duped again.

Was law broken? I don't think so. There wasn't any payment, promise, or reward indicated, and no inducing took place.


Mark Towner,

Thank you for pointing out that Legislative District 35 splits between 2 Senate districts, one of which is Senate District 2. I wish that information had come to light sooner. I telephoned your wife, Carrie, discussed this with her, and apologized for this misunderstanding getting escalated to the point it has.

Rob,

Thank-you. Carrie has done nothing but work her tail off for the Republican Party fot the past 10 years, and all she gets is the shaft and attacks. Countless meetings, hour upon hour of unpaid data entry, phone calls, and walking her district on behalf of Republican candidates. Why she still affiliates with the GOP is unclear even to me.

Mark

Thank you for your positive introduction of my candidacy for house district 36 in the Deseret News. For future reference, I am a her, not a him. I mention this only because you are not the first person to make that mistake, and I'm sure you won't be the last!

Drew