MIDVALE, UT – On Saturday, May 4, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the United Utah Party will be holding its State Convention at Mt. Jordan Middle School in Sandy. Doors will open at 9:30 AM. This will be the third state convention for the party, which has been the most successful third party in Utah state election in the past two elections. 

“This will be an organizing convention,” said Richard Davis, the UUP Chair. “We will elect party officers, vote on proposed revisions to the party platform, and discuss party strategy going forward.”

All members of the United Utah Party are designated as delegates to the convention. Party members unable to travel to Sandy will still be able to participate at three different satellite locations in Logan, Vernal, and St. George. Addresses of the locations are available on the front page of the party website, unitedutah.org. 

“We want to provide a stark contrast to the Republicans and Democrats, who only allow a relative handful of people to represent their entire parties at state conventions,” Davis said. “We want to be inclusive as possible.”

Those wanting to participate in the convention are encouraged to email assistant@unitedutah.org by April 26 in order to verify their party affiliation and register as a delegate and vote.

Contents

• Chair's Note - A Prettier Picture
• Governor Herbert Mostly Disappoints
• Power of the Center
• Convention Plan
• Call for Candidate

• Chair's Note - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
• VETO Voices
• One to Say YES For
• Convention Plan
• Call for Candidates

“A little rebellion,” Thomas Jefferson wrote, “now and then, is a good thing.” It’s unfortunate that the Utah state legislature lacks such an optimistic view on the matter. This year, the citizenry of our state proposed no less than eight initiatives, four of which made it to the ballot and three of which passed. In a conservative state like Utah, such a wave of direct democracy is unheard of. It was, in short, rebellion on the part of the electorate.

Contents

• Chair's Note - Moderate Muscle
• Straight-Party Voting Ban Readies for Senate Vote
• Bills Attacking Citizen Initiative Process Waiting for Senate Vote
• Convention Plan

Contents

• Chair's Note - We Really Can Do Better
• Straight-Party Voting Ban Battle Moves to Senate
• Bills Attack Citizen Initiative Process Itself
• How to Stop the Industry of Political Contempt
• Why This Young Unity Party Was Born
• Convention Plan

The United Utah Party announced its opposition to HB 133 and 135 - two bills recently passed by the Utah House of Representatives that make it more difficult for initiatives to get on the state ballot. 

"These bills place more burdens on initiative gatherers and make it easier for opposing groups to knock off signatures," said Richard Davis, United Utah Party chair.   "Plus they give more time to the legislature to revise or even scuttle initiatives they don't like."

The bills were proposed by Representative Brad Daw (Republican of Orem) and Representative Norm Thurston (Republican of Provo).  They passed the House 50-20 and 50-21 respectively. 

"The lesson legislators have learned from the passage of Propositions 2, 3, and 4 last year is that the initiative process is too easy and should be made harder,” Davis added. "The lesson they should have learned is they need to be more responsive to what the public wants.  That is a lesson they may not ever learn until they get defeated at the polls.

Calling on the State Senate to defeat the bills, the UUP also urged citizens to contact their state senator to express their disapproval before the vote. 

Contents

• Chair's Note - The 3 Cs:  Character, Competence, Content
• End Straight-Party Voting
• An Agenda for Moderates
• Veto HB 220 - Toxic Waste
• Convention Plans
• The Sinking of Proposition 3
• How Do We Get Legislators to Pay Attention to Majority Will?
• A Case Study in Broken Governmental Accountability

Contents

• Chair's Note - "Process" Improvements Will Bring Good Policies
• End Straight-Party Voting
• Stiffening the Requirements for Citizen Initiatives
• New Volunteer Opportunities
• Convention Plans
• Changes to the United Utah Party Platform
• The Political Spectrum 

UNITED UTAH PARTY CALLS FOR AN END TO STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING
Utah one of only eight states that still that allows people to vote for a party, not people

A bill proposed by Rep. Patrice Arent that would eliminate straight-party ticket voting was recently assigned to the Government Operations Committee. The United Utah Party urged immediate action on the bill. 

"Utah is one of only eight states that still allows straight-party ticket voting,” said Richard Davis, the United Utah Party chair. "And next year, that number will be down to seven when Texas, one of the most Republican states in the country, gets rid of this outdated practice. It’s time for Utah to follow suit.”

Davis noted that straight-party voting has long been criticized by people of all political persuasions. 

“If you only vote for a party, you’re throwing your vote away in races where your party doesn’t have a candidate,” Davis said. “You also may be casting a vote for someone tainted by scandal that even your own party no longer supports.”

Davis promised that the UUP will continue to support efforts to end straight-party voting regardless of what happens with Rep. Arent’s bill. 

“43 other states have figured out this is a bad practice,” he said. "Utah should do the same.”