Peggy Burdett

What is an automatic GOP delegate and why isn't the definition the same in all the counties in the state? Why is the county automatic delegate total in Senator Curtis Bramble's senate seat about 16 percent, while the total number of automatic delegates in Utah County is only 10 percent of the delegate total? Why do Juab, Box Elder, Millard, and Wasatch counties have only automatic state delegates, with no automatic county delegates?

In Curt Bramble's Senate district there are 199 delegates, of which 31 (approximately 16 percent) of the delegates are automatic. Senator Pete Knudson in Box Elder County said there are no county automatic delegates in that county, only automatic state delegates. County delegates vote for county offices and state offices, house and senate, which means in Box Elder, Wasatch, Millard and Juab counties, the county and state races are determined exclusively by elected delegates. But in Utah county there are 120 automatic/ex officio state and county delegates, so all convention races are influenced by the automatic delegate total.

Two term Senator Greg Bell, R-Bountiful, and Senator Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, differ on their opinions as to the number of automatic delegates in Davis County. Why is the automatic delegate issue so confusing that even elected senators are unclear as to the by-laws, procedures and number of automatic delegates in their own personal race. How are the public, and ordinary voters supposed to be informed when the information is confusing and not readily available to candidates and or the public?

Most of the elected Utah County GOP delegates are only county or state, not both, while all automatic/ex-officio delegates are both county and state delegates, giving them twice the electoral power as the regular party members and citizens who try to make a difference by attending the caucuses.

The Utah caucus/convention process creates a situation where each of the House seats that are up for re-election every two years have only 90 delegates vote for them at the convention. That means that with only 55 delegates an incumbent can avoid a primary election. Unfortunately, in Utah County, not all of the 90 delegates are elected at the caucus. In Curt Bramble's Senate 16 seat there are 199 delegates, of which 31 (approximately 16 percent) of the delegates are automatic. Is that enough to change the outcome of the convention vote?

According to the front page article in the Daily Herald by Joe Pyrah on Sunday, it has been more than a decade since a Republican incumbent has lost in Utah County. What role do the automatic county delegates play in the success of the Republican incumbents in Utah County?

Utah county officials support the automatic delegates as a reward for their service in the party. Why do Utah County elected officials need more reward for their service in the Republican Party than the elected officials in other counties in the state of Utah?

One vote at the Weber County convention on April 12 forced four-term incumbent Rep Glen Donnelson in District 7 to a primary election. Ryan Wilcox, the challenger, got 45 votes, and Donnelson got 44. At the Davis County Convention at Woods Cross High school on April 12, only 3 percent of the vote separated candidates John Petroff and Dave Harris for the Davis County Board of Commissioners. Candidate John Petroff does not have a primary election. In the 1960 Presidential race, John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon by 0.1 percent of the vote.

One vote does make a difference, especially when the total votes are less than 50 in House seats, so it would appear that 10 percent is more than enough votes to control the outcome of a convention election. Isn't it time for the state GOP party to take control and/or eliminate the automatic/ex-officio delegates? Why do the Utah County GOP officials get more perks and benefits from their service than any other County GOP officials in the state?

• Freelance writer Peggy Burdett of Orem is a former school teacher.