That’s why I’m concerned by a recent decision from the Utah County Republican Party to insert partisanship — and money — into this process. The party now requires candidates to pay a $50 fee just to be considered for endorsement in municipal races. For local offices that have always been nonpartisan, this pay-to-play model is deeply troubling. It sets a precedent that could discourage community-minded individuals from running and distort the focus of these important elections.

Earlier this year, Utah County GOP leadership and county delegates narrowly approved this policy shift. The original version of the resolution, which would have made endorsements a permanent part of all future municipal elections, was voted down. A scaled-back version applying only to this year’s races passed by the slimmest possible margin: a 148 to 148 tie, broken by the party chair. Notably, the $50 fee was not part of the discussion or included in the resolution at the time it passed.

That outcome should give us pause. A resolution this significant passed only because the chair cast a tie-breaking vote. That’s not a show of consensus and does not reflect the will of the broader Republican base in Utah County. If anything, it showed a division within our own party about whether this is the right path forward.

Even more concerning is the additional requirement that candidates sign a loyalty pledge to the Republican Party. While loyalty to shared values is important, our elected officials’ primary commitment must be to the people they serve, not to a party organization. Local leaders should be accountable first and foremost to their neighborhoods, not Utah County Republican leadership.

To be clear, this is not a rejection of the Republican party or its values. I am a proud Republican and believe strongly in conservative principles like limited government, civic responsibility and open access to public service. But this new approach — partisan endorsements, candidate fees and loyalty pledges — runs counter to those ideals. It risks turning neighbor against neighbor and discouraging genuine community engagement.

When party leaders start picking winners and losers before voters have a say, we lose something essential to our republic. Candidates should earn support through their ideas, their experience and their willingness to serve, not because they paid a fee or signed a pledge.

As Republicans, we should be the ones removing barriers to civic participation, not creating them. Let’s resist the urge to politicize roles that were never meant to be partisan. Let’s continue the tradition that has served Utah well for generations: nonpartisan local government, chosen by an informed and empowered electorate.

I urge my fellow Republicans to reflect carefully on this path. Do we want a political culture that empowers individuals and trusts voters? Or one that centralizes control and demands party loyalty at the expense of community connection? The choice we make now will shape how our cities and towns function for years to come.

Sen. Mike McKell represents District 25 in the Utah Legislature.