We the People

Utah GOP calls for volunteers for the state convention

by Morgan Pratt

 

The Utah Republican Party is preparing for the upcoming Western Republican Leadership Conference and the Utah GOP State Convention which will be held April 24-25 and on April 26, respectively. Both events will be held in the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy.

 

The Utah GOP sent out a an email calling for volunteers for both the conference and the convention.

 

Jonathan Chaote, district chair of Leg 5 in Cache County, said it takes thousands of volunteers help to run the mechanics of conventions, caucuses and conferences.

 

“The biggest jobs for the convention is getting all of the names of the delegates verified, and getting the credentials ready,” Chaote said. “There is a big effort behind the scenes that is not generally seen. At the convention they assist with voting, credentialing and media. Then, of course, all of the delegates themselves are volunteers.”

 

Julian Babbitt, the executive director for the Utah Republican Party, said the state GOP is trying to get as many volunteers to sign up as possible. He said volunteers are always needed because often times something unexpectedly goes wrong.

 

“There is always something that needs to be addressed,” Babbitt said.

 

Victor Shanti, a legislative chair for District 47, said he has been volunteering for the GOP convention for at least seven years. “I do not see a reason why I would not,” Shanti said.

 

He said said one of the benefits of living in Utah is that constituents have far more accessibility to elected officials than other states.

 

“One of the best ways to have your individual point of view heard by elected officials is to participate in things such as conventions,” Shanti said.

 

Chaote said he is a firm proponent of the caucus-convention system.

 

“Attending Caucuses allows us to meet and elect local representation,” he said. “Those elected have a responsibility to do their research and vote on candidates based on the issues and principles from each neighborhood.”

 

Shanti said accessibility to elected officials is an important aspect of government.

 

“We live in a republic where the individual citizen has the greatest access to their elected officials and those who represent them to give them their point of view so that their representatives can represent them,” he said.