No office is worth holding if you have to step on others to get there. For most of my campaign I have taken the false accusations about me quietly while I focused on the issues. However, this last attack by my opponent requires clarification and that is the purpose of this letter.
As I have often discussed, I have had significant involvement in both major political parties.
Almost a decade ago I became concerned that we lived in an area where elected officials won based solely on their party affiliation or were running unopposed. As a result, there appeared to be a lack of checks and balances which was not healthy and removed accountability from the process.
The verdict is still out on whether it was the right way to deal with the problems but I knew I had to try. I decided to work with the Democratic Party to build a platform that better represented Utah County values with issues like personal responsibility, limited government, and protection of the unborn as well as other conservative values. The goal was to give the voters a choice. Under this platform I ran for the State Senate. Many find it note worthy that my Republican opponent in that race has endorsed me for mayor.
Ultimately the national issues of the Democratic Party were too uncomfortable for me and like many of you I listed myself as unaffiliated. Several years later I found myself once again a Republican running for Jeff Alexander’s open seat at the persuasion of many good Republicans. Thanks to the informed Republican delegates who knew my history I received the most votes of the many candidates running. As part of the process the State Party chair gave the seat to another candidate who has done an outstanding job with his appointment and who has also endorsed (along with four of the other candidates) me for mayor.
I am currently a delegate in the Republican Party, a member of the State Ronald Reagan club, a contributor to the local Republican Party and a Mitt Romeny Honorary Campaign Trustee. My run for mayor is endorsed by all three Republican County Commissioners, the Republican County Sheriff, current and past Utah County Republican Party Leaders, Two former Republican US Congressmen and four of our Cities Republican State Senators and Representatives (colleges of my opponent).
While some have not understood my involvement none have questioned my devotion to strong conservative principles that have made this country great. I will always place principles above party and make no excuses for that.
PS Ironically Ronald Reagan which my opponent chose to use in his attack was once a Democrat as well.
