Instead of the information she requested, deGaston got an e-mail from Senate President John Valentine explaining why her request could not be filled.

"I have reviewed both documents [county and state party bylaws] and cannot find authority for your request," Valentine wrote.

Article 12 of the state party's constitution states: "Each county party shall make available to the public, within 14 days of the caucuses, a complete countywide listing of the Republican state and county delegates residing in that county."

DeGaston, a Provo attorney, had asked for the total number of Utah County delegates and how many are elected in caucuses versus the number that are "automatic" or "ex officio" - terms that state GOP Party Chairman Stan Lockhart considers interchangeable.

She also asked for e-mail addresses for all automatic delegates.

Interviewed Tuesday, Valentine, an attorney, said he was asked to review the request because county party Chairwoman Marian Monnahan was out of town. The senator said deGaston had cited party bylaws as the basis for her request, so he did not review the party constitution.

But after checking that document Tuesday afternoon, he acknowledged that deGaston could get most of the desired information from either the county or state party - except for delegate e-mail addresses outside her district.

This year, the state party has a new policy to withhold delegate e-mail addresses, and some counties have followed suit.

Regarding delegate status, whether elected or automatic, Valentine said the documents are silent.

That data was what deGaston hoped to obtain. She estimates ex officio delegates make up 10 to 16 percent of the vote in Utah County's nominating process.

"I want the public to know what goes on, how hard they try to control the outcome of the [county] convention," deGaston said.

If deGaston's estimate is accurate, the Utah County GOP is far more reliant on the so-called automatic delegate vote than are its counterparts in other areas of the state.

According to Weber County GOP Chairman Matt Bell, 508 county delegates get elected at caucuses. An additional 18 delegate slots - 3 percent - get filled by party officers.

"We have zero automatic delegates to the state," Bell said, adding that elected Weber County officials get no delegate status unless elected in caucuses.

Of 800 Republican county delegates in Davis County, 30 are considered "automatic" - 4 percent, said party Chairman Ben Horsley. And 17 of 451 state delegates - also 4 percent - fall in that category.

Utah County's practices are different - and that motivated deGaston's request for the actual numbers.

"I think the real reason they denied it to me is they don't want anyone to publish it. Are they trying to hide something they're ashamed of?" she said.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

Who is an ex officio/automatic GOP delegate in Utah County?

* Executive committee members.

* Legislative district vice chairs, education officers and other committee members.

* Federal, state and county elected officials.

* Statewide party officers.

* All past county chairs.

* Ten discretionary appointments for "exemplary" service.