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Posted: 2:29 PM- When Weber County Republican Party Chairman Matt Bell pushed for a debate between Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, and his Republican primary election opponent Ryan Wilcox, he discovered the hierarchy of his party doesn't like competition.
Bell confirmed that he was called by State Republican Party executive director Ivan Dubois, who told him he was "treading in unknown waters" by pushing for the debate and that "your central committee might do something."
That was seen as an implied threat.
Bell says when he suggested the debate as a service to the Republican voters in Legislative District 7, Donnelson told him legislative leaders advised it would be better for him to not participate. Bell has scheduled the debate anyway, for June 13, and that apparently prompted the call from Dubois.
Earlier, at the county convention, Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, had agreed to give the nominating speech for Wilcox. Then, just before the nominating talks began, he told Wilcox he couldn't do it.
Christensen confirmed that Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert "and others" told him he shouldn't nominate a challenger to an incumbent, but he said that is not the reason he backed out.
"It was running late and I had to be at the convention in Morgan County [which is part of his district]. It wasn't because of any pressure", Christensen said.
Herbert confirmed that he told Christensen it was bad form to nominate an opponent to a colleague already sitting in the Legislature, particularly since he may have to continue working with that colleague in future legislative sessions. But he says he made it clear it was just his own opinion and not an edict from party leadership.
DuBois was out of the country and not available for comment Thursday.
Republican leaders have a history of showing little patience for fellow Republicans who challenge the "loyal soldiers" already in the Legislature. House Speaker Greg Curtis earlier pledged to donate from the House Republican PAC $500 to every Republican incumbent with an intra-party fight in his or her county convention and $2,000 to every Republican incumbent who has a primary.
Double or nothing? It was 10 a.m. Wednesday. The rain was pouring down on Salt Lake County. And the sprinklers at Cottonwood High School were merrily watering away.
Limited time offer? Sign spotted over the Memorial Day weekend at the Larkin Sunset Lawn cemetery on 2300 East and 1300 South: "Buy one space, get one free."
Global warming? The Utah Rose society has canceled its annual rose show scheduled for Saturday at the Sugarhouse Garden Center.
The reason: It's been so cold this spring the roses haven't had a chance to bloom.
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