I wrote recently about the confrontation that Republican dissident Mike Ridgway had with family members of Sen. Curt Bramble at a debate the Provo Republican was having with his Democratic opponent last fall. Ridgway supported the Democrat -- which some might consider a crime in Utah County -- and wanted to film the debate. He was headed off at the pass by the Brambles, however, and eventually left at the request of the homeowner.
Even before Ridgway had arrived, the Highway Patrol had gone to the house at Bramble's request. When Ridgway filed a complaint with the Provo police over the way he was treated, he was the one charged with a misdemeanor. But that was dropped after the Provo City attorney actually interviewed witnesses.
Now comes the Utah County Central Committee meeting. On Saturday, Ridgway, who was attending with his wife, suddenly was approached by Utah County Sheriff James O. Tracy, letting him know he wouldn't tolerate any disturbance. Ridgway says the sheriff shadowed him throughout the meeting.
Tracy, who is a Republican delegate and was acting as sergeant-at-arms at the meeting, says he just wanted to let Ridgway know who he was and that he hoped to avoid any disruption. He sat near Ridgway during the meeting, but said he was not shadowing him and Ridgway was free to move about .
Speaking of Bramble » During the debate over Bramble's eventually unsuccessful bill to require that public schools give equal access to all parent groups -- seen by some as an anti-PTA bill -- a letter circulated at the Legislature claiming a junior high student in Utah was not allowed to run for student-body office because his parents didn't belong to the PTA .
Scott Jeppesen, principal of Spring Creek Middle School in Cache County, learned the letter concerned his school. So he wrote e-mails to his Cache County legislators, and Bramble, denying any such a thing had ever occurred. In fact, Jeppesen pointed out, Spring Creek doesn't have student officers, either elected or appointed.
His e-mail earned a call from Bramble, but the conversation, says Jeppesen, didn't go to well. Bramble hung up on him.
At least the cops weren't called.
Pointing fingers » Residents of Utah's 1st Congressional District recently received a postcard from Republican Rep. Rob Bishop concerning the federal spending package that said, in large print: "Massive Spending. Wrong Priorities. There was a Better Option."
Below, in small print, was the message: "This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense."
