The state Republican Party enacted a new policy this year to withhold those addresses from lists that are published a few days after the March 25 caucuses.

And yet, some candidates - Rep. Chris Cannon for one - started wooing delegates electronically by March 29.

The information became available to all Utah County candidates on April 4 after considerable protest and the fact that two legislative leaders gave the information to a couple of candidates early on.

"These policies look - at best - oily, corrupt and back-roomish," said Kip Meacham, an Orem precinct chairman, voicing concern over the party's seeming lack of transparency.

The new practice was meant to protect delegates from excessive spam, said state Republican Party Chairman Stan Lockhart.

"The integrity of the delegate database is extremely important to us," he said.

However, county parties can make their own decisions on the policy, Lockhart added.

"The state first told us not to give out those addresses, then later told us it was up to the counties to decide," said Marian Monnahan, who chairs the Utah County Republican Party. She confirmed that many delegates supported the new policy due to the large number of unwanted messages.

Since April 1, Meacham's online blog has sparked a debate over whether the new policy gave incumbents unfair advantage.

For example, Susan Bramble, wife to two-term incumbent Sen. Curtis Bramble, serves as secretary of the Utah County GOP.

"They think it's fine that I run against a man whose wife is the county party's secretary," said Jacqueline deGaston, an attorney and one of two GOP challengers aiming to bump Bramble from the District 16 slot.

She also fumed over the party's practice of having its elected officials and party officers serve as "automatic" or "ex-officio" delegates.

"The party insiders control things to protect the seats of incumbents," deGaston said. "That's why there's no turnover in Utah County."

Not so, countered Bramble, who said he gets no extra access to GOP information because of his wife's party position.

"My opponent is trying to make this a conflict of interest thing," he said. He also bristled at use of the term "automatic" in relation to the county party's ex-officio delegates.

"We don't have automatic delegates in Utah County," Bramble said, explaining that serving as a delegate is just another responsibility for elected officials and party officers.

Cannon's campaign claims it obtained the e-mail addresses "legitimately" while complying with the state party rules.

"E-mail is one of the most flexible and fastest ways to communicate with delegates. So we pursue those heavily," said Cannon campaign manager Ryan Frandsen, noting that 12 years of compiling a hefty database also helps.

As for Meacham, he hopes that those who have thanked him for his blog will speak up.

"There's a groundswell for change, but for some reason there's some fear. They either can't or won't go public."

cmckitrick@sltrib.com