Family values, tax cuts, small government, limited sex education, gun rights, vouchers, free enterprise and immigration dominated the debate in this Utah County city where many have their radio dials preset to tune in Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and no Democrat holds elected office.

While united on anything Reaganesque, recent party practices - viewed as abuse of power or overly secretive - led to intra-party challenges for several lawmakers. Those contests will be decided Saturday at the Utah County Republican Convention.

In the only contested state Senate race, Senate District 16, Curtis Bramble - two-term incumbent and majority leader - faces two GOP challengers: attorney Jacqueline deGaston and sporting goods retiree James O'Neal.

When asked about his views on open meetings, Bramble defended the Senate GOP practice of routinely closing caucus meetings during the 45-day legislative session.

"It's appropriate for both Democrats and Republicans to have the opportunity to speak just among members" - without the media present, said Bramble, a certified public accountant by profession. "That has been happening since the founding of our country."

End the practice, said deGaston.

"As a super-majority party, we have some responsibilities to not make it look like everything gets decided behind closed doors," she said.

The issue of omnibus bills came up after two such cobbled-together packages, one on education and another on tax reform, passed late in the session. Some portions had previously been voted down in single-bill form.

"You should try to avoid that situation," O'Neal said.

DeGaston said she opposes the practice.

"As a super-majority, Republicans shouldn't be bringing in bills that have already been turned down," she said.

Bramble justified the practice, saying both houses had the chance to amend or oppose the bills.

All three candidates support privatization of government services whenever possible. However, they differed on iProvo, the city-owned fiber-optic network that continues to run in the red.

"I think iProvo is a good thing," O'Neal said. "It's visionary to have that broadband. For certain types of infrastructure you have to bond to get it done."

The Legislature's stance, Bramble said, was that cities could provide the big pipe but should not manage Internet subscribers.

DeGaston called the city's investment in iProvo a mistake.

"It's an encroachment on something that should have been done by free enterprise - and we'll pay the price," she said.

O'Neal said he and Bramble differ significantly on nuclear power plants becoming part of the state's energy future.

Bramble said he supports "responsible" nuclear power.

After living near a nuclear plant in Tennessee, O'Neal said he opposes them due to safety and cost concerns

"If you've got the cow, you've got the manure," he said. "If we bring in nuclear power, we'll have our own nuclear waste."

cmckitrick@sltrib.com