This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It was upsetting to see so many of my fellow delegates at the state Republican Convention vote to keep the status quo, the unrepresentative caucus system for selecting candidates ("Utah GOP again rejects reforms to nomination process," Tribune, May 20).
Delegates endowed with so much power have no incentive to dilute it. It was dismaying to realize that these votes were being cast by delegates who don't well represent the average GOP voter, let alone the average voter.
An animated cartoon shown to illustrate how the caucus system worked underscored this point. It portrayed a typical caucus, populated by mostly men, who elect "John" to go to a convention and vote on their behalf.
The video matched the convention's reality: The vast majority of delegates were male and a disproportionate number we over 65 (far more than the 9.2 percent of Utahns who are). It's frustrating that few were young enough to still have school-age children, and yet these delegates determine the party's education positions.
I respect those delegates who seriously study candidates and issues but collectively they can't adequately represent the people of the state or party.
Tara McKee
East Millcreek