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Sandy • Salt Lake County Republicans, defying an appeal from Gov. Gary Herbert, adopted a resolution Saturday urging the state to overturn its new guest-worker law.
Herbert, speaking before hundreds of fellow Republicans at the county GOP convention in Sandy, argued that his administration refuses to "kick the can down the road" when it comes to the federal government's failure to deal with illegal immigration.
"Doing nothing is not an option," he said. "Doing something is the right thing to do."
HB116 allows tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants to receive work permits, provided they pass background checks and pay fines.
Despite the governor's appeal, Republican delegates passed a resolution urging state officials to toss out the law as soon as possible.
Cheers erupted.
"We need to stop letting the interests of other nation states trump the interests of the citizens of our country," argued delegate Matthew Bell, who presented the resolution.
But Saturday's outcome was hardly unanimous. The margin was so close that party officials had to conduct a physical count. The final tally: 256-196.
"[HB116] wasn't perfect," countered Rep. Johnny Anderson, R-Taylorsville. "But very few are. We cannot let good be the enemy of perfect."
Lt. Gov. Greg Bell urged delegates to place blame were it belongs: On Washington. He described HB116 — part of Utah's sweeping immigration-reform package — as a step in a "positive direction."
"We are having a family debate," Bell said. "Let's be honest, the reason we are having this discussion is because the federal government has defaulted in its responsibility. That is inexcusable."
And, yet, state officials didn't escape delegates' ire.
"This thing stinks," delegate Steven Decho said. "We do not need to have Utah be a magnet for any more illegal immigration than it is now."
Although Republicans called for the repeal of HB116, they defeated a proposal that would have added language to the party platform declaring opposition to any guest-worker program that provides a path to amnesty. The GOP also refused to support a resolution supporting the so-called Utah Compact, which outlines principles such as respecting the rule of law and avoiding unnecessarily separating families that should guide the immigration debate.
New party boss
Once a paid political operative for the Salt Lake County Republican Party, Julie Dole now becomes the party's unpaid head.
And she couldn't be happier.
"The party needs strong leadership," Dole extolled Saturday, moments after learning of her victory at the county GOP convention in the South Towne Expo Center. "We have got that now. We need to work together to get the best possible candidates and give people a reason to vote Republican."
Dole garnered 55 percent of the delegate vote.
The leadership change comes after former Chairman Thomas Wright stepped down to oversee the state GOP.
Among the new chairwoman's top priorities: Put a Republican back in the Salt Lake County Mayor's Office. Democratic Mayor Peter Corroon has pledged not to seek a third term.
Dole, a mother of two, is a certified dietitian who received a master's degree in food and nutrition from the University of Utah. As chairwoman, she plans to focus on raising funds, making the party more transparent and picking good candidates.
The other county GOP leaders are vice chairwoman Michelle Mumford, secretary Mark Mills and Treasurer Rob Anderson.
Jeremiah Stettler Sex resolution fails
Salt Lake County Republican delegates overwhelmingly defeated a resolution that would declare sex is appropriate only between a husband and wife.
Despite delegate David Baxter's argument that the GOP should take a stand against sodomy, adultery and fornication, Republicans resisted. Opponents described the measure as "going too far."