This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
First, Gov. Gary Herbert didn't reappoint Sam Granato to the Utah Liquor Control Commission, which Granato had chaired.
Maybe it was because Granato ran as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate, offending the sensibilities of the Republicans in the executive and legislative branches of Utah's government.
Then Granato was passed up by Herbert for director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Department, a position he tried hard to attain.
That could have been because of the scandals that unfolded in the department while he was chair, even though he and the other part-time commissioners maintained they were not privy to controversial activities going on in the department.
Or, perhaps it was because, as chairman, he insisted on opening up previously closed commission meetings when discussing the awarding of the precious few liquor licenses available. After all, we all know how much Republicans in Utah hate open meetings.
Now, after being tossed out of state government by the Herbert administration, Granato is making noises about running against the guy who wouldn't give him a job.
Granato confirmed Tuesday that he has had discussions about running for governor and he is intrigued with the idea.
One caveat: He won't run for the Democratic nomination if Congressman Jim Matheson, whose district has been effectively Gerrymandered by the Republican Legislature this year, decides to run for governor.
Spokeswoman Allyson Heyrend told me Matheson still has not made up his mind what he will do in 2012, other than his public announcement that he will not run for the Senate against Sen. Orrin Hatch.
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The GOP's dysfunctional family •Right at the time the Utah County Republican Central Committee is gearing up for a vote to oust party secretary Jeremy Roberts for allegedly neglecting to do the job he was elected to do, party vice chair Adrielle Herring has told party officials she will be resigning shortly to work on the U.S. Senate campaign of State Sen. Dan Liljenquist, R-Bountiful.
Liljenquist has not yet announced whether he will challenge Sen. Orrin Hatch in the Republican convention next year, but Herring's announcement to her peers about her own intentions lets the cat out of the bag.
With Roberts' fate up in the air, and Herring's imminent departure, county chair David Acheson won't have much of an administration to work with, at least until replacements can be found.
Meanwhile, Herring's decision will surely reactivate the anger among Utah County Republican activists, who have been complaining about those running for party offices being more interested in working on individual campaigns than for the party itself.
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It's getting contagious • Meanwhile, in Salt Lake County,Republican vice chair Mark Mills has submitted his resignation, citing "overreaching and micro-management" by party chair Julie Dole.
"It has become increasingly difficult to perform my duties," Mills wrote in a letter to Dole. "Being hen-pecked and micromanaged eventually becomes tiring. Trying to protect the chair at the cost of destroying relationships eventually becomes tiring."
Mills is the second Salt Lake County vice chair to resign in three months. Earlier, Michelle Mumford quit the post and Mills was elevated by the county central committee from party secretary to take her place.
Dole said she was not aware that Mills was unhappy in the job until she received the letter. She said he has not made those complaints to her in person and that he ran for party chair after working with her as party secretary, so he already knew her style when he sought the promotion.
Mills told me that he holds no ill will toward Dole and regards her as a wonderful person. But working with her in that environment became too difficult to continue. He said he does not want to hurt the party and wants to help in other volunteer positions.
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On a happier note • Republican Gov. Gary Herbert and Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson, who possibly might be political foes in the governor's race next year, will share the podium Friday at the annual Veteran's Day ceremony at 11 a.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda. The event will also feature the 23rd Army Band.