"It is absolutely appropriate for government to foster, protect, encourage and uphold the traditional nuclear family," they write in a letter delivered to Anderson late Tuesday.

The letter notes Utah voters "overwhelmingly" approved a constitutional amendment in November to protect the traditional definition of marriage and that county Republicans received more than 1,200 e-mails supporting the GOP-led County Council after it rejected extending similar benefits in a 5-4 party-line vote in July.

Tuesday's letter refers to those e-mails as the "silent majority."

County Councilman Cort Ashton, who spearheaded the letter to Anderson, stressed the gesture was less about politics than ideology.

"Salt Lake City is the flagship of our community," he said. "This is about protecting our community values."

Anderson counters that providing equal protection and equal benefits should never "depend on polls or surveys."

County Councilman Mark Crockett, a Republican, insists a decision "this important" should be decided by the City Council rather than by executive order, as Anderson intends to do today.

Democratic Councilman Joe Hatch sees it differently.

"This is bull," Hatch said, calling the letter bigoted and full of extremist tendencies. He says the move reeks more of political gamesmanship than a stated attempt to "clarify" the GOP position.

"It's reflective of a divisiveness and a hatred that I'm a little surprised is coming from all five of them."

In July, the County Council engaged in an emotional debate over domestic-partner benefits that left some in the room in tears when the proposed policy change fell short.

The architect of that effort said Tuesday that the GOP letter to Anderson seems "completely out of their realm."

"I find it curious," Democratic Councilwoman Jenny Wilson said. "I don't know the purpose of it."

Republican Council Chairman Michael Jensen stresses his county colleagues will respect what Anderson wants for his employees. Still, he concedes the last-minute letter is political as well as ideological.

"I don't think they're mutually exclusive."

djensen@sltrib.com

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Tribune reporter Heather May contributed to this story.