Letter: To ensure the most qualified candidate gets elected, open up the primaries or use ranked choice voting
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Chris Stewart at the Utah Republican Party election night party at the Hyatt Regency in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
The arguments going around about Rep. Chris Stewart’s replacement and the process that has taken place just further exemplifies the crony system of Utah politics.
We have seen this played over and over again with the power elite or politically charged elements stacking the caucus, and neither the most qualified nor the incumbent get on the ballot. We remember Sen. Bob Bennett being kicked off the ballot as the most vivid example of the process.
We proclaim the smoke-filled room has gone away but it has been replaced by a caucus system that can be skewed by special interest groups, so we end up with fringe candidates.
Open up the primaries or use ranked choice voting so the majority has a voice and the most qualified is elected.
Paul Davis, Logan
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