GOP delegates block embattled Recorder Gary Ott's surrogate speaker

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MURRAY — Amid concerns that Salt Lake County Recorder Gary Ott may be suffering from health issues that are preventing him from doing his job, county Republicans refused Saturday to let anyone but Ott speak for his office during their convention.

Ott was not present at Cottonwood High School Saturday where more than 2,000 delegates gathered to hear reports from Salt Lake County GOP elected officials before voting on their parties' nominees for the upcoming 2016 election.

Julie Dole, Ott's chief deputy recorder, was standing in line with elected county officials and was waiting to speak on Ott's behalf when Salt Lake County GOP Chairwoman Suzanne Mulet ruled that county officials must speak for themselves. She said the party would only allow proxies of elected officials to speak if the elected official was speaking at another convention the same day.

"Several delegates have expressed concerns given the public questions surrounding the recorder's office," Mulet said before making her ruling and putting it to the delegates for consideration.

A Deseret News investigation in February found that county leaders and employees — coupled with recent police reports, police video and an investigation into Ott's office — have raised concerns about whether Ott is capable of carrying out his elected duties.

Since then, the Salt Lake County Council has ordered a performance audit of Ott’s office.

Mulet’s ruling was met with some opposition. West Jordan delegate Victor Shanti spoke against it, pointing out that congressional elected officials — who were attending other conventions Saturday — were permitted to have proxies.

“If other officials can have surrogates, there’s no reason that we should be necessarily pressured by media with biases against our party to inflict some kind of special rule on our recorder,” he said.

But Murray delegate Jay Brummett supported Mulet’s ruling.

“Our county elected officials have one convention to come to in Salt Lake County, and they have a duty to report to the 2,600 of you — who have given up your time and are not elected officials — to give a personal report,” he said.

Brummett's words were met with cheers and applause.

“The party demands accountability of our own officials, and this is the only accountability that, by law, the party can have in this particular matter of the recorder’s office,” he said.

Mulet’s decision was sustained when roughly three-fourths of the delegates stood in support.

“By statute I’m allowed to speak for the recorder on his behalf — by statute. So to have them come and say that I can’t speak, I don’t think that’s appropriate and not following the law,” Dole said after the vote.

Dole said the delegates appeared to her to be divided 50-50, but no one called for a second vote because they didn’t want to “waste the delegates’ time.” She said she doesn't believe the delegates’ concerns are justified.

“I would put this on Suzanne and her questionable competency. It was her ruling as the chair, not a motion by the delegates. We have always done proxy speakers and usually have many due to conflicts in schedules,” she said.

When asked where Ott was, Dole said he had a “recent family obligation arise that he had to attend today.” She said Ott spoke with delegates Friday during a meet the candidates event. She indicated that she had posted pictures of Ott at Friday’s event on Facebook.

Former Salt Lake County employees and Ott's 2014 political opponent, Mary Bishop, have said he attended some events during his last re-election campaign, but never spoke.

Dole and Karen Sanone, Ott's government affairs liaison and by many accounts his girlfriend or fiancé, often speak for Ott during meetings, interviews and public events.

Brummett said Ott used to be more engaged within the GOP, but not as much since his last election. He said delegates want answers to the questions being raised about whether he is fit for office.

"It would have been nice for (Ott) to have been here — he could have put all this to bed by simply speaking to the party," Brummett said. "I don't know why he didn't. I hope what's in the press isn't true."

Mulet said she's been trying since last month to meet with Ott to discuss concerns raised about him, but it wasn't until Friday night that he seemed open to the idea.

Last month, Mulet said she received a "very terse" email from Ott saying he "saw no purpose in meeting with with me because I've already made up my mind, which was not correct," Mulet said. Mulet declined to release the email to the Deseret News Saturday, but said she would at a later date.

When asked about Ott's alleged refusal to meet with Mulet, Dole said Mulet had the opportunity to meet with Ott at the end of the 2016 legislative session, but she said Mulet "purposefully avoided him and spoke with others instead of Gary."

Mulet said Ott's demeanor Friday night seemed contrary to his previous email and he told her he would meet with her after the convention.

"I want to get clarity, his viewpoint of what's going on," Mulet said, noting that the Republican Party can't take action against an elected official unless they engage in criminal activity that can legally remove them from their position.

When asked if the party may ask Ott to resign if the concerns about him are substantiated, Mulet said she'll "cross that bridge when I come to it."

"I don't like making those kinds of suppositions until I have all the information first," she said.