Email urges Utah GOP delegates to dump Trump


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SALT LAKE CITY — Utahns headed to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland later this month are being urged to support a last-ditch effort to dump their party's presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

"His credentials for leading the free world back to moral, financial and military dominance are ludicrous. Try to imagine him as a diplomat or ambassador for traditional American values," delegates to the convention were told in an email.

The email sent out late Thursday by Utah Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka, one of the state's 40 national GOP delegates, calls for them to vote their conscience and reject Trump so other candidates can come forward.

It lays out the case being made around the country by the Colorado-based Free the Delegates movement, that delegates are not bound to vote for Trump or any other candidate no matter how Republicans in their states voted.

And the email spells out why those backing the effort believe the billionaire businessman and reality TV star shouldn't be formally nominated despite winning well over the 1,237 delegates needed during the primary election process.

Stephani Williams, one of four other delegates who signed the email, wrote she is troubled by Trump's "playboy lifestyle," including "unrepentant adultery" in his first two marriages and "years of bragging openly about his womanizing."


(Trump's) credentials for leading the free world back to moral, financial and military dominance are ludicrous. Try to imagine him as a diplomat or ambassador for traditional American values.

–Ruzika email to Utah delegates


That tone concerns Utah GOP Chairman James Evans.

"I become uncomfortable when there's a sense of moral judgment being expressed against anyone in such an aggressive fashion," he said, calling on delegates to remember they are leaders and should "keep in mind the values of Utahns."

Don Peay, head of Utahns for Trump, also bristled at the email.

"Unfortunately, Gayle is reinforcing the national view that Utah is a zealot and judgmental place. Trump is now ahead in some polls, even though he is fighting a two-front war," Peay said.

Evans also questioned what he termed the effort's "new understanding or interpretation" of party rules that he believes requires the delegates on the first round of balloting to reflect the results that secured the nomination for Trump.

All of Utah's GOP delegates, however, are bound to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who won the state party's March presidential preference caucus. Nearly all of them have committed to Cruz they would continue to vote for him on any subsequent ballots.

Evans said he expects the national party's rules committee to sort out the issue in the days leading up to the July 18-21 convention. Former Utah Congresswoman Enid Mickelsen was recently named the committee chairwoman.

Ruzicka said Friday she's gotten only positive responses to the email so far. The email states that Free the Delegates hopes to double or triple the more than 400 delegates nationwide already on board.

#trump_graphiq

But Utah Republican delegate David Clark, a former state House speaker and retired banking executive from Santa Clara, wasn't interested.

"I think when you agree to be a delegate, you agree to abide by the rules," Clark said. "Having said that, everyone should abide by their principles and I would hope that one of those principles would be they would honor their word or agreements."

He said the millions of votes Trump has received around the country is "something to take notice of." Still, Clark said, this is the first presidential election where he isn't enthusiastic about supporting his party's nominee.

"I find it a little bit sad. I wish I was voting for someone rather than against someone this political season. I'm going to be voting against Hillary Clinton," the presumptive Democratic nominee, he said.

Another Utah GOP delegate, Sutherland Institute President Boyd Matheson, said there's little chance the effort will stop Trump from being nominated, especially since delegates aren't being offered an alternative candidate at this point.

Matheson, a member of the national party's platform committee, said it's more important now for delegates to focus on shaping where Republicans stand on the issues so voters can see where Trump differs.

"If there's ever hope for the party, with Trump or without him, the party needs to have a very different discussion with the American people," Matheson said, adding that Trump's reaction to the platform will "either demonstrate presidential leadership or not."

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UtahPolitics
Lisa Riley Roche

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