Saturday, March 22, 2014

Politics and Pizza

Beginnings of being a Precinct Delegate

The morning after becoming a delegate for the Manti Unincorporated Precinct, the voice on my cell phone asks, “Do you want to meet with Congressman Chris Stewart at Roys Pizza?”

Well . . .  let me think . . . um, Yeah!

Here is a great man I have respected and admired and supported long before I knew I would get to shake his hand, and thank him in person over pizza.

DY8A3922 pbl

DY8A3909 pbl DY8A3913 pbl DY8A3910 pbl

Troy Shelley and Connie Smith.  The Smiths and Chris Stewart.  We Olsens and Chris Stewart.

And what a privilege to sit next to Troy Shelley and his friendly wife.  He is our leader to whom I will look to for knowledge, clarity and valued opinions.  He reinforced my understanding of the role of a delegate, which isn’t to poll each member’s  wishes on how to vote, and then try to vote the way the majority wants – it is to vote for the candidate I understand is best from my knowledge and research of the issues, being informed, and passing on what I have learned in any friendly, open manner to anyone who wants to know. . .  And learn about other’s reasoning and feelings who want me to know about issues and why and how they have come to their stand. . .  And count other’s as a critical part of my own education on everything that matters.  

DY8A3914 pbl DY8A3915 pbl

On the other side of me sits Jennie Peterson, my friend, neighbor, mother of 7 terrific-ific chilrens, sweetheart/wife of one of our finest soldiers and professional plumber . . .  Her love of God, Country and Family is unquestionable and her example of ‘civil, civic service’ is exemplary too!  

DY8A3918 pbl DY8A3924 pbl

I think this is our County Commissioner Scott Bartholemew talking with Chris Stewart. Jim Bob Pipes, Connie Smith, Sheriff Brian Neilson.

Besides meeting Chris Stewart, we met some of his staff; Connie and Dale Smith (Dale is Utah Chief of Staff, Connie helps with the campaign), Brian Steed who is Chief of Staff in Washington,

DY8A3926 pbl

Congressman Chris Stewart and Sheriff Brian Neilson

 

Some things I heard about that I need to learn more about:  PILT - Payment in lieu of taxes (Since yesterday I have learned that our Senator Mike Lee did not vote for the Farm Bill because PILT was attached to it, and he felt it is important enough to be on its own.  The media made it sound like he is against PILT which, of course, is not true at all. 75% of Utah is federally owned.)     -   learning about this led to learning about . . .

SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (renamed from Food Stamps and includes school lunches) SNAP takes the lion’s share of the Farm Bill. Obama cut it 8.7 billion over 10 years which amounts to about 1% of it. These kinds of numbers are just about lost on me.

Yay! for my first experience as a precinct delegate.

 

Same day – another alert that there is yet another candidate to meet.  This time at the Ephraim Firehouse at 6:00 (it is 5:55) and we’re having Roy’s Pizza (it was just as delicious this time).  Bob Fuehr and his staff were also genuine and friendly.  He has tossed his competent, experienced and personable ‘hat’ into the ring in the race for U.S. Congress for the 4th District.  The 4th District.  Jennie and Matt and I didn’t notice that it was for the 4th District until long into the evening (we are 2nd District voters).  It was an unnecessarily l – o – n – g evening as I witnessed first-hand and first-time what a delegate should not be like.  The meeting was dominated by a (one) delegate with supposed superior political and moral wisdom than the candidate has.   I never want to forget that meeting candidates and hearing and asking questions is a privilege, not a forum in which to toss civility, good will and respect aside.  It is never acceptable to speak condescendingly to anybody.  I don’t ever want to feel that politics excuses people from decorum and propriety.  Self-righteous bluster is never in good taste.  I feel to compliment Mr. Fuehr on his restraint and hope his meetings today were much more productive and rewarding.

Manti Unincorporated Precinct’s caucus results March 20, 2014 . . . . in the Library . . . .at the High School . . . . (sounds like a game of Clue)  It WAS pleasant.  Our precinct was so small we laughed that it would be easier to discover who didn’t want an ‘assignment’ and draw for the rest.

Precinct Chair: Jennie Johnson Peterson
Precinct Vice Chair: Jonathan Allen
Precinct Sec/Treas: Marie Crowson
State Delegate: Matt, Matt N Melody Christensen
State Alternate: Lauri Kennington Olsen
County Delegate: Wayne Cox
County Delegate: Lauri Olsen
County Alternate: Shelby Shelby Mintey e

1 comment:

  1. Just a small correction that Shelby's name should say Shelby Smith, not Mintey. Things got messed up as I was copying and pasting and adding and deleting...sorry.

    ReplyDelete