State central committee members say proposed amendment would conceal delegate contact lists and centralize control

Members of the state Republican central committee raised strong objections to a proposed constitutional amendment they said would conceal delegate contact information and centralize control over how candidates and delegates communicate.

Arnold Gaunt, a state central committee member from Ogden City, told the online meeting that the amendment’s language replaces the current requirement that the party publish listings that include name, address and phone number with a provision requiring only names and a possibly undefined “method.” He said that shift would remove voters’ and candidates’ ability to verify delegates’ precincts or bases of eligibility and leave candidates dependent on a party‑controlled system to reach delegates.

“This title is a misrepresentation — delegate data is not being protected, it's being concealed,” Gaunt said. He warned that instead of public listings, the party could operate an internal database that sends emails or texts on a candidate’s behalf so candidates could not confirm whether messages were sent or received.

Gaunt illustrated the change with the party website’s current state delegate pages, which list names but omit addresses and phone numbers. He said the amendment as written contains no restriction on how the party may use a list and allows interpretations in which the party could provide only a mediated method of contact, charge fees for ‘use’ even if access is nominally free, or selectively share information with favored campaigns.

“Without this information, party leaders can no longer be held accountable,” Gaunt said, arguing the change would “give a mechanism for absolute control by party leaders” and make it difficult for delegates to communicate and organize independently.

Organizers and other speakers agreed that the time change for substitution deadlines in a separate proposal was noncontroversial but said the proposed data requirement and removal of county discretion to withhold emails could be problematic if party leadership is not trusted. Meeting organizer Tina Horlacher, who identified herself as a member of the state central committee, said the recording and materials would be distributed and urged delegates to communicate ahead of the convention.

The amendment’s backers were not present to debate the merits at length during the meeting. No formal vote was taken in the session; speakers said the measure is scheduled for consideration at the state convention on Saturday.