Around this time last week, I attended my mass meeting in a successful attempt to become a delegate.  At the same time, my Republican girlfriend (MRG) attended her first ever meeting, also trying to play a part in her party’s politics.

MRG’s night started out by driving to the other end of her severely gerrymandered district in order to attend. After confirming that she is, in fact, a registered Republican, the festivities began as she walked into a  junior high auditorium that reeked of Axe body spray, angst, and general puberty. The 400 plus people were ready to get their democracy on.

The night was, according to her, surprisingly devoid of politicians actually speaking.  I would have assumed that at least one or two state legislators would have spoken but, alas, they apparently did not show.

Two things stuck out in MRG’s mind – Senator Bennett is in serious trouble and that Representative Chaffetz needs to focus more on his district if he wants to hold his seat.

Bennett complaints were largely that he has been in office too long and that he is too liberal for Republicans.  I understand the first statement, but must admit that the second was a bit shocking. We are talking about a guy that, aside from voting for bailout money, has never voted the way the Democrats wanted. In MRG’s precinct the discord was quite palpable amongst the nine or so people who chose to attend, stating that Bennett had to go. Throughout the night she had also noted murmurs that the crowd was disappointed in the fact that Mark Shurtleff chose not to run against Bennett.

The discussion on Chaffetz is also telling. The Republicans in this Taylorsville/West Valley district felt that he was not doing enough for the district, instead focusing on pulling out the cot to make sure that he has something to tweet about.  They want him to focus less on what is happening in DC (regarding gay marriage perhaps?) and more on what the district actually needs. MRG herself can’t stand Chaffetz for the same reason.  The general message seemed to be that he is starting to upset people and that it will bite him if he does not stop playing with fire.

In the end MRG was elected as a state delegate  as well as vice-chair of her precinct – not to shabby for someone just starting out in politics at this level and who is relatively new to the district. I think it will be funny when we each show up to the state convention at the Salt Palace on May 8th and one of us walks to the left side of the building and the other to the right to attend our respective conventions.