Pre-Caucus Meeting Thursday March 13, 2014 at 7:00 PM

To all registered Republicans of West Jordan Precinct WJD030:

There will be a Pre-Caucus Meeting at the home of Jeanette Drake on Thursday March 13, 2014 at 7:00 PM. The address is 1856 Drake Lane (7400 South). If you haven't been here before, you get to us from Redwood Road. Come up the lane, pass the red brick house and then turn north to get to our house which is a white brick house that faces east. You will recognize the place by the dairy goats. This is the home of Drake Family Farms Goat Dairy.

We will be going over all the details for next week's Caucus Meeting. We will make plans for handling registration and for the agenda of the Caucus Meeting so that it will be an efficient, transparent meeting with maximum citizen involvement. Any questions??? Call Jeanette at 801-561-8745.

Changes to the Caucus Meetings for 2014 - Pre-register, Absentee Ballots and More

Caucus season has finally arrived! Click here to sign-in now for your neighborhood caucus meeting on March 20, 2014 and avoid waiting in the check-in line. If you register online you don’t have to fill out the sign-in sheet. Isn’t that great! Also, if you find out you won’t be able to make it to your Caucus, you can still vote by printing your absentee ballot starting at 5pm on March 19, 2014 and have a family member or friend bring it to your caucus in a sealed envelope (remember to sign the back of the envelope), with a copy of your I.D. (Note & Important– we will not take the copy of your I.D. It will stay in possession of the person you gave it to). Each person may bring a maximum of 3 absentee ballots. Your absentee ballot will count for every round of voting your candidates are in. We have made some changes to these meetings and our commitment is that the 2014 Caucuses last no longer than 2 hours! We have sped up the check-in process by using online registration and encouraging the precincts to limit voting to two rounds. With that, everyone should make the 2 hour goal. We know in 2012 many caucus meetings went very long because of the high turnout. We heard you and we have made the necessary changes. Now, all we need is YOU on March 20, 2014, 7pm at your neighborhood caucus. See you there! Thank you for your support of the Utah Republican Party. James Evans Utah Republican Party Chairman

Caucus Night is Thursday March 20 at 7:00 PM

If you haven’t already, please be sure to mark Thursday, March 20 at 7:00pm on your calendar and plan to attend your neighborhood caucus. Caucus night is less than a month away, and this year there are exciting changes that make it even easier to participate. Click the image below to watch our commercial and share it with your family and friends. (Please contribute $10, $25, $100 or more to help us spread this message). Did you know this year you can: Preregister online before attending your caucus night. Vote by absentee ballot if you're not able to attend your caucus night. And if you're out of state on military or religious service you can also cast a ballot. In addition to the new, easy ways for you to participate, we’ll be actively promoting caucus night across the state. You’ll see signs and door hangers, receive phone calls and emails, and see familiar faces on television inviting you to attend your neighborhood caucus. We NEED your help to let your friends and family know about caucus night. Ensuring that this years caucus night is a success is critical! Please help us spread the word by contributing $10, $25, $100, or whatever you can to help share this video with others. Your money will go to spread the message about this important part of our election system. We cannot do all of this without your donation so please contribute $10, $25, or $100 today! Thanks for your support! James Evans Utah Republican Party Chairman P.S. It’s up to all of us to make sure that caucus night is a success. You can help by contributing $10, $25, $100 and by sharing this with your family and friends on Facebook, Twitter, and email.

Utah Republican Party Headquarters 117 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Email: info@utgop.org | Phone: 801.533.9777 © Copyright 2013. Utah Republican Party. All Rights Reserved.

Youth Leadership School

The URepublicans are bringing the Leadership Institute to Utah to host a Youth Leadership School! This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in getting more involved in politics while meeting fellow conservatives, enhancing your resume, and learning how to better lead! Youth Leadership School . Friday, Mar. 21 - Saturday, Mar. 22, 2014 2 days and nights, $30 (meals included) *Only $15 for Early Registration by 2/21/14! REGISTER HERE The Leadership Institute's flagship school, nicknamed "the boot camp of politics," provides you with effective techniques to organize and lead mass-based youth efforts for and causes. Any student, candidate, or youth leader who wants to be active in the political process should attend this school. You will learn to: Organize large numbers of volunteers and voters Increase the size and effectiveness of your group Motivate volunteers with exciting projects Host successful speaker events Develop eye-catching signs and literature Gain media coverage Organize 12 proven activism projects Click Here for Flyer Contact Sam Larson with any questions at SLarson@LeadershipInstitute.org or (703) 647-3311. Register at the URepublicans Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/206778666184582/ Or directly at the Leadership Institute's website: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/Training/school.cfm?ID=24932

Progress Report by Our Salt Lake County Assessor Kevin Jacobs

Dear Fellow Republicans,
First of all, I want to thank all of you for the opportunity I have to serve as your County Assessor! I knew what I was getting into, and would like to report on the progress I've made since taking office last September. As promised, utilizing my experience and management background, I hit the ground running and have made significant changes to the office structure and how the office operates. The most significant changes I've made are:

Reorganized the office

• I split the Real Property Division into two smaller divisions, the Residential Division and the Commercial Division.
  
• At the same time, I dissolved the Statistical and Modeling Division, as well as the Appeals Section, and assigned those individuals to the respective Residential or Commercial Division.
  
• This realignment means the two divisions have all the responsibilities and resources for their area. All phases of property valuation are now "self-contained" within each division.

Appraisers and statisticians now work together as a team, which enhances their communication and makes them more accountable for the final product.

Completely revised how appraisers are assigned their work

• Previously, appraisers would work in one area of the county and then move to another area the following year. Now, appraisers are assigned to one area and will not rotate. They will be responsible for new construction, reappraisal, and the appeals that come from their area.
  
• The appraisers will focus on gaining a very detailed knowledge of their area and the changes that are happening within it.

Made recommendations on streamlining appeals to the Board of Equalization

• If our records show you have a finished basement, when in fact you don't, you shouldn't have to go through a lengthy appeals process to have the error corrected. I recommend appeals dealing with physical characteristics be immediately sent to the Assessor's Office so we can verify the data, correct the error, and get a revised value on the property.
  
• Currently, a large number of the appeals filed with the County are not sent to the Assessor's Office, but instead go directly to a hearing officer. Many of these appeals end up going to the state, which then involves my office. I want the opportunity to correct errors, whether they relate to physical data or value, at the earliest possible level. Taxpayers shouldn't have to appeal to the state when the issue could have been resolved at the County level! I have recommended that all appeals, regardless of the issue, be reviewed by my office. While this will add to our workload, I feel strongly it is our responsibility to address taxpayer concerns and get them resolved as quickly as possible.
  
  While these are not all of the changes I've made, I feel they are the most significant and will have a long lasting effect on the office. I am committed to making the office more accountable, while serving you in the most efficient and effective manner possible!
  

Once again, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you as the Salt Lake County Assessor and I appreciate your support!

If I may be of help to you, please contact me at:

Kjacobs@slco.org
385-468-7971 (work)
801-502-4729 (cell)

Thank you,

Kevin Jacobs
Salt Lake County Assessor

www.assessor.slco.org

News from Representative Earl Tanner and Senator Wayne Harper

The Utah Legislature is in session. Both our Senator Wayne Harper and our Representative Earl Tanner are welcoming feedback and input from their electors.

• To take a survey for Representative Earl Tanner go to www.telltanner.com
• I could not get the link for Senator Wayne Harper's survey to work. So maybe it is too late to take advantage of the survey for this legistlative session. Contact him via email.
• Representative Tanner's email address is earltanner@le.utah.gov
• Senator Harper's email address is wharper@le.utah.gov

February News from Senator Mike Lee

Friend, The first two months of 2014 have been busy in Washington and in Utah. We just held my February tele-townhall and it was helpful to hear from citizens from around our great state on a wide-range of issues. If you haven't done so already, you can sign up to participate in my monthly tele-townhalls here: http://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/tele-townhall-meetings. I also wanted to share with you a few of the areas I have been focused on in the Senate. Here some highlights from the last few weeks: Learn about my proposal that seeks to affirm religious liberty in the military Listen to my interview with Doug Wright where we discussed my response to the State of the Union Address Read my op-ed: The Farm Bill vs. America Read the text of my speech: Reforming higher education for those who need it most Read my op-ed: To Create Jobs, Promote Access to Opportunity via Human Networks Watch the Judiciary Committee hearing where I asked Eric Holder to provide legal rationale for Executive Orders Watch my full response to the State of the Union Address Read the resolution I signed denouncing the President's coercion of states into adopting Common Core standards Today, Americans know in their hearts that something is wrong. Much of what is wrong relates to the sense that the “American Dream” is falling out of reach for far too many of us. We are facing an inequality crisis — that the President has paid lip-service to, but seems uninterested in truly confronting or correcting. This inequality crisis presents itself in three principal forms: immobility among the poor, who are being trapped in poverty by big-government programs; insecurity in the middle class, where families are struggling just to get by and can’t seem to get ahead; and cronyist privilege at the top, where political and economic insiders twist the immense power of the federal government to profit at the expense of everyone else. Where does this new inequality come from? From government — every time it takes rights and opportunities away from the American people and gives them instead to politicians, bureaucrats, and special interests. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln told Congress that the “leading object” of American government was: “to elevate the condition of men - to lift artificial weights from all shoulders, to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all, to afford all an unfettered start and a fair chance, in the race of life.” I am continuing to put forward legislation with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the inequality crisis we face as a country and deliver to you the type of government Lincoln described. You can follow my legislation in areas including eliminating the double tax on hardworking parents, reforming higher education to make it more accessible and more affordable, along with prison, patent and regulatory reform that are part of my conservative reform agenda on my website at www.lee.senate.gov

Election of a new Salt Lake County Council Member for District 3

On Thursday night January 9, 2014 I will be helping to elect someone to serve as Salt Lake County Council Member for District 3. Council member David Wilde has resigned and Republican precinct chairmen will be meeting to select a replacement. You are invited to relay your opinions to me about the candidates and the issues of county government. 

The meeting is at Murray High School at 7:00 PM. I will be going at 6:00 PM to meet the candidates. I know that Aimee Winder Newton and Casey Jackson are running. Other candidates may also be nominated at the meeting.

News from James Evans, Utah Republican Party Chairman

Welcome to this week's newsletter. There is a lot going on in Utah politics! 2013 has been historic. I would first like to thank all of those who ran for the vacant Attorney General position. Each one worked hard in a short time frame, and accommodated their schedules to reach out. That said, special congratulations goes to the three candidates, Sean Reyes, Robert Smith, and Brian Tarbet, who won at last Saturday's Special State Central Committee meeting. The Governor will now pick one from among those three. You can see the results of the meeting here. For your information, Governor Mitt Romney will be attending the "Elevating Utah Commercial Real Estate Dinner" on January 14, 2014. If you have interest in attending, click here. Yesterday, federal judge Robert Shelby ruled Amendment 3, Utah’s ban on same sex marriage, unconstitutional. If you would like to help the Utah Republican Party fight for traditional marriage, click here. Neighborhood Caucus Elections are approaching fast! We are just a little under four months away from the big night, and are busily working to make 2014 another successful year. One thing that will really help us is to have each of you donate just $5 today. I know it's the holidays, but a small donation will make a big difference. Below are changes to our Neighborhood Caucus Meetings that will make it easier for you to participate. If you are in the military or on religious service out of the state, you can cast a ballot at the Neighborhood Caucus Meetings. If you cannot attend the meeting in person, you can cast an absentee ballot. You can check in and register online for the meetings in advance. We have included an optional Meet-and-Greet one hour prior to the neighborhood caucus meetings. As we implement these changes, we hope you will plan to join us on March 20th 2014, and encourage you to bring your family and friends. Jim Matheson announced this week that he will not run for election in 2014. While this news was unexpected, we were confident that we would win CD4 in 2014, and are even more confident now. We are looking forward to sending four Congressional Republicans to Washington next year - but it will still take resources to ensure we win. Please donate here to help out. Lastly, I hope you have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the holidays. Please reach out to the Party if you have any questions at 801.533.9777.

Thanks for your support! James Evans Utah Republican Party Chairman

State Attorney General Election December 14, 2013

Friend, Tomorrow morning, the State Central Committee will meet in Sandy, Utah, to select three candidates for the position of Attorney General. After this meeting, the three names will be sent to the Governor and he will select one to fill the vacant position. To ensure public access, the State Party will live stream the meeting tomorrow on its website here. The meeting will begin at 10:00AM and the Attorney General election is the first item on the agenda. You can also find the latest updates here, or watch Wednesday's Attorney General debate here. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, and hope you will tune in.

Thanks for your support! James Evans Utah Republican Party Chairman

Message from Senator Wayne Harper

Dear Neighbor:

Routinely during the year and each week during the legislative session, I send out update emails and questions on which that I need your input. Below is the December 2013 pre-session email as an example.

PLEASE SEND ME A RESPONSE SO I MAY ADD YOU TO MY EMAIL LIST TO OBTAIN YOUR INPUT AND PROVIDE UPDATES TO YOU.

Thank you,

Wayne Harper

wharper@le.utah.gov

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Senator Wayne Harper

State of Utah

Senate District 6

West Jordan & Taylorsville

December 1, 2013

RE: PRE-2014 SESSION REQUEST FOR INPUT AND PRIORITIES

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Prior to the 2014 legislative session that starts the end of January, I am requesting your input and recommendations.

There are many issues that have been discussed this year during interim meetings and as I meet with constituents as well as several key budgetary items for the next session.

Please respond to me with your comments, concerns, issues and recommendations.

Some of the key topics for the 2014 Session include:

· Common Core, is it good or bad and what does Utah do with it?

· Projected budget surpluses and additional revenue (as much as $300 million)

· Construction of new higher education and state buildings

· Local government proposal to increase the motor fuel tax by 3% (about 10 cent per gallon)

· Proposal that the state should assume management and operations of national parks and monuments

· A proposal to reduce the number of exemptions a family can claim so that families with children in school will be paying more income tax. (To generate about $400 million more for public education.)

· 30 bills on health care reform

· 30 bills on elections

· 40 bills on education

· 25 bills on tax law revisions

· Many bills on business code, towing, business development and air quality

Thank you for your involvement in this process.

I look forward to hearing from you on your priorities and issues and how I can better prepare for the upcoming session!

Wayne Harper

wharper@le.utah.gov

Proudly Serving West Jordan & Taylorsville