Randy O’Hara withdrew his candidacy for Utah County Republican Party vice chair and endorsed one of his fellow candidates in a controversial turn of events last Saturday at the Utah County Republican Party Convention.
“As I do not want to distract our party from getting Republicans elected, and due to my current legal situation, at this time I would encourage the body to vote for Daryl Acumen, and ask that the secretary remove my name from the ballot,” O’Hara told the gathered delegates.
Immediately after O’Hara endorsed Acumen, the party’s Vice Chair Bonnie Marrow removed the microphone from him.
“We apologize but we are not allowed to let a candidate endorse another candidate, and that is further parliamentarian,” Morrow said. “That is why I had to stand up.”
Amid applause and gasps, O’Hara left the stage at Timpview High School with his wife and young son.
Earlier in his speech, O’Hara addressed being pulled over and cited by the Utah Highway Patrol in Salt Lake in late November for driving under the influence. He said he was going through a spiritual journey to overcome his recent setbacks.
“Here’s what I ask of you, as a body of the community, I ask for your forgiveness,” O’Hera said.
O’Hara’s case, in which he pleaded not guilty, is currently pending in Salt Lake City Justice Court.
Each one of the candidates running for a major position was given five minutes to speak to the delegates at the convention and discuss their plans for the local Republican Party. At the end of the speeches, delegates cast a ballot for county chair, vice chair, secretary and multiple positions on the local party’s Central Committee.
Casey Voeks defeated David Acheson, garnering 390 votes to Acheson’s 307, for the county chair position. Acumen was elected vice chair, beating out Pat Holman 580 to 126 votes. Kirby Glad defeated Christy Kane for county secretary by a final tally of 421 to 295.
O’Hara’s nomination of eventual winner Acumen was not the only event that challenged the rules of the convention. Several delegates who needed to leave early asked that their votes still be counted. Because of a policy that once a delegate has left the convention their vote does not count, a motion was proposed to allow an exception the policy, and to allow the five ballots at stake to be counted.
“If the rest of us are devoting our time to be here, why should we give an exception to those who aren’t here?” one delegate protested.
Amid angry yells and commotion, a vote was taken concerning whether to lift the regulation. Two-thirds of the delegates voted against it and the motion was overturned.
The Utah Republican Party State Convention will take place May 18 at the South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy.
