While attending the Utah State Republican Party Nominating Convention, at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City on April 27, I was disappointed by the behavior I witnessed by an estimated 25% of the room of delegates and those watching.
I was disheartened by such a large number in our party that booed our current Governor when he came to the stage to make his remarks to delegates. After pondering, I’ve done my best to turn it into a learning experience for myself.
First and foremost, I am grateful for our state’s voters. Whether they be a delegate in a convention, a primary, or general election voter. Voters have all the power in government.
The voter is: “WE THE PEOPLE!”
The power of people is in the ability, opportunity, and representation of your community to vote for a delegate and send them to the nominating convention where they decide who will represent our party in the primary election. Then the power of the people to vote for a candidate in the primary and general election.
If and when people don’t like a performance, action, or vote of an elected official, we have the power to vote for who we do agree with politically.
We have the power to take action. Apathy is your right to take no action. Voting is a right of action. We must vote to utilize this right. In alignment with the idea of our right to have a voice in who represents us, is our right for those that disagree with us to have a voice and share their opinion.
If we are the party of following the constitution, we also have to take responsibility to uphold its foundational ideals for everyone, allowing all the same rights. We have the right to boo, but is it respectful or just an ineffective way to voice our opinion? Vote in opposition and let that be our voice.
I believe we can always be kind and respectful to those with whom we disagree. I don’t know one person in life I agree on every issue with. With that being said, I can always find common ground and show respect.
Our right of self expression gives us the right to boo, be hyperbolic on social media, or down right rude to someone that is trying to serve our community, state and country. Our freedom of speech gives us the right to be disrespectful.
Our responsibility to civil progress is healthy, lively and respectful discourse. Disrespectful voicing of our opinions is not going to change someone’s mind or actions, and will not get us what we want.
The second thing I am learning is the reason you only get a few good people to run for office in our elections, is because it is hard to have people that disagree show that in a disrespectful manner. It takes courage, physical strength, mental toughness, the willingness to sit in thousands of hours of meetings, eagerness to help solve problems, and spending time doing many things that are not fun.
You must gain support from good people to move good policy or repeal bad. Being an elected official is not a one person show. As the mayor of Hurricane City I am not just the mayor of people that agree with me, or that align with me politically.
I am the mayor to everyone. This means I have to be willing to meet with them, listen to them, and work with them. People are the solution to government problems.
Government has never been the solution and never will be. I have served my community with all my heart. Does everyone love me? Of course not. I currently have someone that wants a crossing guard for their children. And because the traffic on that road does not warrant a crossing guard, they are frustrated and upset. I listen to them and show them respect regardless of if they show me the same level of respect.
I have citizens that express to me they want less government, but are upset if our city doesn’t have $500,000 in our budget for snow plowing equipment that we “might” use every few years when it actually accumulates enough snow in Southern Utah.
As mayor I have the responsibility to make sure the city spends money on what is important to citizens and maintain reserves. I have citizens that might be upset that we wait until the sun comes out, and they’re angry that the city did not clear our roads soon enough.
There is a balance; and to be honest, it all comes down to budget and budgets are all about priorities. When someone is angry with me I stop and think, “Am I missing something? What has not been discussed yet? Am I on the wrong side of this issue?”
This is why I spend so many hours talking to, and asking questions to citizens. The people I serve in Hurricane City have become my friends and I love them, regardless if we agree or not. However, I still can’t fund a new project, even if I agree with them, if we don’t have the money.
The beautiful part about the constitution is that it is a document we don’t pick or choose the action. It is the same for all. A couple examples come to mind. The first amendment protects our right to speak and to express ourselves without the government censoring or limiting that speech.
This does not mean that I personally agree with someone’s speech or expression. That it is OK. They may not agree with mine. And that is OK. As a public official, I cannot pick and choose which constitutional amendment I am going to uphold.
A recent example occurred in Hurricane City this last weekend: An advertised drag show was being held on private property. It doesn’t require an event permit by the city. Similar to a bible study, an anniversary party, a wedding or a birthday party.
Now, if a law is being broken that is a completely different story. There were no laws being broken. A private person has the constitutional right to host a drag performance and express themselves in ways that I may or may not deem inappropriate.
We have laws to protect the innocent. And we don’t pick and choose which laws we follow. I will always stand up for the constitution which allows everyone the freedom to express. My right to pray at a city council meeting is an expression I will fight for. If someone else wants to express himself in another way, whether religious or not, I honor that constitutional God given right.
I want to go back to loving our neighbor, which is the second great commandment. The first is to love God with all our heart, might and mind. Everything we do expresses our love for God. If we are not loving our neighbor, by booing and showing disrespect, we are not showing love. Being kind to those that we disagree with or that have a different way of living, is showing love to God. We have to be kind, to love others.
We still have our rights to believe, act, and participate in activities we agree with, and allow others to use their agency. We have laws in place to protect and keep us safe. May we be better examples of using the rights granted from our God.
To vote, to express, to protect our children, to love, and to unite. No good will come from division and finding fault. Coming together and having meaningful, honest discussions where we can find solutions to help everyone is the answer. My prayer last night was that hearts would be softened to show more kindness, and to look at the beam in my own eye rather than the mote in my brother’s eye.
Whether you believe in God or not, kindness should be part of being a good human. When constituents call, text or email me, I sit down with them and listen, and then ask myself,“Has everyone been to the table?”. It cannot be one sided. Government should equally uphold inalienable rights.
As we discuss important issues together, we are able to collaborate and come up with better solutions. Utahns who are associated with a political party have the opportunity to vote in a primary election on June 25, 2024. Please take the time to vote.
I love the following quote, and it resonates with me today.
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we lose our freedoms, it will be because we have destroyed ourselves from within. — Abraham Lincoln
Submitted by Mayor Nanette Billings, Hurricane, Utah
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