Even with the failure of the resolutions and the revised platform, the Salt Lake County party members seemed generally pleased with the direction of the party. They roundly cheered when notable successes of the 2006 elections were highlighted, especially Lohra Miller's election as district attorney and continued control of the Salt Lake County Council, and also when Evans promised to them that his top priority in 2008 would be the defeat of Democratic County Mayor Peter Corroon.

Unlike some previous years, the convention was devoid of peripheral controversies, and delegates even thanked the rest of the convention for debating divisive issues in a very civil manner. Afterwards, Evans said that he was pleased that it went smoothly.

"The great thing about Republicans is that we have definite opinions, and as an organization we cherish individual thought," he said.

One other vote taken during the convention was a presidential straw poll that was done as a fund-raiser for the party, which Mitt Romney won with 79 percent of the vote. However, one caveat: each vote cost $1 to cast, and people could vote as many times as they wanted.

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com