Low voter turnout: Incumbents fare poorly in key races

Cannon got out of the state GOP convention with only a nine-vote margin. And Chaffetz always said the convention — where delegates tend to be more politically doctrinaire — was his best chance to beat Cannon, even though Chaffetz would have needed a super-majority of 60 percent of delegate votes in convention to take the incumbent out.

The treasurer's race turned bitter after the GOP convention. Ellis claims Walker offered him a job last March if he wouldn't get in the race and even offered him a pay raise.

Walker says he did nothing wrong. Walker says he told Ellis that all treasurer office employees would keep their jobs, including Ellis as chief deputy, if he (Walker) won. Walker said he did that so good employees wouldn't worry about their jobs. Walker says he never offered Ellis a raise, although a go-between who talked to both men stands behind Ellis' version of events.

Tuesday night, Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert said he's recommending a civil investigation of Ellis' claims be conducted by the Attorney General's Office. Despite several e-mails supporting Ellis' charges against Walker, Herbert refused to take any action until after the primary election polls closed, saying his recommendation alone could influence Tuesday's vote. The only civil penalty facing Walker would be loss of the treasurer's position, if Walker won. But since he's now out of the race, that civil penalty is moot.

Even though turnout in the 3rd Congressional District race was low, Chaffetz said he doesn't think the June 24 primary date should be changed. "Maybe you would get a few more voters if it was moved up into early June," said Chaffetz. Many families go on vacation after school gets out. But Utah should not return to an August or September primary — as it has held in the past — because more time is needed for Republicans to run against Democrats in the final election, Chaffetz said.

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Contributing: Tad Walch

E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com