A launch for governor race

PROVO — A new twist on Saturday's annual Lincoln Day Dinner could make Utah County the Iowa of the 2004 campaign for governor, including squabbles over the value of a straw poll.

Seven candidates for governor are lined up to address a sold-out crowd of 2,000 at the county Republican party fund-raiser, with Gov. Olene Walker also expected to make an appearance. And there's one surprise — Richard Eyre.

Eyre finished ahead of former Gov. Mike Leavitt at the 1992 state Republican convention before Leavitt won the primary and served three terms. Eyre is wrestling over his options — run for governor, challenge Jim Matheson for the 2nd Congressional District seat in Washington, D.C., or not to run at all — but decided he couldn't afford to refuse a request to be part of the Utah County event.

Eyre's former running mate Steve Densley, chief of the Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce, asked him to make an appearance, Eyre said. "He said if I was even thinking about running for governor, I had to show up at Utah County, so I am."

The twist comes at the end of the night, when those who paid $50 a plate will cast their accompanying ballots in a straw poll.

Organizers hope the poll will shed the first light on where candidates stand in the race to replace Leavitt, who now heads the EPA. Walker, who is completing Leavitt's term, has not said whether she will run.

"The Iowa straw poll puts Iowa on the map early in the presidential election season," said Stan Lockhart, a member of the Utah County Republican Party committee. "We're trying to have the straw poll so Utah County will lead out in the election season in Utah.

"We recognize the poll isn't scientific, but it is an indication of first, how well organized candidates are at this point in the election cycle, and second, how candidates stand with delegates in Utah County."

Lockhart said the event usually draws 400 to 600 people and has annually raised $30,000 to $60,000. He attributes the higher turnout this year to both the reduced cost and the straw poll, and said the event should net close $60,000 for the county Republican party.

Several of the campaigns questioned the poll's validity and balked at the cost of tickets.

Candidates were awarded various perks for the number of tickets they purchased, with levels of 30, 75 or 125 tickets.

Former U.S. Rep. Jim Hansen bought only a handful of tickets, which could damage his chances in the straw poll.