4 party conventions yield 2 surprises

Four political conventions in three Utah counties yielded only two real surprises on Saturday.

First, the only incumbent to lose was Davis County Commissioner Michael Cragun, ousted by former Clearfield City Councilman Alan Hansen during the Davis County Republican convention at Clearfield High School.

Then, at Utah County's GOP convention, a Utah soldier in Afghanistan nearly forced the heavy favorite in the race for an open seat on the County Commission to a primary.

Davis County

In what could only be termed a surprising upset, Hansen beat Cragun by 62-38 percent in the second round of voting during the Davis County Republican Party convention in Clearfield.

Three Republicans had filed for Cragun's four-year seat, including Randy Stevensen and Lynn Ballard, who were eliminated in the first round of voting.

Hansen upset Cragun 62 percent to 38 percent in the second round of voting.

Several delegates and county officials leaving the convention said they thought it would be a close race for Cragun, but they didn't expect him to lose at the convention.

Commission Chairman Dannie McConkie said he was upset Cragun lost.

Cragun may have been hurt by literature handed out criticizing a failed tax increase. The entire three-member County Commission proposed a 138 percent tax increase, but Cragun was selected to explain the increase proposal to a packed Memorial Courthouse public hearing in December 2002, and so took the brunt of the ill feelings.

One piece, sponsored and paid for by "The People That Can No Longer Support Mr. Cragun," blasted him for trying to raise "taxes an unheard of 138 percent in the middle of a recession."

Another, paid for by Citizens For Responsible County Government, questioned whether residents and even "Mr. Cragun's supporters trust him to do what is in the best interest of the people of Davis County, or only what is in his best interest."

A third piece, paid by Concerned Citizens of Davis County, urged delegates to vote for Ballard or Hansen, saying they would not raise taxes.

Salt Lake County