3 eager to fill likely Senate vacancy

MORONI, Sanpete County — Gov.-elect Jon Huntsman's staff won't confirm that Sen. Leonard Blackham, R-Moroni, has been selected to head the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

But three central Utah politicians are in hot pursuit of the party nod to replace him in the Utah Senate, assuming Blackham is appointed.

Huntsman spokeswoman Jami Palmer confirmed Monday that Blackham, a turkey farmer and executive with the Moroni Feed turkey processing plant, is among candidates being considered for commissioner of agriculture, replacing Cary Peterson. But Palmer said no announcement would be made until after the new governor's inauguration.

Meanwhile, Darrin Peterson, a former legislator from Nephi; Eddie Cox, a former Sanpete County commissioner from Fairview; and Bradley Johnson, a current Utah House member, all confirmed they are seeking the Senate seat.

When a vacancy occurs in the Legislature, leaders of the party that hold the seat call a caucus of state party delegates in the district involved. The caucus nominates candidates and the governor then makes the final appointment.

Blackham represents Senate District 24, which includes Juab, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne and part of Tooele County. There are about 120 Republican state delegates in the district.

Peterson said he has been campaigning for the potential appointment for three weeks.

"I'm definitely in, and I'm running as hard as I can," he said.

After serving two terms in the House, Peterson ran against Blackham for the seat in the Republican primary in June and lost by a narrow margin. In November, Blackham was elected to his third term.

"Yes, I think we're going to make a run for it," said Cox, an executive with Central Utah Telephone — a regional telephone company based in Fairview — who served two terms on the Sanpete County Commission.

Johnson represents House District 70, which takes in parts of Sanpete, Sevier and Emery counties. He confirmed he mailed a letter to state delegates saying that if the opportunity to move up to the Senate arises, he would be interested in it.

"I'm serious. I'm committed to it," he said Monday. "The only thing I'm hesitant about is that it (Blackham's appointment) hasn't been announced yet."

But, he added, he believes speculation that Blackham will get the appointment is correct.

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