Davis incumbent sinks in primary

WOODS CROSS — In a surprise move, delegates at the Davis County Republican Convention on Saturday ousted longtime County Commissioner Dannie McConkie, choosing a relative newcomer to represent the party during elections this November.

Bret Millburn of Centerville received 67.7 percent of the delegate vote; McConkie received 32.45 percent. Millburn will now face off against Democrat Rob Miller.

"It really surprised me," Millburn said after hearing the results. "I'm grateful for the support. I had things I forwarded that I feel are concerns."

McConkie did not speculate why he lost, simply saying that "in politics, you always know there are winners and losers." Party insiders, however, said it was likely the result of a proposed 138 percent tax increase that McConkie was part of four years ago.

During the 2004 Davis GOP Convention, then-commissioner Michael Cragun — who was part of the team that presented the increase — was ousted by delegates 62 percent to 38 percent, by a lesser margin than McConkie.

"I think Dannie probably lost for the same reason Michael Cragun lost two years ago," said Todd Weiler, chairman of the Davis GOP. "Enough people were offended by even the suggestion of a 138 percent increase that they wanted to send a message and were willing to wait three years."

McConkie said he and other commissioners have been nothing but fiscally responsible.

In other races, delegates also sent a message to county Sheriff Bud Cox, who will face a primary in June against challenger Todd Richardson. Cox, who has served two terms, received 50.63 percent of the delegate vote compared to Richardson's 49.37 percent.

Richardson ran against Cox four years ago but lost.

Two other races in Davis County will face a primary. Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, received 47.32 percent of the delegate vote compared to the 52.68 percent received by challenger Mark Jacobs, a supporter of school vouchers. They are running for the House District 19 seat.

For outgoing commissioner Carol Page's seat, two GOP candidates will face off in a primary: former Centerville Mayor Michael Deamer and Louenda Downs of Layton. Deamer received 50.19 percent of the vote; Downs received 49.18 percent.

In other races, Kevin Garn, who served 12 years in the Legislature before resigning in 2002, earned 88.64 percent of the delegate vote to 11.36 percent received by challenger Jan Moore. Garn is running for the House District 16 seat being vacated by Rep. Stuart Adams, R-Layton.