Gunnarson gets boot in GOP primary race

Salt Lake County voters offered up some surprises in Tuesday's GOP primary election.

Voters rejected incumbent Salt Lake District Attorney Neal Gunnarson by a substantial margin and gave incumbent Salt Lake County Commissioner Mary Callaghan the nomination nod - but only after subjecting her to the race of her life.Mark Shurtleff outdistanced Steve Harmsen in the other county commissioner race, according to complete but unofficial results.

Political newcomer Mark Griffin defeated Gunnarson in Salt Lake County's district attorney primary race.

"I think the voters sent the message tonight that they want to take the performance of the district attorney's office to another level," Griffin said.

Gunnarson's decision not to prosecute Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini prompted Griffin's decision to run. "I feel like that case should have gone forward," he said Tuesday.

During the campaign, Gunnarson stood by his decision in the Corradini matter, saying an advisory committee of experienced prosecutors, investigators and law professors unanimously agreed it was a non-prosecutable case.

He offered only a brief statement Tuesday.

"My one and only comment is a sincere congratulations to Mr. Griffin," he said.

Griffin, director of Utah Division of Securities, said Tuesday's voters were likely drawn to his proposed crime prevention programs, while Gunnarson was critical of his prosecutorial inexperience. That issue that could again arise before November. Griffin will face Democrat David E. Yocom, a former Salt Lake County attorney, in the general election.

Griffin notes that he has prosecuted a pair of attorney general cases but emphasized the upcoming general election "is about character, leadership and returning people's confidence to the office."

For now, Griffin, 42, said he plans to get re-acquainted with his family before campaigning vigorously for the November ballot.

The district attorney's office will be recombined with the Salt Lake County Attorney's Office in January to handle both criminal and civil functions.

Callaghan's advantage in absentee ballots spelled the difference in her race against challenger Wendy Smith, putting her over the top by a miniscule 153 votes out of 37,411 cast - 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent.

The race was, in the words of Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, "a cliffhanger." The two ran neck-and-neck all night long, and the final results of regular balloting showed Smith the winner by a 113-vote margin.