9 file for Utah House seat in Provo

PROVO — Nine people have filed letters of intent to run in the special election for the Utah House seat representing northeast Provo.

Rep. Jeff Alexander, R-Provo, has resigned effective Jan. 1, although that is the day he was to begin his ninth term in the state Legislature. Alexander resigned to focus on his business and to work part-time for the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Alexander's replacement will be selected Jan. 2 in a vote of 90 Utah County Republican Party delegates who live in District 62.

The long line of people who will now lobby for the votes of those 90 delegates includes a former state senator and a former Provo City Council member.

The campaign already has begun, Utah County Republican Party chairwoman Marian Monnahan said.

"I've gotten letters from some of them already," she said. "Some are going to have open houses."

Monnahan said the candidates are:

• Rare-books dealer Brent Ashworth, who serves on Provo city's Landmarks Commission and library board

• William Shipper Clawson, a teacher at Canyon Crest Elementary School

• John Curtis, owner of Action Target, a Provo firing range manufacturer

• Real-estate developer Chris Herrod

• Businessman Dennis Hoaglund

• Grant Misbach, who is retired

• Provo schoolteacher and businessman David Starling

• Former state Sen. Charles H. "Chuck" Stewart

• Former Provo City Council member Paul Warner.

Other candidates could straggle in. The deadline to file was 5 p.m. Friday, but candidates needed only to have their letters of intent postmarked by the time, so Monnahan will check the party's post-office box again today.

Alexander called the group "a good assortment of people" and again refused to endorse a candidate.

"I really believe the delegates should have the opportunity to go and meet with these people and then make a decision," he said. "I think it's great there are that many people who want to run for the Legislature."

Some of the appeal might be the short election window. The campaign will also be easier because it will be far cheaper than a normal election.

"The first time around it will," Alexander said. "I still believe that, given two years and time to think about it, you may see others jump in and see a pretty good race in two years."

Each candidate had to be a registered Republican and had to have lived in District 62 for at least six months. Monnahan said each candidate will be given a list of the 90 delegates.

Monnahan was pleased that nine candidates, so far, have filed.

"I think it's good, because it means there is a lot of interest, and I think, looking this over, we've got some really outstanding candidates here. Choice is always good."

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