Davis Republican delegates face complicated choice

KAYSVILLE — Former House Majority Leader Kevin Garn's resignation Saturday means Davis County Republicans need to select a replacement to fill the remaining nine months of his term representing Layton in the Utah Legislature.

But because this is election season, at least five candidates have stepped up to run for his open seat in the Utah House of Representatives for District 16 in November's general election.

Davis Applied Technology College president and Layton City Councilman Mike Bouwhuis, former Layton Councilman Steve Handy, software developer Tom Clay, Layton Christian Academy employee Chris Crowder and real estate agent/property appraiser Cathy Nilsson had filed as candidates for the seat as of Wednesday afternoon.

Garn's resignation, which followed his March 11 announcement that in 1985 he had hot-tubbed nude with then-15-year-old Cheryl Maher, has cast a pall over this year's election process. Garn said he later paid Maher $150,000 in restitution.

On April 10, Davis County Republican delegates will meet at Davis High School in Kaysville to select Garn's replacement for this year and to elect one of the candidates to the ballot for November's election.

It could be the same person, says Shirley Bouwhuis, chairwoman of the Davis County Republican Party. But it's a decision that's up to the delegates, meaning they could pick one person to serve out the rest of Garn's term and someone else to start fresh in January.

Because her husband, Mike Bouwhuis, is in the running, Shirley Bouwhuis is turning over the House District 16 events to her vice chairman, Wade Farraway.

"I have to be politically and totally neutral," she said.

All five candidates are expecting to put their names in the running to complete Garn's term, which will consist of monthly legislative committee meetings known as interim days at the Utah State Capitol.

That person likely will be seen as the incumbent when November's election rolls around.

Republicans who live and are registered to vote in House District 16 are eligible to put their names in the running to complete Garn's term until March 26 by contacting Farraway at 801-971-7821 or dredwing@hotmail.com.

The deadline to file as a candidate for the ballot, however, is 5 p.m. Friday.

e-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com

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