Weber County to get new commissioner, clerk/auditor

OGDEN — Weber County Republicans voted out two county incumbents Saturday during the party's convention at Weber State University.

Ken Bischoff, who has served as a county commissioner since 1998, lost his seat to the challenger, state Rep. Kerry Gibson, R-Ogden, who opted to run for county commissioner instead of for re-election to the Utah House of Representatives.

Saturday's vote of 377-126 eliminated the need for a primary election in June and will pit Gibson against Ogden City Councilwoman Amy Wicks, who is running as a Democrat, in the November general election. Bischoff will serve out his term, which ends in January.

Clerk/Auditor Alan McEwan also will finish out his term this year and then move on after losing to Ricky Hatch. Hatch won 322 votes to McEwan's 183. Hatch will face off in November against Democrat Teresa Yorgason.

In the race to replace retiring Sheriff Brad Slater, Weber chief deputy Terry Thompson bested Capt. Bret Haycock for the Republican nod for November's ballot. Thompson will be up against Bountiful Police officer Gary Haws, a Democrat, for the county's top cop job.

County Recorder/Surveyor Ernest Rowley will face off with Debbie Hansen, a Democrat, in November.

Commissioner Jan Zogmaister, who was unopposed by fellow Republicans, will be up against Democrat T.R. Morgan and Drew Johnson, who is unaffiliated with a party.

Weber County Treasurer John Bond beat Darcy Kruitbosch to become the lone treasurer candidate in November. And Assessor John Ulibarri, who was unopposed, was certified as the lone assessor candidate.

In a straw poll conducted of delegates on Saturday, Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, came in third with 106 votes behind challengers Cherilyn Eager, 125 votes, and Mike Lee, 150 votes.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, received 428 votes to challenger Mike Ridgway's 39 votes, and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert received 421 votes to challengers Daniel Van Oaks Jr.'s 32 votes, Richard Martin's nine and "Superdell" Dell Schanze's two.

The Republican candidates for those three offices are expected to be decided at the May 8 state Republican convention at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City.

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