Utah County Commissioner Gary Anderson advances to general election with GOP primary victory

PROVO — Utah County Commissioner Gary Anderson was clearly pleased with his primary victory over challenger Joel Wright on Tuesday night, but he was still waiting for the most important return of the evening.

"We've got a new grandchild being born in California tonight, too," said Anderson's wife, Molly, as the family celebrated at a Provo pizza parlor.

"The grandkid is much better," Anderson said, "but I feel really gratified with tonight's vote."

Anderson defied the 2010 anti-incumbent sentiment to garner 54 percent of the vote in an election marked by relatively low voter turnout.

He will face Democratic candidate Lane Henderson of Salem in the fall.

Anderson said he didn't expect the general election to be as rancorous as the primary.

"Joel was an aggressive campaigner," he said. "If my people hadn't of stepped up, I may not have won."

Anderson's fellow commissioner, Steve White, was eliminated in the Utah County Republican Convention by challenger Douglas Whitney,

Anderson served two terms on the commission in the 1980s, but opted not to seek re-election in 1989. He mounted a successful run for the office again in 2007.

In the other county primary race, Jeffrey D. Smith defeated incumbent Rodney Campbell with 61 percent of the vote to become the Utah County recorder. Smith will run unopposed in November. Campbell was appointed to the job last year.

"I just hope I can do what I promised," Smith said. "Our office is one of the best."

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