Disqualifications mean new GOP candidates for November ballot

SALT LAKE CITY — Democratic state Sen. Ben McAdams' race to retain his District 2 seat just got a lot more interesting.

Melvin Nimer, the head of the Utah Log Cabin Republicans, a gay and lesbian political organization, became McAdams' opponent Wednesday.

Nimer replaces Republican Nancie Lee Davis on the ballot after Davis was disqualified for failing to file a required campaign finance disclosure statement with the lieutenant governor's office.

The Senate district, which includes Salt Lake City's Avenues and Capitol Hill neighborhoods, is seen as one of the most liberal in the state. The state's first openly gay senator, Scott McCoy, held the seat until last December.

When McCoy stepped down to devote more time to his law practice, Democrats in the district chose McAdams, 35, a senior adviser to Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, to fill the remainder of McCoy's term.

Nimer, who was selected by the Salt Lake County GOP to run against McAdams, said he's planning on running a serious campaign in his first bid for elected office, despite his late start. He said being openly gay for the past 15 years may or may not give him an edge among voters.

"Definitely, I'll have that card to play, if you will," Nimer said. "Luckily, it's a fairly liberal district."

Nimer, 60, an accountant, said he offers voters "a voice at the Republican table" in a GOP-dominated Legislature. He did not, however, take issue with the way the district has been represented.

"As good as Sen. McCoy was and Sen. McAdams is, being Democrats, they don't have as much influence as a Republican would have," Nimer said.

Although some Republican senators were initially slow to accept a gay colleague when McCoy took office in 2004, Nimer said he doesn't expect that to be the case if he's elected in November.

"I'm a little bit older and a father and grandfather. Hopefully that will make a difference," he said, noting he is a lifelong Republican who already knows many party members.

McAdams said Nimer's entry into the race doesn't change his plans to use the election to introduce himself to his constituents. McAdams has already raised more than $47,000, according to his latest campaign finance report, even though Davis had only $25 in her war chest as of last June.