New GOP chief vows to retake ground

Salt Lake County Republicans ushered in a new era Saturday, passing the leadership mantle from a veteran political battler to an ambitious newcomer who vowed to retake ground lost by GOP candidates in recent elections.

Thomas Wright, a Salt Lake Realtor who first dipped his toes into political waters in an unsuccessful race for the District 28 House seat in 2006, won overwhelming support from the body of over 600 delegates casting ballots Saturday. After results were announced, Wright said he would waste no time in addressing his new responsibilities as chairman for county Republicans.

"What we need to do immediately is start preparing for elections in 2010," Wright said. "We cannot take anything for granted. … We're going to start focusing and targeting races we can take back."

Outgoing chairman James Evans was lauded by convention-goers for his four years of service and aggressive tactics in battling Democrats on behalf of GOP candidates in local, county and state races. On Saturday, he said he was leaving with only good memories.

"These last four years have been memorable and exciting," Evans said. "As a party, we've turned a corner. … There's no way we will allow the Democrats to continue their encroachment in Salt Lake County."

Attendees heard rallying speeches from Republican congressional members including Congressmen Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz and Senators Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch. All decried recent Democratic fiscal policy and took turns bashing stimulus spending, President Barack Obama's budget plans and bailouts of struggling U.S. businesses.

Salt Lake County Councilman Jeff Allen updated the convention on the County Council, newly controlled by Democrats after incumbent Republican Mark Crockett lost to Democrat Jani Iwamoto last year. Allen said an unfortunate change of direction under Democratic control included approval of benefits for domestic partners that "further obfuscated" the line defining marriage, the push for a new, government-subsidized convention hotel in downtown Salt Lake City and a recent proposal by Democratic Councilman Randy Horiuchi to add 10 hours a week to the council's work schedule and increase salaries by $50,000 a year.

The minor surprise of the day came when former Councilman Mark Crockett, a candidate for the chairmanship, delivered a quasi-concession to Wright during his allotted three-minute presentation time — an opportunity used by all of the other candidates to stump their qualifications and strategies.

Delegates also approved a new party platform document fashioned, in part, after the official platform acknowledged by state-level party officials.

Salt Lake County Republican Convention results

Chairman — Thomas Wright

Vice chairman — Rick Votaw

Secretary — Kurtis Constantine

Treasurer — Robert Wright

E-mail: araymond@desnews.com