Davis Republicans to choose Bell's Senate replacement

Now that state Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, has been picked by Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert to be his second-in-command, GOP delegates in Bell's Senate District 22 must choose a replacement for him.

Shirley Bouwhuis, Davis County Republican Party chairwoman, said she is already planning that process.

County parties can choose whether to send up one name or two to the governor for a mid-term legislative appointment.

"We've chosen to send up just one name," Bouwhuis said Wednesday.

Already, former state Rep. Stuart Adams, now chairman of the Utah Transportation Commission, has said he will run. Adams was a finalist along with Bell for the lieutenant governor choice, Herbert has said.

And soon after Herbert named Bell in a Wednesday morning press conference, state Rep. Julie Fischer, R-Fruit Heights, sent out e-mails saying she would run as well.

Bouwhuis said she has heard from some other District 22 Republicans who are interested in the seat. "But I'll let them announce their plans themselves," she said.

District 22 takes in the northeastern part of Davis County, including Farmington, Fruit Heights, Kaysville, a bit of Centerville and much of Layton.

While there are some pockets of Democrats in Hill Air Force Base suburbs, the district has been strong Republican for some time. And since Bell was a Republican, by law his replacement must be a Republican, too.

Bell currently serves as majority assistant whip. So at some point the 21 Republicans in the Senate will have to pick a new member of leadership.

Bouwhuis said that by law Davis County Republicans must give two weeks notice to the 270 or so District 22 delegates before "we can meet in a special convention to vote on the candidates." The first candidate to get 51 percent of the vote will take the seat.

Bell was elected to a four-year term in 2008. So whoever is chosen must run for the remaining two years of that term in 2010. The winner in 2012 will then serve a four-year term.

Candidates must be a resident of District 22 and be a registered Republican to be elected Bell's replacement.

Interested individuals may call Bouwhuis at 801-628-8728 to formally file as a candidate.

e-mail: bbjr@desnews.com