3 GOP hopefuls line up for Killpack's seat

SALT LAKE CITY — Republicans are moving quickly to replace former state Sen. Sheldon Killpack in the Legislature and in Senate leadership before the 2010 session starts next Monday.

The Syracuse Republican, who had served as the Senate majority leader, resigned from the Legislature on Jan. 16, one day after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Davis County Republicans are scheduled to meet in Syracuse on Saturday afternoon to choose a new state senator. So far, three candidates are running — state Reps. Curt Oda and Paul Ray, both from Clearfield, and former Layton Mayor Jerry Stevenson.

"I don't know if there's a front-runner," state GOP Chairman Dave Hansen said Monday. Both Oda and Ray ran against Killpack when he was narrowly chosen to fill the District 21 seat in 2003, Hansen said, and Stevenson was a popular mayor.

If one of the state representatives is selected by the 220 delegates voting Saturday and appointed by Gov. Gary Herbert, another election would be held a week later to fill that vacancy, said Davis County GOP Chairwoman Shirley Bouwhuis.

Senate Republicans will pick a new majority leader in a closed caucus Wednesday morning. Currently, only two candidates are in that race, Senate Majority Whip Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, and Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, who served as majority leader before Killpack defeated him last year.

Jenkins said if he wins that election, Senate Majority Assistant Whip Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, is the only candidate for majority whip.

Four GOP senators have expressed interest in becoming assistant whip if that position is open, Jenkins said. They are Sens. Pete Knudsen, Brigham City; Allen Christensen, North Ogden; Dennis Stowell, Parowan; and Kevin Van Tassell, Vernal.

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