Davis County Republicans will vote to replace all four members of the party's executive board during their Saturday convention.
Delegates will choose from a field of at least nine candidates to replace members of the current board, all of whom are not seeking re-election.Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, and Lt. Gov. Val Oveson are scheduled to address the convention which begins at 9:30 a.m. at Viewmont High School, 120 W. 10th North in Bountiful.
Shaping up to be most contested race in the convention will be attempts by three candidates to succeed party chairman Steven Smoot. Smoot has served for two years as the party chairman and will leave the post to devote time from his commercial property business.
Terry Jessop, a Bountiful resident employed by a marketing firm; Lois Pickett, a Bountiful merchant; and Mark J. Taylor, an attorney from Centerville have all announced their candidacy for the office.
Laura Graham, a Centerville homemaker, is also seeking the vice-chairman post. Bob Huish, a Bountiful accountant, will seek the treasurer post. Karl Hutchinson, placement director at LDS Business College from Kaysville, is running for secretary.
Other candidates may be nominated from the convention floor.
Pickett has formed a joint ticket with Syracuse Mayor DeLore Thurgood, Layton accountant Steve Carver and Farmington attorney Karlynn Hinman. Thurgood is seeking the vice chairman post, Carver the treasurer post and Hinman the secretary post.
Controversy surrounding Davis County's three Republican commissioners is likely to color the party's convention.
Political and philosophical differences between Commissioner Dub Lawrence and other two commissioners William Peters and Gayle Stevenson have divided the commission on many issues. In particular, there are deep-seated and long- standing differences between Lawrence and Peters.
While rumors have been circulating that Peters and Stevenson have endorsed Taylor and Lawrence is supporting Pickett, both the commissioners and candidates say that is not true.
"We have not taken a position," Stevenson said.
Unifying factions caused by the county government controversy and tax limitation movement is a dominant theme for all of the candidates.
"I want to make the Republican Party strong. I feel we have got to unite and build. Despite some of the things going on at courthouse, we have got some good offices in the county," said Pickett, owner of Servus Drug in Bountiful.
Taylor said that the party chairman should play a role in solving the perception of controversy in county government. He said that would be his first priority and believes he would be in the best position to mend fences because of his relationship with the parties involved.
"I want to use the principles of negotiation. It is important to have communication between the parties involved," Jessop said.
Taylor, Jessop and Pickett say they also want to improve the organization of the party and strengthen the voter identification program. Taylor and Jessop want to improve participation in the party caucus. Both Jessop and Pickett want to begin a party newsletter.
Along with Smoot, party Vice Chairman Doris Crowley, Secretary Mary Stark and Treasurer Alan Thurgood are leaving their posts.
*****
(Additional Information)
Demo convention
FARMINGTON - Davis County's Democrats will meet Saturday at 2 p.m. in Farmington Junior High School multipurpose room for their annual spring convention, chairman Rosemary Wall said.
Brian Moss, the party's candidate for the U.S. Senate in last fall's election, will be keynote speaker. The party will also elect new officers, Wall said.
The public is invited.