Did Utah County commissioners cut a deal with Brent Morris so he wouldn't sue the county to regain his seat? Morris and Commissioner Malcolm Beck say no. Carol Thorne and Bill Arseneau say yes.
Morris, who publicly jumped from the GOP to the Democratic Party during Saturday's state Democratic Convention, admitted only that he adamantly opposed Arseneau and Thorne, who received the most votes of six candidates during a county GOP Central Committee meeting Tuesday. The candidates' names were submitted to Beck and Sandberg for their consideration.Thorne, who said she is not a sore loser, said that Morris not only cut a deal, but has been bragging about getting one last shot in at county Republicans before jumping parties.
Thorne said Beck notified her Wednesday that she had been selected to fill Morris' seat - a post Morris vacated in keeping with a 3rd District congressional campaign promise, but later wanted to regain.
By Friday, however, commissioners announced that Orem businessman Gary Herbert would replace Morris for the remainder of the year. Coincidentally, Thorne said, Morris announced later that day that he had decided not to sue the county.
"I think it's pretty scary. They shouldn't be cutting deals," she said.
Beck, however, denies having told Thorne she was the new commissioner.
"That's just a stupid accusation," he said. "I wouldn't say that (to Thorne) in any shape or form. I haven't talked to Brent about anything for a long time."
Morris said he would have continued the fight to regain his post had commissioners chosen Thorne or Arseneau to replace him, but he grew angry over accusations of a deal.
"I'm not going to deal with that garbage. I had nothing to do with it," he said. "I'm external to this story."
Not so, said Arseneau.
"Brent Morris told me several weeks ago . . . that he would do everything in his power to see that I didn't get his seat," he said.
Questioned about that statement he supposedly made to Arseneau, Morris declined comment.
"I feel like there were some problems with Carol and myself and Brent Morris, so the commissioners (Beck and Sandberg) tried to get some unity. By going with Brent Morris' wishes (and choosing someone else), they could do that."
As for his jump to the Democratic Party, Morris said he wants to see a genuine two-party system working in Utah and that he feels strongly about three issues generally targeted by Democrats: the environment, health-care issues and the state's need for more education dollars. He said he would support a tax hike for education.
Utah County Democratic Chairman Bob Stringham said earlier last week that the Democratic Party didn't want Morris. "Maybe he ought to consider the Libertarian or the American Party. Or possibly, he could join Merrill Cook."
In an about-face Saturday, however, Stringham told those at the convention: "A Republican is going to join the ranks of Utah County Democrats. I hope you will welcome Brent Morris with open arms, showing that the Democratic Party welcomes all people."
So now that he's a Democrat, does Morris plan to file next month to run for the remaining two years of the seat he vacated? He's not saying.
"I have no idea. It would depend on who files as a Republican," he said.