The dozen candidates seeking the Republican nomination Saturday to run for the 2nd Congressional District have already set one record.
No one can remember a time when so many candidates filed in a major party for one U.S. House seat.
"When I ran for the 2nd District in 1988, I was the only Republican, no convention, no primary. It's very different this year," recalls candidate Richard Snelgrove, who now must struggle for the limelight.
All 12 want a chance at freshman Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson, who is unopposed in his own party. But first they have to win over some 1,160 2nd District delegates at the May 11 GOP convention in Sandy's South Towne Exposition Center.
In a first-ever preferential voting ballot, where on one ballot a delegate ranks up to 11 candidates by preference, if one candidate can get 60 percent of the delegate vote, he wins the nomination Saturday. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters advance to a June 25 GOP primary.
The 12 candidates have been meeting with delegates one-on-one and in small groups for months. Some of the better-financed and more organized campaigns have been hosting delegate breakfasts, lunches and dinners (leading the spouse of one under-funded candidate to complain to the Deseret News that the competitors are trying to "bribe" the delegates with food).
The newspaper and KSL-TV conducted a poll of registered voters in the 2nd District a month ago. That survey found that 50 percent of the voters who said they were probably going to vote in the GOP primary were undecided who they would support. The poll was of voters, not of delegates. The survey showed that former 2nd District Rep. Merrill Cook, Salt Lake County Councilman Steve Harmsen, former county and state GOP chairman Richard Snelgrove and state Rep. John Swallow, R-Sandy, were leading the pack.
To get a feel for whom the delegates may prefer, the newspaper asked the candidates which two people would likely come out of Saturday's convention. Not surprisingly, most mentioned themselves as a convention survivor. But more than half said Swallow could be the other person, showing that in their own conversations with delegates, Swallow's name was coming up as someone the delegates liked.
Former La Verkin Mayor Dan Howard said the large field of 12 is why he got in the race. "It's wide open. Delegates are willing to listen to all of us. I think the people coming out Saturday (into a primary) could be the ones who ring the delegates' bell in their convention speech."
Here are the 12 candidates delegates will be considering, listed in alphabetical order by last name, and why they think delegates should pick them:
Tim Bridgewater, 41, American Fork, business consultant. "What do I say to delegates? I tell them the truth. I can beat Jim Matheson in the general election." Bridgewater, the former Utah County GOP chairman, said, "I can appeal to a range of voters, minorities, independents, core Republicans. I worked for Ronald Reagan, the import-export bank. I helped get President Bush elected, worked all over the northeast for him. I'm meeting delegates anywhere, any time I can."
Merrill Cook, 55, Salt Lake City, former 2nd District representative. "I'm telling delegates that my independent mind is a plus, as long as I work within the Republican Party. I'm a proven vote-getter; especially the independent and Democratic voters you need to win this seat. I can beat Jim Matheson." Cook says that after he was defeated in the GOP primary two years ago, Matheson won nine of 10 independent voters in defeating novice GOP nominee Derek Smith. "I can take some Democratic votes away from Matheson," says Cook. "The other candidates just can't do that. And this is about winning" in November.
Mark Crockett, 37, Salt Lake City, consulting firm manager. "I have real answers to our problems that can actually pass Congress and work," he said. Crockett says he's researched workable answers and can campaign in a way that shows voters his solutions and Matheson's errors. "I've talked one-on-one or in small groups to maybe 800 delegates. I'm meeting them in their homes, over the telephone, anyway I can. I'm showing them how I can debate Matheson and defeat him in November."
Steve Harmsen, 60, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County councilman. Harmsen was the GOP 2nd District nominee 28 years ago but lost that race. "This race is too important" to give it to "a first-timer." He sees himself in the faces of the young 30-somethings in the race, running for Congress the first time. "I have the experience — 30 years in politics and the private sector — to win this. In a way, this is unfinished business for me. I've been meeting delegates for breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I've flown around the district in a small plane, done it all."
Dan Howard, 57, La Verkin, former La Verkin mayor. "This (large field of candidates) is like running for office with a choir. But the delegates know where I'm coming from. I got the United Nations-free-zone ordinance passed down here. We have to protect the erosion of people's rights to use our land and water." But Howard believes he'll do well among urban delegates, too, because they are worried about federal government control. "Some of the candidates are spending more money than I am on this race, but I think it's an open contest and spending money on delegates is not getting much penetration with them."
Jay Jorgensen, 30, Salt Lake City, attorney. "I tell the delegates I'm the only candidate who has worked in the U.S. Supreme Court and worked in Congress (for Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah). And I'm the only one really rooted in both cultures of the district — I'm a cattle rancher (in rural Utah) and work (as an attorney) in urban Utah." He acknowledges his age is an issue with some delegates, but Jorgensen says state officials picked him to help argue Utah's Census case before the Supreme Court "because of my experience."
David R. Smith, 32, Alpine, business consultant. Smith says he understands the Constitution and "has the integrity, strong leadership and virtue" to apply those principles in Congress. "We need people with the unyielding principle to uphold the rights of the people." He may be relatively young, "but Thomas Jefferson was 33 when he wrote the Declaration of Independence." And Smith says he's untouched by the unpleasant side of politics and lobbyists.
Richard Snelgrove, 47, Salt Lake City, former GOP state chairman. Snelgrove was the 2nd District nominee in 1988, but lost. "At 47 I'm young enough to bring some youth and vigor to this race, but I've packed a lot of political experience in those years, as well." Besides running the party and being a nominee, Snelgrove worked as a state aide for Cook. "I've run major campaigns. I'm battle hardened and tested . . . the Republicans won't be taking a gamble with me. I bring the complete package."
Gary Stephens, 58, Murray, retired Army colonel, aviator. "Fifty-eight percent of Americans say their biggest issue is defense and terrorism, and no other candidate has more experience there. I don't just talk about these things; I've fought terrorism personally." Stephens says his "rural bill of rights" is resonating with rural delegates. The 16-county district "has 40 percent of the vote off the Wasatch Front," and candidates have to pay attention to rural issues now. "I've spent five months campaigning in rural Utah. I think that vote will come in for me."
John Swallow, 39, Sandy, state legislator, attorney. "I'm talking about my legislative experience and the three campaigns I've won in Salt Lake County. This field has a lot of life experience, but not a lot of political experience, so I'm stressing that." Swallow said he's personally talked to 700 delegates as of last week. He's had three mailings to delegates, plans more before Saturday. "We have a telephone bank going, as well. There's a lot of work to do" in the final days before convention.
Carrie Lynn Towner, 44, Draper, small business owner. Towner is the only woman in the field. "The Utah Republican Party needs to cross over boundaries, bring more women into the party, more younger women. There's only been three women elected to Congress from this state" in more than 100 years. "To get Matheson out we have to do something different. We can't put up your typical (male) conservative candidate against him; we'll just lose again." She says her experience in running her own small business out of her home and as a former health-care administrator will serve her well in Congress.
Winston Wilkinson, 57, Sandy, Salt Lake County councilman. Wilkinson has been in the race longer than anyone, announcing last May he would run against Matheson. "I'm using four qualities that I can win with: Experience, skills, uniqueness and voter appeal. I spent 10 years working in Washington and on the Hill. I've made the tough choices in cutting the Salt Lake County budget. We can't run the same race as Derek Smith did last year. We have to stand out, and as a black Mormon Republican I'll draw attention to this race."
E-MAIL: bbjr@desnews.com