Utah County Convention 2008

This is what greets you as you enter a convention.

Saturday thousands of Republicans gathered at Orem High School to have their annual Convention. Here are some thoughts:

• Utah County Likes Incumbents/Experience, the only incumbent who lost was beaten by someone who'd been on a City Council.
• Delegates had concerns over several incumbents but didn't feel the challengers would be better replacements. (better challengers would equal more incumbent losses)
• Voucher support does not get you kicked out of office (let's see if Salt Lake County has similar results)
• Strong candidates can beat powerful incumbents weak ones can't, but it takes issues not just personalities
  
• Legislators need to work on their base of support
  
• The media isn't everything, so don't complain to the media about Party Issues
  

In Senate 16 (Bramble's seat) we got to listen to the nominators' and candidates' speeches. It went like this:

• Jackie de Gaston's nominator Michelle Bray said we should put this in a Primary so the public could decide. (So what is the point of the caucuses and convention in her mind?)
  
• Jackie de Gaston spoke of her qualifications then attacked Bramble
  


• Bramble was nominated and spoken of highly by: Kimmie Bramble (daughter), Jeff Alexander (former State House District 62), Steve White (Utah County Commission), Dean Sanpei (Leg Chair District 63), Becky Lockhart (State House District 64)
  
• President Valentine went and stood with the group but didn't say anything (I think he did this on his own accord because it seemed a bit awkward)
  
• Curt Bramble spoke on his experience and qualifications
  

I was in a House seat with no challenger so instead of voting we heard from our Representative. Representative Lockhart did an excellent job answering the questions.

Senate District 16

• Curt Bramble (i) 119 67.61%
• Jaqueline de Gaston 51 28.98%
  
• James O'Neal 5 2.84%
  
• Blank 1
  

House District 56

• Kenneth Sumsion (i) 125 96.15%
  
• Jared Sepulveda 4 3.07%
  
• Blank 1 0.77%
  

House District 57

• Craig Frank (i) 68 68%
• Kim Robinson 3 2 32%
• Jennifer Baptista 0

House District 58

• Stephen Sandstrom (i) 64 63%
  
• Paul D. Newton 37 37%
  

House District 60

• Brad Daw (i) 52 60.47%
  
• Linda Housekeeper 34 39.54%
  

House District 61

• Keith Grover (i) 57 60.64%
• Lisa Shepherd 37 39.36%

House District 62

• Chris Herrod (i) 60 66.66%
  
• David Starling 30 30 33.33%

House District 65

• Francis Gibson 70 60.87%
  
• Aaron Tilton (i) 45 39.13%
  

House District 66

• Mike Morley (i) 71 82.56%
  
• Chance Williams 15 17.44%
  

Numbers courtesy of Deseret Morning News