OGDEN -- Republican Stuart Reid defeated Democratic challenger Betty Sawyer on Tuesday to capture the Senate District 18 seat.
In Davis County, Reid received about 70 percent of the vote compared to about 30 percent for Sawyer. The margin was closer in Weber County, with Reid holding a 54-46 percent lead with all of the votes counted.
Reid replaces Sen. Jon Greiner, a Republican and Ogden's police chief, who did not run for re-election.
Reid, an economic development consultant, switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party to run for the Senate.
Reid said late Tuesday night he is pleased with his victory. "I'm grateful for the voters that decided to support me."
Reid said he will work toward helping Gov. Gary Herbert pass his economic development initiatives in the Legislature.
"I want to help him so we can recruit more and better jobs in Utah," he said.
Reid also wants to work on legislation to enable Utah public schools to be ranked among the Top 5 in the nation.
He also plans to support legislation that limits government, makes it more efficient and does not overtax Utahns.
"I'm looking forward to helping those in the Weber and Davis county areas and representing their concerns in the state Senate," he said.
Reid's previous political experience includes serving on the Salt Lake City Council from 1993 to 1997 and as a candidate for Salt Lake City mayor in 1999.
Reid also ran as a Democrat against Greiner for state Senate in 2006. He and his wife, Laura, are the parents of four children.
"We are not ready to concede yet," Sawyer said late Tuesday night as the final votes were tallied.
"We have worked really hard. It's definitely hard being a Democrat in Utah. I would love to be victorious, because I feel I'm the better candidate. But when the public speaks, they get the last word."
Sawyer is the past president of the Ogden Chapter of the NAACP and headed the state's Office of Black Affairs from 1987 to 1996 under former Gov. Norman Bangerter and Gov. Mike Leavitt.
She and her husband, Butch, are the parents of four sons.
Sawyer ran unsuccessfully in 1992 as a candidate for the state House District 9 seat, narrowly losing the nomination at the Weber County Democratic Party Convention to former state Rep. Jack Arrington.
Click here to see the Utah election results.
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