OGDEN -- It was a large and enthusiastic turnout at the Weber County Republican Convention Saturday as delegates chose who would win the party's nominations to appear on the ballot.
Emotions ran the gamut as the 507 delegates listened to short speeches from candidates before voting.
There were two upsets as Commission Chairman Ken Bischoff lost to former State Rep. Kerry Gibson, who took nearly 75 percent of the vote for Commission Seat B.
And Clerk/Auditor Alan McEwan was unseated by Ricky Hatch, who got about 64 percent of the vote.
Candidates needed at least 60 percent of the delgate vote to avoid a June primary runoff.
Weber Republican Chairman Matthew Bell said he didn't think it was anything against the two office-holders who were ousted, but it was just the incumbents time to go. He said they have served the county well.
Much of the party's focus has been on the hotly conteststed seat held by U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett.
Bennett faced challengers saying if he believed all the things said about him he wouldn't vote for himself.
He said the race doesn't come down to who has the best soundbite or who claims to love the Constitution, but who is best equipped to handle problems in coming years. His experience makes him the best candidate, Bennett said.
"It's not a question of who can do the job," he said. "It's a question of who can deliver."
Eagar said the Senate needs a conservative woman to fight radical feminism and the socialist agenda, while Mike Lee focused on limiting federal power.
A resolution to request county commissioners and other elected officials to withdraw support from Bennett was rejected by delegates.
Weber delegates, in a straw poll, gave Bennett 22.75 percent of the vote. However two of his challengers polled stronger, with Lee receiving 32.19 percent and Eagar 27.68.
Bell said Senate candidate Jeremy Friedbaum offended delegates by his speech, which was spent not asking for votes but asking people to tell Bennett to step down.
County Treasurer John Bond said it was exciting to see so many people turn out. Usually a little more than 400 of the 524 delegates come to the convention, he said.
John Moon, a North Ogden delegate, said the turnout to caucuses was also huge. Where eight people have come to a meeting in past years, 35 people came this year.
Farr West delegate Jolene Merrill said 54 people came to the caucus held in her home.
"People want to do what they can and this is really what you can do," she said.
"Being a delegate is one of the most important places because that's where my voice is heard the loudest," Moon said.
Bell said many of the people attending this year were first-time delegates. He said dissatisfaction with President Barack Obama and Democrats having a majority in power has mobilized Weber Republicans.
That frustration was evident in remarks from U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch.
Although he said he respects whoever is president, Hatch said, "(Obama) is leading our country down to destruction and we've got to stop it.... We've got to elect Republicans and we've got to fight harder than we've ever fought before."
The candidate for Gibson's former District 6 seat will be Brad Galvez who got 58 percent of the vote in the first round of voting. Craig Call got 31 percent of the vote in the first round, but conceded the race to Galvez instead of going to a second round of voting.
In other contested races, Bond won the nomination for treasurer with 65 percent of the vote to 35 percent for Darcy Kruitbosch.
Terry Thompson received almost 67 percent of the delegates' votes to win the nomination for sheriff over Brett Haycock.
Related link: This article is a topic of discussion at Weber County Forum.
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