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Jim Harvey, longtime Weber County employee and general manager of the Golden Spike Events Center, is one of three Republican candidates running for an open County Commission seat.

Courtesy of Jim Harvey

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If not for SB54 and its alternate path to the primary, Jim Harvey, general manager of the Golden Spike Events Center, would have won Weber County's commission seat with 298 delegate votes received at April's county convention.

Courtesy of Jim Harvey

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OGDEN — A familiar face in Weber County just threw his hat into the political ring.

Ogden resident Jim Harvey filed his intent to run as County Commissioner, challenging one-term incumbent Matthew Bell.

Politics is mostly an unfamiliar arena for Harvey, who oversees the Golden Spike Event Center and has worked for the county for 22 years.

Both Bell and Harvey are Republicans, so the intraparty challenge could ignite this year’s primary season in Weber County. Both candidates have declared their intent to gather signatures, a new path to the primary that is currently being challenged in federal court. Both also intend to tread the traditional caucus/convention trail to try to secure their party’s nomination.

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Bell is former chairman of the Weber County Republican Party.

Harvey acknowledged his only other run for office was as a teen attending Bonneville High School.

“My opponent is very well-skilled in this process, and I just want to leverage as much support as I can,” Harvey said of his decision to utilize both paths to the primary.

Harvey, 53, expressed his desire to broaden his service to the county.

“I’m hoping that my career as a guy who can make tough decisions, compromise and get along with people speaks to my integrity and reputation,” Harvey said. “I enjoy respecting people and their opinions because of the byproduct it gives back to me. I get positive energy and a great feeling of satisfaction knowing that people are happy.”

More information about Harvey’s campaign can be found on his Facebook page  or campaign website. 

Contact reporter Cathy McKitrick at 801-625-4214 or cmckitrick@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @catmck