Both political parties met in precinct meetings across Summit County on Tuesday.
West Side Republicans were told one of their candidates for Summit County Commission, Seth Winterton, withdrew this week from the race.
Woodland resident Bill Miles is now the lone member of the GOP challenging incumbent County Commissioner Bob Richer, a Democrat, in the contest for County Commission seat A.
Also, at this week’s Republican caucus, Jim Shea Jr., a 2002 Olympian and brief candidate this year for the state House of Representatives, hinted that he wasn’t eligible to run for office. He withdrew from the race Wednesday after not meeting Utah’s residency requirements for candidates.
“[Democrats] didn’t want to stand on their own two feet for this election,” Shea told The Park Record during an interview at the Ecker Hill Middle School caucus. “For them to come forward on a technicality, they obviously were scared.”
Shea withdrew from the contest for the seat in House District 53 after Summit County Democratic Party chair Rob Weyher objected to his candidacy. Kamas Republican David Ure is vacating the seat this year after serving in the House since 1994.
Because Shea voted outside of Utah within the past three years, he isn’t eligible this year to run for the House seat. In 2003, Shea voted in an election in New York.
Meanwhile, Miles could become only the fourth Republican in an elected position in Summit County if he defeats Richer on Election Day, Nov. 7.
Woodland Republican Winterton did not return repeated telephone calls seeking comment about why he dropped out of the commission race.
Meanwhile, unless a write-in candidate emerges, Summit County Commissioner Ken Woolstenhulme will run unopposed for a second term in seat B.
Before GOP faithful elected state and county delegates for upcoming conventions Tuesday, Republican Party vice chairman Bruce Hough praised incumbent Republicans who hold elected positions in Summit County and are all seeking re-election.
Summit County Treasurer Glen Thompson and County Attorney David Brickey are running unopposed. Sheriff David Edmunds faces a challenge from Kamas Police officer Scott Mark, a Democrat from South Summit.
Hough also pushed for a Republican victory in the race for the Summit County Assessor’s post. West Side Republican Gene Lambert is a “formidable opponent” for Democratic County Assessor Barbara Kresser, Hough said.
“We need to get behind [Lambert] and get him elected to that office,” Hough said.
The Democrats, meanwhile, gathered for caucuses on Tuesday as well, including a meeting at Treasure Mountain International School.
Weyher said the party’s candidates called friends and supporters asking that they attend Tuesday’s caucuses.
About 85 people attended the Treasure Mountain caucus, one of three Democratic gatherings in Summit County that night, Weyher said.
Democrats also elected delegates for upcoming county and state conventions.
After the caucus in Park City, it was unclear which candidates had support. Weyher said most people attended to support a politician but they were not required to tell others who they like.
Democratic and Republican delegates will attempt to nominate their candidates for county offices during conventions scheduled in Summit County April 19 and 25. Contact the Summit County Clerk’s Office at 615-3204 for information about upcoming political events.
Candidates seeking elected positions in Summit County this year include:
Commission seat A Bob Richer, D; Bill Miles, R
Commission seat B Ken Woolstenhulme, D
Assessor Barbara Kresser, D; Ron Perry, D; Eugene Lambert, R
Attorney David Brickey, R
Auditor Blake Frazier, R
Clerk Sue Follett, D; Cindy LoPiccolo, D; Kent Jones, D; Kathy Dopp, Desert Green
Recorder Alan Spriggs, D
Sheriff David Edmunds, R; Scott Mark, D
Treasurer Glen Thompson, R
Justice Court judge Lynn Sadler
Reporter Jay Hamburger contributed to this story.