by Tim Gillie
STAFF WRITER
The new head of the Republican Party in Tooele County hopes to increase the party's base by recruiting more people from throughout the county to be actively involved in the party at the precinct and central committee level.
"I hope to unite Republicans throughout the county," said Chris Sloan, the newly installed chair of the Tooele County Republican Party. "We've had a lot of growth in the county, and a lot of those new people are Republicans. We want to include them in the political process."
Sloan, of Tooele, was elected chairman at a party central committee meeting on March 11. Will Craig of Stansbury Park became the new party vice-chair.
Heading into caucus meetings this week, the party has all precinct chair positions filled except for four new precincts that were just created, said Joyce Hogan, outgoing vice chair of the county Republican Party.
"Those precincts will elect their officers at the caucus," Hogan said.
The precinct chair and vice chair form the voting members of the local central committee. The central committee selects the county party officers.
Sloan served as a precinct chairman and an election judge for the local Republican Party before becoming the party chairman. He moved to Tooele 15 years ago to supervise a new home construction project and never left. Today Sloan is the Tooele branch broker for Group One real estate.
Sloan is the past president of the Tooele County Board of Realtors and is currently serving as the president-elect of the Utah Realtors Association.
"My interest in politics grew through my work, having served on the Realtors legislative committee since 1998," Sloan said.
The pair replace Greg Copeland and Joyce Hogan, who served for two years as chair and vice-chair respectively.
Copeland said the party ran a good slate of candidates in the last election and feels good about the general condition of the party as he leaves office.
"The party has been reinvigorated in Tooele County and it is on course to become a dominate force," Copeland said. "The new party leadership is committed and very strong and that should allow the county to take a more prominent role in state politics."
In the past, the county has been ignored, largely because it was seen as a Democratic stronghold, Copeland said. Party leadership should now be in a strong position after the 2010 census to argue for a better realignment of legislative districts so the county can be better represented at the state level.
Hogan said she plans on remaining active in the party.
"The Republican party in our county is healthy and in good shape," said Hogan. "Republicans hold all three county commission seats and all but two legislators representing the county are Republicans."
tgillie@tooeletranscript.com