Politically, much can be decided by March filing week and local caucus meetings

The biggest local election year in the past four years will kick off at 8 a.m. Friday morning with the opening of the weeklong period for candidates to file to run for office.

There will be 21 federal, state and local positions up for grabs on the November ballot, not including a number of judges that may be filing for retention. Four of the six state legislative seats representing Tooele County are at stake, as are two of three seats on the Tooele County Commission and all county offices.

There is a lot of courthouse drama in the clerk’s office during filing week, according to Marilyn Gillette, Tooele County Clerk.

“Every position in the county is up for election except one county commissioner,” Gillette said. “We will get people from different offices inquiring about who has filed so far. A change in leadership in a department could mean a change for personnel in that office.”

Once the candidates have filed, the real action starts with local caucus meetings held by both major political parties on Tuesday, March 23, followed by the county conventions — Democrats on April 14 and Republicans on April 23.

People who show up to the caucus meetings will select delegates to attend their party’s county convention. At those conventions, names are selected by delegates to appear on the ballot for the general election.

Local voters learned how pivotal county party conventions can be four years ago when, at the Republican convention, incumbent county commissioners Matt Lawrence and Dennis Rockwell were dropped by delegates in favor of newcomers Bruce Clegg and Jerry Hurst. The same fate befell incumbent county attorney Doug Ahlstrom, who was replaced on the ballot by Doug Hogan, an attorney who had never held a political office previously. Hogan, whose mother, Joyce Hogan, was vice-chair of the county Republican Party at the time, was not opposed by a Democrat in the November election, meaning he was effectively elected to office by 60 Republican convention delegates in April of that year.

The convention maneuvering meant voters never had an opportunity to retain three prominent elected officials. And it all began at the caucus level.

“Caucus meetings are the single most important thing a citizen can do,” said Chris Sloan, chairman of the Tooele County Republican Party. “There is nothing more grass roots than a caucus meeting, where for one hour every two years you show up and share your concerns and decide who will attend the conventions for you.”

Delegates to the convention often end up selecting who your next governor, legislator or county official will be, according to Sloan.

Two of the seats being contested on the state level are in the House of Representatives: District 21, which covers Tooele City, Erda, Stansbury Park and Lake Point, and is currently held by Jim Gowans, D-Tooele; and District 1, which covers the western parts of Tooele County and parts of Box Elder County, and is currently occupied by Ronda Menlove, R-Garland.

Gowans has served nine terms in the state Legislature and Menlove has served three.

The two Senate seats to be contested include the 12th district, which covers Stansbury Park, Magna and part of West Valley City. This seat is currently held by Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley City, who was first elected in 2005. The other Senate seat is in District 17, which includes Tooele City north of 600 North, Erda, Pine Canyon, Lake Point, Grantsville and parts of Box Elder County. The seat is currently held by Pete Knudson, R-Brigham City, who has served in the Senate since 1999.

At the county level, every elected official except Commissioner Colleen Johnson will be up for re-election. That includes fellow commissioners Bruce Clegg-R and Jerry Hurst-R, who both will have completed their first terms.

Also up for re-election — if they re-file — are several Tooele County officials: Assessor Wendy Shubert-D, Attorney Doug Hogan-R, and Clerk Marilyn Gillette-R have each finished their first term. Auditor Mike Jensen-D, Recorder Calleen Peshell-D, Sheriff Frank Park-D, and Surveyor Doug Kinsman-R, have each completed their second terms. And Treasurer Valerie Lee-D would be going for a fifth term if she files papers.

Gillette said she believes Dennis Ewing, her predecessor as county clerk, probably holds the record for the most terms as an elected county official. Ewing won eight straight elections before retiring four years ago.

Three of the seven positions on the Tooele County School Board will also be elected this year. The 5th district seat held by Karen Nelson, which includes all of Grantsville, is up for grabs, along with the 6th district seat held by Carol Jensen, which includes Stansbury Park, Erda, and Lake Point, and the 7th district seat held by Jeff Hogan (son of Joyce, brother of Doug), which includes Stockton, Ophir, Rush Valley, Dugway, Vernon, Terra, Wendover and Ibapah.

Tooele voters will also vote for a State Board of Education member in the 3rd district. Craig Coleman, who holds the position currently, was appointed recently by Gov. Gary Herbert, bypassing previous governor Jon Huntsman’s nominee, former Tooele County School District Superintendent Mike Johnson.

There also will be a special midterm election for governor and lieutenant governor due to the resignation of Huntsman last August.

On the federal level, U.S. Senator Bob Bennett-R will be up for re-election along with Congressman Rob Bishop-R, whose district encompasses Tooele County.

State nominating conventions will be held on May 8 for both the Democrats and Republicans. At these conventions, delegates elected at the county conventions will select statewide candidates for legislative districts that cross county lines.

A primary election, if needed, will be held June 22, followed by the general election on November 2.

Tim Gillie: tgillie@tooeletranscript.com