This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 11:59 AM- OREM -- Utah County Republicans today rejected one incumbent seeking re-election: state Rep. Aaron Tilton.
The two-term Springville lawmaker was bounced in favor of challenger Francis Gibson.
Tilton had come under fire with allegations of conflict of interest involving his business, which is seeking to build the first nuclear power plant in Utah. He also is a member of the Public Utilities and Technology Committee in the Legislature.
Just last week, Tilton defended himself in an opinion piece in the Provo Daily Herald, saying the charges were untrue and "whether maliciously or out of ignorance" were aimed at turning voters against him.
Tilton says there was no conflict because his business plan, if approved, would be funded entirely by private investors and would not involve the regulated utilities overseen by his committee.
Gibson, of Mapleton, knocked Tilton out of the running by getting more than 60 percent of the delegate vote.
All other incumbents up for election secured their nominations at the Utah County Republican Convention this morning at Orem High School.
Among those now cleared to go to the final election -- and likely to win, based on the county's heavy Republican bent -- are state Sen. Curt Bramble and Reps. Mike Morley, Stephen Sandstrom and Chris Herrod, among others.