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LAYTON » Utah Republicans are making some big changes in party leadership, but they vow they aren't budging an inch on their principles.
"When we campaign and focus on those core Republican values, we win," incoming state Republican Party Chairman Dave Hansen told nearly 2,000 delegates Saturday as he asked for their vote.
"Those values are the same values the majority of Utahns believe, and when our values are put up against those [who oppose us], we will win every election and every exchange."
Hansen defeated former Salt Lake County Councilman Steve Harmsen and one other candidate to earn the right to take over for retiring one-term Chairman Stan Lockhart. Also, former Utah lawmaker Morgan Philpot knocked off Vice Chairman Todd Weiler.
The biggest changing of the guard isn't yet official, but Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert got a standing ovation as he was introduced as Utah's next governor.
This was Herbert's first appearance before the state GOP faithful since it was announced he will ascend to the top spot, pending Gov. Jon Huntsman's Jr.'s U.S. Senate confirmation as ambassador to China.
But Herbert didn't ramp up his conservative rhetoric or in any way attempt to distance himself from the policies of Huntsman at his sole unchallenged turn before a state GOP convention. When he returns before the group in a year he will be seeking election to the governship in his own right, but with
"I am what I am. I'm a traditional workhorse, not a showhorse," Herbert said in an interview with The Tribune . "This is an organizing convention, not a nominating convention. I'll ramp it up in 2010."
For now, I'm going to concentrate on governing. I want all Utahns, not just Republicans, to know there is a steady, competent hand on the wheel."
But delegates, who are generally more conservative than Republicans and Utah voters at large, made it clear they like their elected leaders to lean to the right.
The biggest applause of the day came for Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz, who count themselves among the GOP's conservative wing.
Three-term Sen. Bob Bennett, who has been fighting to deflect critics' claims he is too moderate to be re-elected next year, received a polite smattering of applause.
Bennett, who supported the first round of bank bailouts, already has drawn three challengers -- including Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
"When you're on the campaign trail, people treat you a little differently. The questions are a little more rude," Bennett acknowledged. "It's a time when people tell you they voted for you six years ago but not now. That's part of your education, and that's a good thing."
Shurtleff also received a lackluster showing from the crowd Saturday during his speech.
Hansen, who ran for the chairman's post for weeks as hard as any candidate for public office, had come under some criticism himself because of his close ties to one party figure: Orrin Hatch.
Hansen had been a paid consultant to Hatch for years, but recently gave up that job, although Hatch does not face re-election until 2012. As head of the party, he is supposed to be neutral when there are intra-party challenges,
He takes over at a time when Utah Republicans, unlike their national counterparts, remain firmly in the majority.
Still, the party faces some challenges -- particularly in the state's most populous county. Democrats took control of the Salt Lake County Council last year at the same time as those county voters gave the edge to a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time in decades.
But Hansen said he is up to the challenge.
Lockhart, meanwhile, said a tearful farewell to delegates as he told them to keep striving for the cause.
"Our rights are given by God, not by man, not by government, but by our creator," he said as emotion choked his words. "I've spent the last two years preaching that message."
Chairman » Dave Hansen
Vice Chairman » Morgan Philpot
Secretary » Christy Achziger
Treasurer » Mike McCauley
