The Salt Lake County Republicans hope to outrun the popular mayor in the polls next year under the direction of James Evans, re-elected party chairman during Saturday's convention at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy.

With occasional barbs about Corroon's handling of the Real Salt Lake stadium deal, Evans said his "No. 1" priority is to defeat the Democrat in the next election - a position that resonated with hundreds of county conservatives.

The chairman - favored by eight out of 10 delegates - pledged to raise more money than last year's record-breaking $250,000, recruit more volunteers and win more seats in the state Legislature.

Evans wouldn't go into specifics about strategy, but said he will hasten the information flow.

The issue dividing Saturday's convention was private school vouchers - an education funding tool so controversial that it brought two opposing resolutions to the floor.

One condemned vouchers as an entitlement program. The other appealed to parental choice.

Both had something in common. Both claimed to be more Republican than the other and both failed. Thankfully so, according to some delegates.

"We would cause a backlash of people who feel we are not representing them," warned delegate Gale Hoffman. "We would alienate people."

In the end, Republicans opted for the status quo. They took no new positions and rejected attempts to make the party's platform shorter and more generic. They even stuck with much of the same leadership - electing three incumbents.

Delegates elected Evans as chairman, Dana Dickson as vice chairman and Patti Florence as secretary.

The only newcomer is Robert Wright elected by 56 percent of delegates over incumbent Ted Pierce for treasurer.

jstettler@sltrib.com