Meanwhile, there is a new candidate for the party's vice chairmanship. Daren Jensen, who wore down state officials in a highly publicized battle over the medical treatment of his son Parker, said Tuesday that he is jumping into the contest.

Harmsen made his decision Monday after meeting with Evans. He said his business interests would leave him little time to devote to party politics. And he felt confident the party would be in capable hands if Evans is able to beat lesser-known challengers such as Mike Ridgeway and Pat Reagan.

"James is the man who can lead the party," Harmsen said. "He has the energy. He has the vision. He has the political moxie to see to it that the message gets out."

Evans said he will focus on changing the party's organization to adapt to the county's evolving population, which includes a growing minority community and a constant influx of new residents.

New challengers may file for the county party's top positions for 10 more days, leading up to the April 30 GOP convention.

Salt Lake County Republicans faced one of their most turbulent elections last year, when then-Mayor Nancy Workman dropped out weeks before the election and last-minute replacement Ellis Ivory scrambled for votes. Democrat Peter Corroon ultimately won the race.

Republicans such as Harmsen and Evans say they were blindsided by a flier claiming county corruption sent by a shadowy group known as Truth in Politics, which was later discovered to have ties to the Democratic Party.

Evans and Harmsen are still fuming over what they see as sleazy campaigning.

"Essentially the Democrats cheated last election cycle," Evans said. He says the felony prosecution brought against Workman by District Attorney David Yocom, a Democrat, was politically motivated.

Yocom denied the charge, pointing to the case's screening by a bipartisan panel of prosecutors.

Workman was acquitted by a jury.

Evans promised that the Workman prosecution and the Truth in Politics fliers will be used against Democrats in the next election.

On Tuesday, Jensen declared his desire to be the party's vice chairman. He said his new political involvement stems directly from the 2003 juvenile case sparked by his refusal to acquiesce to the state's effort to treat his son Parker, then 12, with chemotherapy.

"You get a wake-up call when you see the injustices around you that can affect your life," he said.

Jensen faces Milton Witt, a member of the party's executive committee.

mcanham@sltrib.com