After a four-year stint, County Democratic Chairwoman Nichole Adams is stepping aside to make way for a new party chief, and three candidates are up for the spot: Lisa Allcott, Charles Kimball and Megan Risbon.

Democratic delegates will choose one of them during the party's organizing convention at Highland High School, 2166 S. Highland Drive.

"This is our time to come together and reorganize and evaluate and decide how we are going to move forward," says Adams.

County Democrats also have something to celebrate this year after a successful 2004 election. Democrats snatched away from Republicans the County Mayor's office, a County Council seat and two more spots in the state Legislature. Unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, Scott Matheson Jr., won Salt Lake County's vote.

Even so, all three candidates to head the county party say there is more to do.

"We want to move forward and build on where we are," says Allcott, currently the state party treasurer. "I feel I have the experience to move us to the next level."

Allcott, a manager in a software company, says she will draw from her background doing field work to boost the Democrats success and also increase fund-raising activities.

Kimball, currently the county party's second vice chairman, says his goal will be to revitalize the party and ensure it is proactive, not reactive.

"We've brought ourselves to the middle of irrelevancy," Kimball said. "We need to have the courage to stand by our conviction and have the strength to lead."

Risbon says if elected, she plans to multiply the ranks of Democrats and help more candidates win office.

"The perception of us as Democrats is not a good one," Risbon said. "I have a plan to seriously organize the county party and get more Democrats elected."

Risbon, who works at a foundation that gives money to school teachers, says the party needs to do better at educating residents that Democratic values are Utah values.

Three candidates are running for the party's first vice-chairman's spot: Joe Crockett, Chris Ferguson and Jeff Mathis. Two contenders are seeking the secretary position: Bob Agard and Angela Romero. Ann Ober, candidate for second vice-chairwoman, and treasurer candidate Susie McHugh are running unopposed.

tburr@sltrib.com