James Evans brushed off questions about the ethical lapses of former county officials, instead zeroing in on the next election.

"I'm targeting every Democrat in Salt Lake County - and they should know that," he said just a few minutes after learning that he was picked by a majority of the nearly 600 delegates who attended the GOP convention at the South Towne Expo Center.

But delegates and candidates for party posts repeatedly addressed the issue of "ethics." Convention-goers even adopted a resolution recommending the party platform to now include: "A principle of this party shall be ethical behavior."

And Evans' competitor for the chairman's post, Patrick Reagan, rhetorically asked, "Why do we tolerate ethical collapses and then re-elect these officials to office?"

Reagan blamed the "corruption" on the concentration of power in the hands of insiders.

"Too many times, the majority of the delegates abdicate their responsibility to certain party leaders," he said. "We trust our leaders. Maybe that works in church, but not in politics."

Evans, who beat Reagan 377 to 203, rejects the notion that the party allowed misbehavior.

"Where have we tolerated ethical lapses? There are two examples and they are not officeholders anymore," said Evans, referring to former county Mayor Nancy Workman, who was acquitted of misusing public funds, and former county Auditor Craig Sorensen, who spent 10 days in jail for stealing fuel with a county gas card.

Evans calls the Workman prosecution a politically motivated attack by Democratic District Attorney David Yocom, who has repeatedly denied that politics played any role.

Besides recruiting candidates, Evans promises to find the party a permanent headquarters and create an electronic newsletter.

Other new officeholders include: Milton Witt as vice chairman; Patti Florence, secretary; and Scott Vranes, treasurer.

mcanham@sltrib.com