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Show Candidates face 1st election hurdle Sato By MARC HADDOCK Saturday will be the first trial for several Utah County political races -- including the four-year county commission post sought by Commissioner Com-missioner Robert Warnick and former American Fork Mayor Malcolm Beck. Orem resident Keith Haslem, a relative new-comer to county politics, is also vying for that seat. Other county races that will be contested at the convention include the two-year County Commission seat, with J. Oneil Miner and Brent C. Morris running. There will be a three-way race for county attorney, with Steven R. Kilpack, Gregory M. Warner and Wayne D. Watson running; a three-way three-way race for county sheriff, with incumbent David R. Bateman, Scott W. Carter and Floyd L. Farley running, and a two-way race for county auditor, with incumbent Elwood Sundberg and John H. Adams running. The convention will begin Friday night, June 6, with central committee and platform meetings. Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m., unopposed candidates will be nominated. The contested races will begin at 10:15, with nominations for the opposed seats. Candidates who receive 70 percent of the delegate vote will win the party nomination for the general election. In races where candidates don't receive the required 70 percent margin, the two top vote-getters will face each other in an Aug. 19 primary election. Both Warnick and Beck say they would like to win the nomination outright at the convention and avoid the primary election. But both admit that's not likely. "I plan to win the majority of the votes," Warnick said, "but I'm not banking on that (getting a 70 percent majority). It's a tough race." "I think it will go to a primary election," Beck agreed. "The people I've talked to have been very receptive, although you can't really tell." Warnick will be nominated by Utah State Sen. Paul Rogers of Orem - a well respected political figure in Utah County, and hopes that his experience and training will carry the votes. Warnick was named to the commission last January to replace Jeril Wilson, who resigned to become a state representative. Before that, he was America Fork city recorder. "When the new Commission takes office, I'll have about a year in the office," he said. "There's no one more knowledgeable that I am because I've worked in all four levels of government. I'm the best qualified candidate." Beck says he will campaign on three major issues: the pay raise county commissioners voted themselves in 1985, the current practice of hiring high-salaried administrative assistants for each county commissioner, and the proposed Traverse Ridge development, which he opposes. "Everyone is fed up with the county government wages and the administrative assistant," Beck said. "If as a commissioner I could get another vole, I would reduce their salaries by one-third." Beck said he doesn't think the county should get involved in large developments, but should leave that role to cities. Warnick said he will vote against zoning changes for the development because "I'm not sure (The Estes Company) can do what they claim they can do. Changing the zoning on 6,000 acres of land is a big proposition." The two men are vying for the seat that has traditionally been held by a north county resident, although the north county lost representation two years ago when Miner was the election. If Beck and Warnick emerge as the Republican candidates after Saturday's county convention, northern county residents will again be assured of geographical representation on the county commission. |