CACHE COUNTY – Undeterred by a poor showing at the Cache County GOP Nominating Convention on April 13, candidate Paul Borup has signaled that he still intends to fight for the opportunity to replace outgoing Rep. Dan Johnson (R-Dist. 3) in the Utah Legislature.
“Due to scheduling difficulties,” the former member of the Cache County Council explains, “a ‘Meet the Candidates’ night (for this race) wasn’t held prior to the convention.
“I believe the voters deserve to ask their future representative questions in an open forum,” Borup adds. “I look forward to engaging in a detailed, respectful discussion of the issues important to voters with all the candidates in this race.”
Borup’s rival – River Heights Mayor Jason Thompson – meanwhile declared himself the victor of the convention balloting and the frontrunner in the race for the District 3 seat in the Legislature.
“While we fell just short of avoiding a primary,” Thompson admits, “I am more determined than ever to continue our campaign with vigor and conviction.”
Thompson fell just shy of the 70 percent of delegate votes needed to cinch the Republican nomination at the April 13 convention.
Of 116 ballots cast in the House District 3 race, Thompson garnered nearly 69 percent, compared to Borup’s vote count of 30.17 percent.
In his five-minute campaign pitch to convention delegates, Borup touted his experience as a member of the Cache County Council and his resolute willingness to tackle difficult problems, including issues of government transparency, adherence to county/state codes and sound fiscal management.
Borup also took credit for ending an era of “financial shenanigans” in county government, including illegal budget transfers, systemic code violations and other shameless misconduct.
“I will run on my record, not away from it …,” Borup emphasized. “I’m a work horse, not a show pony.”
But Borup’s appeal apparently fell on deaf ears at the convention.
In his remarks, Thompson proposed a vision grounded in conservative principles and a commitment to uplifting the community.
Additionally, he promised a campaign platform that will emphasize the importance of collaboration and innovation in the shaping of policies that will promote prosperity and enhance the quality of life for the Utah residents of House District 3.
Thompson also touched on hot-button issues that resonated with convention delegates, drawing scattered applause by remarking that public education needs teachers who can instruct students in “…how to think, not what to think” and pledging to resist any attempt to turn Utah into a “sanctuary state” for illegal aliens.
While obviously disappointed with the results of the convention balloting, Borup reported on April 15 that he was buoyed by fresh endorsements from veteran county officials.
Those individual expressing their support of Borup’s campaign include Sen. Chris Wilson (R-Dist. 2); incumbent Cache County Council members Sandi Goodlander and Barbara Tidwell; County Sheriff Chad Jensen; and Jordan Mathis, the executive director of the Bear River Health Department.
“There are many more endorsement to come in the next few weeks,” according to Borup.
Whichever GOP candidate emerges from the statewide Republican primary in June will compete for the soon-to-be vacant House District 3 seat in the Utah Legislature against independent candidate Patrick Belmont in the General Election in November.