Former Salt Lake County Republican Party Chairman James Evans won a convincing victory Saturday as the new Utah Republican Party Chairman, capturing nearly 60 percent of the vote in the three-way race.
Evans becomes the first African-American chairman of the state party.
Evans owns Checkline, a chain of payday lending stores.
He served as Salt Lake County Chairman from 2005 to 2009, and touted that experience and record as grounds for electing him.
All I can say is "Yay!" Not only will it bring the payday loan industry back into the limelight (watch for some pro-payday loan stories in the upcoming session, I guarantee it), but there is another reason. In 2007, as he won reelection as Chair, Mr Evans said that his "Number 1" priority was to defeat Peter Corroon in 2008. Corroon went on to recieve over 65% of the vote. In 2006, Chairman Evans said his top priority was defeating County Clerk Sherrie Swenson. Swenson won 57% of the vote. He also personally help the Republican incumbent Sheriff (Presumably more than a chairman usually personally helps a candidate) in 2006. Challenger Jim Winder walked away with only 63.75% of the vote.
If this is the record he ran on, I'm beginning to wonder if Democrats hacked the GOP voting system today.
Because really, in politics, it's all about winning. And Democrats need all the help they can get. And James Evans is a gift from the heavens.
-Bob
