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Murray-specific state and county election races take shape

May 07, 2018 04:20PM ● By Shaun Delliskave

By Shaun Delliskave | [email protected]

Candidates specifically representing Murray in state and county races have filed to run for office and, in some cases, will face off in the primary election in June. All seats representing Murray in the State House and Senate are up for election this November.

State Senate

Senate District 8

The race for the Senate seat in District 8, representing Murray’s southern half, will likely be the most watched of all of Murray’s races. Senator Brian Shiozawa accepted a position with the Trump administration, and Brian Zehnder was appointed by Governor Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy. The election will permanently fill the remaining two years of Shiozawa’s term. Zehnder, a family physician, will have an in-house Republican Party challenge from Jaren Davis, who listed his primary profession as executive officer of the Utah Home Builders Association. Democrats are fielding two candidates: Kathie Allen (herself a physician) and Kathleen Reibe (a school teacher) will face off in the primary. John Jackson, an administrative assistant, will represent the United Utah Party.

Editor's note: At press time, the Utah State Democratic Convention had not yet happened. The Democrats voted Kathleen Reibe onto the general election ballot. 

Senate District 3

For Murray’s northern half, incumbent Democrat Gene Davis will face the winner between Republicans Marlin Baer and Jeremy Egan in the primary. Baer lists his occupation as running a limousine service while Egan has listed himself as an actor.

Senate District 4

The northeast notch of Murray will be decided in the general election between incumbent Democrat Jani Iwamoto and Republican Alan Monsen, who lists his professions as publisher and political consultant.

State House of Representatives

House District 37

Murray’s largest House district, encompassing the east-central part of the city, will feature Democrat incumbent Carol Spackman Moss against Republican and former Executive Director of the Utah Department of Health David Sundwall in the general election.

District 35

Democrat incumbent Mark Wheatley, in Murray’s northern district, will square off in the general election against Republican Robert Edgel, a biologist for the State of Utah, and Libertarian Chelsea Travis, a legal secretary.

District 34

The far west sliver of Murray will see Democrat incumbent Karen Kwan face  David Young, mortgage officer.

District 44

In southwest Murray, the general election race pits Republican incumbent Bruce Cutler against his challengers, Democrat Andrew Stoddard, Murray City prosecutor, and Libertarian Robert Openshaw, massage therapist.

District 46

Heading into the general election for the southeast quadrant of the city, Democrat incumbent Marie Poulsen’s opponents will be Republican Greg Johnson, Christian pastor, and Libertarian Lee Anne Walker, retired attorney.

Local School Board Races

Murray School District 2, which covers the southwest area of Murray, will see a general election challenge against incumbent Kami Anderson from Daniel Martinez. In central Murray, the incumbent, Cris Longhurst, faces Elizabeth Payne in the general election. Belinda Johnson, board member from northeast Murray District 3, will run unopposed. Eastern Murray’s Granite School District 2 will not have an election until 2020.

County Council

All of Murray will be able to vote in the county-wide races, including the at-large council race. That race will feature Democrat incumbent Jim Bradley against the Republican Sophia Dicaro. With the exception of the far eastern half of Murray, Council District 3 will pit Republican incumbent Aimee Winder Newton against Democrat Lisa Gehrke.

The Primary Election will be held on June 26, with the general election on November 6. For a complete list of candidates that will be on the ballot, voters can go to https://vote.utah.gov/ or to the Salt Lake County election webpage: https://slco.org/clerk/elections/