Summit County Democrats Hold First Caucus Under New Districted Council Map

Candidates handed out hats and buttons in the hallways of Park City High School on Tuesday evening as Summit County Democrats gathered for their biennial caucus, the first held under a new map confining County Council seats to specific districts.

The March 17 caucus drew 128 participants countywide across three locations, according to Anne Kirvan, interim chair of the Summit County Democratic Party. Kirvan noted the turnout was lower than the last caucus cycle, which she said was expected in a mid-term year without a presidential race on the ballot. Park City High School served as the main gathering point, where many attendees were participating in the caucus process for the first time.

Before delegate selection began, candidates for County Council and county clerk gave speeches to all attendees in the school's cafeteria, then worked the hallways to make their case to potential delegates one-on-one.

The districted council map gives this year's caucus stakes that previous cycles did not carry. Under the caucus system, delegates chosen at the local level vote at the county convention to nominate one candidate per district. Because no Republican candidates are running for any County Council seats, whoever the Democratic delegates nominate at the April 7 county convention could effectively be decided without broader public input from Summit County voters.

That prospect has prompted the four Democratic County Council candidates to each collect voter signatures to trigger a primary election. A primary is otherwise held only if no candidate clears 60 percent of delegate support at the April 7 convention. The Democrats also hold an open primary, meaning any registered voter, regardless of party affiliation, can request a ballot.

The April 7 county convention will be the next critical moment: if any candidate clears that 60 percent threshold without a signature-driven primary already in motion, the contest could be settled before most Summit County residents cast a single vote.