Four rivals for the Utah Democratic Party chairmanship squared off Thursday night over the organization’s finances, cohesiveness and strategies for expanding the party’s footprint in a ruby-red state.
The candidate forum at the Salt Lake City Public Library was disjointed — interrupted after about a half-hour by a fire alarm that led to the building’s temporary evacuation — but touched on some of the key differences between the party’s current leader and her challengers. During her introductory speech, party Chairwoman Daisy Thomas said she has focused her term on building up the party and is eager to continue that work over the next two years.