Kennard Ramps Up for General Election

None by KCPW

Primary Easy, Costly Win

(KCPW News) Aaron Kennard faced down his first party challenge in 16 years during yesterday's primary. The incumbent Salt Lake County sheriff says campaigning against fellow Republican Brent Cardall was costly, but only in terms of dollars.

"Remember, I beat him in convention, and the same people voted [in the primary] - I just didn't beat him bad enough in convention," says Kennard, who admits he wasn't surprised by his win. "We had 65 to 44 percent [of voters] in the convention and it was 67 [percent] here. There's really no big issue that I should have been, as you might say, fired."

The primary campaign cost Kennard about $60,000. He says he expects campaign expenditures over the next four months will hit six figures. "Things are not cheap, you know. Billboards are very expensive, lawnsigns, radio," says the law enforcement veteran. "I anticipate I'll spend another hundred thousand dollars."

Kennard's opponent in the November 7th general election is Democratic nominee Jim Winder, a 20-year veteran of the county sheriff's office.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW