July 13, 2000
Even though Utah Republicans apparently don't want him as one of their Congressmen, Merrill Cook thinks they might make him their state party leader.
Cook says he's considering a bid to become Utah GOP Chairman next year.
Charles Sherrill reports from our Washington bureau.
Still smarting from his defeat in last month's Utah Republican primary, lame duck Congressman Merrill Cook lays his loss squarely at the feet of state party power brokers.
"I challenged the largest tax hike in Utah's history. And quite honestly, I've never been forgiven for that," he says.
The primary was payback, says Cook, who's convinced he'd have won with party support.
"There's no question I would have won and won handily. I'd have won with a bigger margin than I won in earlier years," Cook claims.
Rather than bolt the Republican party, Cook's considering a coup of sorts. He says he may run for state chairman.
"I think I'll make a decision really, you know, by the time Congress gets back here in September," he says.
Cook alleges the party is run by and for the political elite who've always considered it their personal prerogative to choose the chairman.
"The delegation in Washington, the Governor, get together and decide who they want. And then they sort of ask the convention to ratify that choice," Cook explains.
Wouldn't Cook be about the last person they'd want at this point?
"I think that's probably right, but I don't think they can necessarily control that," he answers.
Meanwhile, he says, he'll be the best Congressman he can with the time he has left.
"Even in defeat and even as a lame duck, I can be a very effective member of Congress, working for the people of the Salt Lake Valley."
In fact, Cook won't rule out running a write-in this year, or running for the second district seat again in 2002.
The new party chairman will be chosen at the Utah Republican state convention next Spring.
The current chairman says he will not seek re-election.
