Urdahl overcomes challenge, wins Meeker County Republican Party endorsement

LITCHFIELD - District 18A Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City, overcame a challenge from Kyle Greene of Grove City and was unanimously endorsed at the party’s endorsing convention Tuesday night in Litchfield.
The endorsement process was extended about a month after Greene was nominated in addition to Urdahl at the party’s convention Feb. 22.
Urdahl had been nominated to receive the endorsement, but some party members nominated Green, which automatically triggered an endorsing convention, said Darrin Anderson, Meeker County Republican Party chairman.
Anderson said both Urdahl and Greene met last Saturday with the Senate District 18 nominating committee. After both men answered questions from the committee, the committee debated and voted to place Urdahl’s name in nomination.
Anderson said Greene could still run for the nomination. He was nominated from the floor, but failed to receive at least 50 percent of the delegate vote to be nominated. About 78 people attended the endorsing convention.
Urdahl was left unopposed in the endorsement process and a motion made immediately to cast a unanimous ballot to endorse Urdahl, which was approved, said Anderson.
Anderson said it was good to have Urdahl nominated for re-election. Urdahl, a retired teacher, was first elected in 2002 and is completing his sixth 2-year term.
“It’s good to have a sitting legislator down there who has the command, the experience and the respect that Rep. Urdahl does. I think he’s done some really good things for our area, not just for Meeker County. But him being a former teacher and me a current one, he’s done a lot to help with education, standing up for education,’’ said Anderson.
“I think it was good and I think the process (Tuesday night) went very well, too,’’ Anderson said. “The delegates spoke up. Greene still has the opportunity to run. But the delegates are the ones who ultimately spoke up and they want Dean Urdahl back on the ballot and up for re-election.’’