Mr. Smith defeated the two-term incumbent, Merrill Cook, in a rowdy Republican primary this summer.

The Governor will also lose votes to Merrill Cook, an independent who is appealing to conservatives who are still reeling over the tax increase.

The race was complicated by a third-party candidate, Merrill Cook, who captured nearly a quarter of the vote.

The Independent Party of Utah was founded in 1988 by Merrill Cook.

Merrill Cook has been a fine representative for the citizens of Utah, working tirelessly on their behalf.

A year after he became the only House Republican incumbent to lose a primary, Merrill Cook is considering another run in 2002.

He defeated five other Republican contenders, including the early favorite, Merrill Cook.

An anti-tax, third-party candidate, Merrill Cook, was thought to be hurting the Governor.

Anderson lost the 1996 race to Merrill Cook by 29,680 votes, achieving 42 percent of the ballots cast versus Cook's 55 percent.

Merrill Cook, former member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah.