The Utah Republican Party has new leadership in its ranks including a well-known Uintah Basin-ite. On Saturday, delegates at the Utah Republican Party convention elected Rob Anderson as the new Utah GOP chairman and the Basin’s own Joni Crane as the new vice-chair over the two-term chairman James Evans and vice-chair Phill Wright. Joni Crane has been active in the Republican Party for many years. “In the many political positions I have served in Utah, advocacy on issues and positions are usually scrutinized,” explained Crane during her campaign. “I invite you to scrutinize mine as well but also want you to understand that in this position, if elected, it is ‘the body’ – the State Central Committee and our platform- that drive policy and positions, not the Chair and the Vice Chair, and I will respectfully honor that.” The Utah Republican Party convention was held at the South Towne Expo Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday.