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Former Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon was elected as chairman of the Utah Democratic Party at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 26, 2014.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY Utah Democrats elected a familiar face to lead their party Saturday.

Former Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corrron defeated BYU political science professor Richard Davis in the race for state Democratic Party chairman.

"I'm excited to be back in the game again after a year," Corroon said after winning the vote 68 percent to 32 percent at the state Democratic Party convention. "If we want change in Utah, I have to be part of that change and help make a difference."

About 1,300 delegates gathered at the Salt Palace Convention Center to hear speeches and nominate candidates. In addition to the party chairmanship, Democrats had contested races in the 1st and 4th congressional districts.

Corroon succeeds colorful state Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, who resigned as chairman last month for health reason after nearly three years on the job. He said he has big shoes to fill but would take a more understated approach to the job.

"You won't have as big a personality running the show," Corroon said.

Corroon said he has a 29-county plan to make the Democrats more effective statewide.

"We can pat ourselves on the back in Salt Lake County, but until we have organizations in each of the counties, we will never be successful throughout the state," he said. "There are some counties in the state where the Democratic Party doesn't exist."

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Utah Democrats pick ex-S.L. County Mayor Peter Corroon as party chairman