Spell wins GOP nomination for agriculture commissioner

The Sun Herald, 8/8/7

Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell survived criticism over his role in promoting a failed beef plant project to win Tuesday’s Republican primary.

Spell, who was running for the first time as a Republican after being elected three times as a Democrat, defeated Max Phillips of Taylorsville. Incomplete and unofficial returns show Spell with 54 percent of the vote. Phillips had 46 percent.