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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Gov. Gary Herbert has organized a team to coordinate Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2012 Republican National Convention. A formal application is due Jan. 15.
Jeff Hartley, former Utah Republican Party executive director, has been named acting chairman of the city's bid committee. Hartley said it will work through the holidays to complete the city's proposal, putting together detailed plans for transportation, security, convention facilities and lodging.
"We think, because of our experience with the Olympics, we probably have the strongest story to tell in terms of hosting a major event like this," Hartley said.
The Republican National Committee will pick four cities as finalists and send a site selection team to visit each one in the spring.
The final selection is expected by the end of the summer.
"If we can get them to come to Utah, we're pretty confident we can pull this off," Hartley said.
An estimated 45,000 people, including 15,000 media, attended the 2008 Republican convention in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., and rented 16,000 hotel rooms, according to the Minnesota host committee.
Hartley said Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, both Democrats, have written letters supporting Salt Lake City's bid.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
