/*make sure that value is included in the options value of the dropdownlist
e.g.
(<select><option value='CA'>California</option><option value='AK'>Alaska</option> </select>)
*/
$('#mycontrolId').val(myvalue).attr("selected", "selected");
$('#ddlID').val('New_OptionValue').change()
$("#comboboxid").val(yourvalue).trigger("chosen:updated");
$('select[name^="salesrep"] option[value="Bruce Jones"]').attr("selected","selected");
$('select[name^="salesrep"] option:selected').attr("selected",null);