Deseret News, October 28, 2010
Richard Davis

OPINION

It is interesting how Mr. Oldroyd and other Republicans can only see lockstep partisan voting. That is because that is what they must do. A few Republicans buck that system, but they end up being booted out at conventions.

They assume that, as legislators, Steve Baugh, Deon Turley, and others, would only vote as a bloc. I've worked with these individuals for several years now. Others who know them say the same. That isn't who they are. They are independent-minded.

They're not going to the legislature to please a party caucus. They're going to bring common sense to what has become a partisan circus. They'll find common ground between these two camps. And it's time. When legislative votes are just along party lines, then we need to elect people who don't think strictly within the party lines.

Conservative Utah County Democrats can bridge the partisan differences in a way no one else can. Rather than being ostracized, they'll be the key players in the legislature.

Yes, it does make a difference who you elect. The choice is between more of the same partisan bickering (and extremism) we're getting from many Utah County Republican legislators, or mainstream Utah County Democratic legislators dedicated to finding solutions.

Richard Davis is chairman of the Utah County Democratic Party

Candidate Spotlight

Karen Hyer

Karen Hyer resides in the Third Congressional district, in Provo, Utah. She brings a wealth of experience to help her address the problems assailing our nation.

She began her career teaching junior high school, something that led her to pursue a doctorate and a teaching and research position at one of the nation's foremost medical centers. There she taught leadership and health policy.

After over a decade, she left teaching at the university to raise her three sons on a family farm where she managed an extensive hunting and ranching operation while also operating a consulting business that worked aiding small businesses across the nation through the Small Business Administration and local Chambers of Commerce.

It was there on the family ranch that she took up the cause of small family farmers as a lead plaintiff against the federal government, winning a rare victory for both the environment and family farmers.

Deseret News, October 24, 2010
Richard Davis

OPINION

I remember visiting Russia when it was under communism and being amazed at a local grocery store. There was one item available on the shelves in each food category. Shoppers had no choice. I remember thinking how sad that was.

We all like choices — from groceries to elections. Yet in Utah County elections that choice-less situation has been the rule for many years now. This is not healthy for voters. Let me explain why:

Voters don't decide elections.

For many years, the only real voters in Utah County have been a small group of Republican delegates. Several hundred delegates to the Republican convention are wooed by Republican candidates. These candidates lobby delegates by visiting their homes, answering their questions, and generally courting them for their vote

Daily Herald, October 25, 2010
Richard Davis

LOCAL OPINION

When I called for change in Utah County politics on this page a couple of weeks ago, I urged voters to look at the candidates, the individuals, who are running on the Utah County Democratic ticket this year. I suggested that, as individuals, these candidates possess the following:

1. Responsiveness to all voters. These candidates have listened to tens of thousands of voters over the past few months. They've actually met average voters. Republican incumbents, on the other hand, are responsive primarily to Republican convention delegates.

2. Utah County values. The local Democratic candidates are fiscally and socially conservative, but they are not extremists. They believe in real legislative ethics reform, not a watered down version passed by the legislators themselves. They don't want to just deport illegal immigrants and their families; they want to find a more comprehensive and compassionate solution to immigration as suggested by LDS Church leaders. They support public education in deed not just in word. Unlike most Utah County legislators, they know that with class sizes ballooning, Utah legislators are doing much less than they should to fund our children's education.

Candidate Spotlight

Dave Hogue

As a passionate defender of citizen rights, small business and public education, Dave Hogue served ten years in the Utah House of Representatives. His representation of District 52 brought attention to the challenges of growth in Riverton, Herriman and South Jordan,  as well as spotlighting public education and the need for children's healthcare.

While attending the University of Missouri, Dave enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the Viet Nam Conflict. After serving two tours in Viet Nam, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and was nominated for a Bronze Star. After college he completed a 25-year career in banking and finance and subsequently founded his own small business for 17 years.

Dave has been married to Becky Jarvis Hogue for 45 years. They have seven children and 13 grandchildren, and have lived in Riverton for 31 years.