I feel a sense of deja vu every time the legislature comes into session. Right wing Republicans are making noises that they aren't satisfied with the fact that they have put Utah in the cellar for public education funding, now they want to do even more damage to the education of Utah children.  They're talking about bringing back school vouchers and making school board members into partisan officials.  If you are also getting a sense of deja vu when you hear about these two initiatives, you would be right.  Four years ago the legislature passed a school vouchers bill.  It would have allocated public money for private schools.  Of course, it wasn't as if the state had extra money to throw around.  Over the past 15 years, the state legislature has been steadily starving public education of needed funds.  Most of us know that money spent on helping a few students with a voucher to a private school could be better used for helping many students in the public education system.  Unfortunately, our Republican legislators don't seem to know that.

The voters decisively rejected vouchers in 2007 after the Republicans tried to push them through.  I knew they wouldn't let it go.  They aren't very interested in what the voters want.  They are most interested in what some extremist Republican delegates want.  They want our taxpayer money to take their children out of the public school system.  These parents are certainly welcome to leave the system if they wish.  But, no, they can't use taxpayer money to make their personal choice.  Democrats are going to fight this voucher effort.  Unfortunately, there aren't enough Democrats to block this bad legislation.  And Governor Herbert is a voucher supporter. It looks like voters may have to have to send them a message once again.

Thank you to all who helped our candidates during this election campaign.  I know many people made phone calls, distributed fliers, called potential donors, organized volunteers, held house parties, etc.  We made a major effort.  Thanks so much to all who contributed their time, money, and energy to the cause of creating a two party system once again in Utah County.

This was a tough year.  The Republicans were out in force throughout the nation, and in Utah.  Several Utah Democratic legislators lost their seats.  The Republicans were energized.  Frankly, we need to be more energized, too.  There is nothing inevitable about elections.  The key is to get more of your supporters out than the other person's.  We fell short.  

I was heartened by the fact that we came very close in HD 63.  A mere 145 votes would have tipped the balance and elected Don Jarvis to the state legislature.  145 votes!

In an important sense, we are continuing to create a two party system in Utah County.  We fielded candidates across the board, even in a highly Republican year.  These were viable candidates.  We raised more money than we had the previous election cycle.  And we came closer in one race than we have for many years.

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