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

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