Gwyn Franson

Franson, who is the second person in as many weeks to announce a candidacy on the Democratic ticket, said she believes healthy governments need a partisan system that works. She echoed Mitt Romney's statement that "Utah is overwhelmingly Republican."

Democrats don't hold elected office in Utah County.

Franson wants to fix problems she sees in the state government. As a school teacher, Franson said she has a desire to change the lives of children through education.

"We need a state Legislature that is as good for education as the teachers in the classroom," she said.

Steven Baugh

OREM — Former Alpine schools chief Steven Baugh has announced his candidacy for the state Legislature on the Democratic ticket.

"It's time to stand up for the things we value — the education of our children, our quality of life and the opportunity for everyone to enjoy the American dream," Baugh said, speaking to a crowd of about 50 people in Orem on Tuesday.

A former district superintendent and currently a professor at Brigham Young University, Baugh, 62, is the only Democrat to announce his candidacy in Utah County so far. The filing deadline is in March.

Democrats don't hold a single elected office in Utah County.

Baugh, who received a standing ovation following his speech, said he has been disappointed lately in the status quo. And there are some Utah County residents who are feeling the same way.

Deseret Morning News, November 23, 2007
Richard Davis and Larry Brown

Is this a conflict of interest? You decide. A legislator starts a business in an industry that, for safety and environmental reasons, is closely regulated by the state. That same legislator is vice chairman of the committee that sets regulations for that industry. And the legislator is pushing for regulations that help the industry and, consequently, his business.

Does that sounds like a conflict of interest? Rep. Aaron Tilton, a Republican from Springville, says he doesn't think so. Of course, he's the legislator in question here. Tilton and Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, are vice chairman and chairman, respectively, of the Legislature's Public Utilities and Technology Standing Committee. Those positions give them jurisdiction over the rules that govern the energy industry in Utah. In fact, Tilton has been a strong advocate of bringing a nuclear power plant to Utah.

At the same time, Tilton is owner of Transition Power, a private company that is seeking to obtain a license to build a nuclear power plant in Utah, and has negotiated with Kane County Water Conservancy District to obtain water rights for such a plant. Transition Power won't actually build the plant. Instead, it will sell the license to another company that will build the reactor and operate the plant. Transition Power will pocket the profit from selling the license.

KSL Newsradio, October 16, 2007
Randall Jeppesen

Utah County Democrats are turning to technology to try and get their message out in an area that's been a stronghold for the Republican Party.

When you click onto www.utahcountydems.com you find a YouTube video saying, "Hi! You've found us. We're the Utah County Democrats. Welcome to our Web site."

Utah County Democratic Party Chairman Richard Davis says it's just the start of the effort to use new technology like YouTube, blogs, podcasting and more to reach out to more people, especially younger voters.

He says it's time that Utah County Democrats are heard. "You're already seeing that, but you're going to see much more," he said.

Davis won't elaborate on what they're going to do next, but he says voters are looking for alternatives to what they've got now.

(Audio available here: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1986178) 

Daily Herald, Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Jeremy Duda

Yes, Virginia, there are Democrats in Utah County.

That's the message the Utah County Democratic Party is trying to get across with the launch of its new Web site, www.utahcountydemocrats.com. Chairman Richard Davis said the party is trying to counter the misconception that the Democratic Party does not have a presence in Utah County and that the Republican Party is so strong it cannot be challenged here.

"We are a presence, a growing presence. We want voters to know that when they go to the polls next November," Davis said.

Deseret Morning News, October 16, 2007
Tad Walch

PROVO — A Republican and a Democrat go into a Utah County Internet cafe. They ask the barista for bagels, pop open their laptops and access the shop's wireless Internet service.
The Republican logs onto the Utah County GOP Web site, but she can't make an online contribution, can't find any video and discovers some links are dead.\

Meanwhile, the Democrat pulls up her party's relaunched Web site and clicks on a link that sends her to a videotaped welcome message on YouTube. She also can make a secure online donation.

The difference? The Republican Party dominates Utah County without snazzy Web graphics, while the new leadership team guiding the county Democrats is willing to try new things to chip away at that dominance.