www.utdemocrats.org, July 7, 2008

SALT LAKE CITY – Although Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy, resigned his seat in the Utah House of Representatives Sunday, just before an investigation into a bribery allegation that was to begin today, the chair of the Utah Democratic Party said the party remains fully committed to a more open and accountable government.
 
“I sense heavy-handed backroom political deals here,” said Wayne Holland. “We can only hope Walker’s resignation will not derail the attempt of a few courageous lawmakers to force our GOP-dominated Legislature to work for us instead of lobbyists and their cronies. This is exactly the reason we need an independent ethics commission.”
 
Legislation for just such a panel was introduced by Democrats in January, but it was not even given a committee hearing.
 
Holland says he is hopeful the five lawmakers – two Republicans and three Democrats - who filed the ethics complaint will not become targets of retaliation, and he challenged Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to lead his party in creating the kind of state government every Utahn can be proud of.
 
Walker, who lost his bid last month to run for state treasurer, remains under criminal investigation by the attorney general in connection with allegations he offered deputy treasurer Richard Ellis a pay raise if he would not run against him.

Deseret News, July 5, 2008
G. Don Gale

July is the month we celebrate citizenship and patriotism and pioneers and other soul-stirring recollections of our great heritage.

But Utah held an election not long ago, and fewer citizens showed up to vote than show up at college football games on a typical Saturday afternoon in September. It's another indication of how badly broken the political system is in Utah...and in other states, as well.

First, the dominant political party moved primary elections to late June, a time when voters have their minds on everything but elections. To add insult to that injury, the dominant political party made primary elections closed elections. Voters must declare party affiliation before they are allowed to vote. Utah voters don't like being forced into party affiliation; they don't trust political parties to protect confidentiality; and they don't understand why party loyalty is a prerequisite for voting. Utahns may favor one political party, but many think of themselves as independent, and they resent being forced into a political pledge of allegiance.

Second, both political parties indulge in name-calling, especially those party leaders most likely to be quoted. Their rhetoric categorizes political opponents as not simply mistaken but evil. If politicians call opponents evil, then debate and compromise become weaknesses, not strengths. Gone are the days of rational discourse and personal respect.

Third, the dominant political party put in place a system of school board elections that allowed as many as 15 candidates to be on the ballot for a single office. Party leaders had neither the courage nor the good sense to give voters a reasonably limited list of candidates. The purpose was clearly to spread votes so that candidates selected by party leadership had a better chance of winning.

Fourth, leaders of the dominant political party are so vindictive toward a popular governor (of their own party) that they advanced a candidate for treasurer who was clearly not qualified but would favor legislative leadership over public interest. The pre-election squabbling confused some voters and angered others. (Fortunately, the political maneuvering did not work in this case.)

Fifth, the so-called "grass-roots nominating process" of neighborhood caucus meetings has been compromised by power brokers of the dominant political party. Caring citizens who attend neighborhood caucuses but question the predetermined outcome are ignored, ridiculed and marginalized.

Deseret News, June 19, 2008
Tad Walch

Pssst, buddy. Over here. Yeah, right here. Got a tip for you. Can't miss.

Next time you wanna sound smart talking to important people in Utah Valley, bring up the Democrats.

Whahhh?

Shhh! I know, I know, but keep your voice down. Seriously. Listen, what they've done this year is staggering.

So, say you find yourself talking to some Very Important Know-It-All and you're just dying to be the one who knows more just this once. You tell this story.

Two years ago, Utah County Democrats fielded a measly six candidates for 13 seats in the state Legislature.

That handful of hopelessness, er, hopefuls, raised a meager $26,000 when you subtract the personal loans made by one candidate.

The Republicans, in those six contested races alone, raised nearly 10 times more, $243,000.

Oh, and the Republicans won every seat from Utah Valley.

As usual.

But your buddy already knows that.

So far this year, things are dramatically different, and the Know-It-All you want to impress doesn't know how much.

He may have read that the Democrats have 13 candidates for 13 seats.

But there's no way he knows those Democrats have raised a stunning $125,245.

You read it here first.

And by the way, the Republicans have raised $131,059.

Daily Herald, June 11, 2008
Deon Turley

My youngest daughter graduated from sixth grade last week. As we drove away from the school for the last time, I found myself thinking about the challenges of the education community.

A recent letter to this newspaper commented on the large numbers of opposition candidates vying for a seat in the Utah Legislature. Noting that many were from the teaching profession, it warned against the election of "educrats" who want to take over the Legislature.

Certainly there is a strong showing of the education community in the field of candidates this year. I see it as a natural response to the Legislature's arrogant disregard of constituents' support of public education.

I was, however, fascinated by the term "educrat." It isn't found in the dictionary and the word itself sounds like something spat on the ground. Who would want a title like that?

If having a commitment to public education makes me an educrat, it is a label I'll gladly accept. If recognizing the need for excellence in institutions of higher education in the state and wanting to fund them sufficiently makes me an educrat, I admit to it. If efforts to provide everyone literacy training and educational opportunity would make me an educrat, sign me up.

Statistically, Utah is the youngest state in the nation. Families are large, and school-age children make up a large percentage of our population. Young people left to popular media, television and advertising, won't find training for informed citizenship. Preparation for their emergence into responsible adulthood requires a large investment.

BYU NewsNet, May 20, 2008
Natali Wyson

Democrats have had a rough time getting elected in Utah in the past, but this year they see an opportunity to balance out the Republicans in the Utah Legislature.

"With the national political scene the way it is, I think we are going to see more democratic candidates," said Kena Jo Matthews, Democratic Women's public relations specialist. "I think we really have the momentum this year to get a couple elected."

The Democratic Women of Utah County is an organization focused on serving and raising political awareness in the community. This group met Tuesday to hear from the local candidates running on the Democratic ticket.

The Democratic candidates this year are focusing most of their attention on education, environment and health-care issues.

"We care about the individuals," said Boyd Peterson, a state legislature candidate for House seat 64. "We don't want our schools to be like factories where kids are treated like widgets on an assembly line."

Claralyn Hill, a state legislature candidate for House seat 62, said contrary to popular belief, Utah does have the resources to improve education if it gets its priorities straight.

"I think in Utah we hear a lot of 'oh, we have so many kids and not enough money for education, poor us,'" Hill said. "But what about the soccer stadiums we can afford?"

Deseret News, May 13, 2008
Doug Robinson

It would be easy to dismiss as political posturing that spiel that Jim Matheson gave to the Utah County Democratic Convention earlier this month.

Utah's lone Democratic congressman said that Republicans — the ones who dominate the Utah Legislature — are not listening to their constituents, and therefore, it was time for a change.

There's just one problem with what he said: He was right.

Republicans aren't listening.

Why should they?

They can do anything they want in office because they know they'll always get re-elected.

Democrats not named after a father who was once a popular governor have little chance. The score is Republicans 76, Democrats 28 for both houses of the state Legislature (and only five of those 28 Democrats are outside of metro Salt Lake City).

All you have to do is slap "Republican" next to someone's name on the ballot, and they're in. Democrats have about as much chance as the Clippers in Boston.

John Kerry could win if he put an "R" after his name. All Utahns do at the ballot box is look for the magic letter. This is one R rating they support.

Just win the Republic nomination and a politician is home free.

All of which means there is no accountability for Republicans since their re-election is virtually assured.

Daily Herald, 4 May 2008
Caleb Warnock

Local Democrats positioned themselves on Saturday as the only party listening to the public, saying Utah's voucher repeal proved Republicans have lost their mandate.

Strategizing to make historic gains during November's elections, Democrats gathered for the annual Utah County party convention said they would take advantage of growing discontent among long-time Republicans.

With new infusions of money and hope, Democrats said they will work to swing Republican voters, campaigning on the platform that the Republican Party has grown corrupt, opaque, emboldened and disrespectful to their constituents after years of insular de facto rule of the state.

"We have shown that one-party rule is on the way out," said Utah County party chair Richard Davis. "We will end one-party rule and the Republicans will no longer be able to do what they want in this state."

Change and optimism were manifest everywhere at Saturday's convention. With 200 people attending, party leaders remarked repeatedly that interest in the party has never been so high in modern times. In addition, more than half of local Democratic candidates have out-fundraised their opponents so far, party leaders said.

While Republicans have done much good in Utah, years of ruling without significant opposition have allowed the party to sink into "arrogance, entitlement and corruption" said Wayne Holland, State Democratic Party chair. If Utahns would only spend one day at the Legislature to see the Republican Party in action, the state would turn Democratic overnight.

"This is a day when you saw the beginning of something big," Holland said. "This opportunity was given to us in part because of the behavior of the Legislature, and its leadership based in Utah County."