Daily Herald, April 12, 2009
Ace Stryker

U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, will address the Utah County Democratic Party at its organizing convention May 2.

Party chairman Richard Davis said Matheson has been invited to speak for the second consecutive year for one main reason: "He has figured out [how] to win."

Davis said between 200 and 250 people turned out for last year's convention. While he doesn't expect the same numbers in an off year, he said it should be a productive meeting that will continue building momentum for the Democratic cause in a heavily Republican county.

"Last year, he talked about how we were moving along well. He was very impressed with how much progress we'd made," Davis said. "I'm hoping what comes out of it is that people are energized to go on and work for the party. These tend to be the activists that show up and go out and work for candidates."

This year's convention will take place at Orem Junior High School. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with house district meetings at 9 and the general meeting at 10.

County executive officers, including the chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer, are also up for election. Davis has submitted notice that he intends to run for re-election.