Richard Davis 

Chair 

I’m Richard Davis and I’m a political science professor at Brigham Young University. I teach courses on political parties, campaigns and elections, media and politics, and film and politics. I’ve been involved with the state and county party in several capacities: county Executive Committee – 2004-2006, chair of the county Recruitment Committee – 2005-2006, chair of the county Voter Registration and Get Out the Vote committee -2004), member of the State Party Platform Committee – 2005-2006, and member of a liaison committee between the state party and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2005- ). My wife, Molina, and I have five children and four grandchildren.

Larry Brown 

Vice-Chair 

Larry Brown is chairman of the Ten Year Strategic Plan Committee for the Utah County Democratic Party. He's been active in local government, serving as a city council member and planning commissioner in Alpine. He chaired the North Utah County Recreation Task Force in 2005-2006 and currently is chairman of Alpine's recreation committee. Larry is a senior program manager at Cisco Systems and author of the book, Get VOCAL! Growing Profits Through Customer-Supplier Relationships, published by Cisco Press, September, 2006. He is a Vietnam War veteran naval officer and retired from the US Naval Reserve as a Commander. Larry teaches Sunday school in the Alpine Fourth Ward of the LDS Church. He and his wife Tammy have four daughters and four grandchildren.

Gwyn Franson

Secretary 

Gwyn Franson, a long time resident of Northern Utah County, has served in many civic and educational volunteer positions through the years, including the Boy Scouts of America and the Parent Teacher Association.  Gwyn was instrumental in implementing the first gifted pullout at Highland Elementary, working as the coordinator of the program for several years. In 2007 she was named teacher of the year at Highland Elementary. She and her team members received both state and national recognition for their economics education program.

Gwyn has been active in local political organizations for more than two decades.  She served two terms as a city council member in Highland and ran as a candidate for the Utah State House of Representatives in 2008.

Gwyn is married to Jay Franson, former mayor of Highland.  They are the parents of five children: Lon, Eric, Kevin, Janell, and Alayne.  They are also proud grandparents to fourteen grandchildren.

Vaughn R Cook

Treasurer 

Vaughn R Cook is a native of Utah, born in Logan, and a graduate from USU.  He holds a doctors degree in Oriental Medicine and has practiced in Utah.  He is currently the President of ZYTO Corp, a software company located in Orem.  He is a past chair of the Utah County Democratic Party and believes firmly in the need for greater political balance.
 
As the husband of Kathryn Cook, he shares the same children and grandchildren and passion for life.

Don Jarvis

Executive Director

Don Jarvis is an emeritus professor at BYU and a consultant at UVU.  He founded and directed the Faculty Center at BYU and served as chair of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages.  In the 1990s, he was called to be a mission president for the LDS Church in Russia.  He and his wife, Janelle, are the parents of six children.