Daily Herald, July 7, 2007

Claralyn M. Hill 

Recently, something happened that reminded me of my parents.

My father, a Salt Lake businessman who was a devout Mormon, was a Democrat. My mother, also a devout Mormon and daughter of a bishop, was also a Democrat. They were people of integrity. I remember my father voting in favor of pro-tenant legislation that would remove rights he had as a landlord, simply because he believed it was the right thing to do. I remember my mother fussing over the fact that taxpayers were partially funding the oxygen she used when her cancer took her breath away. She did not think this was fiscally responsible when she had the means to pay for it herself.

My parents and their many Utah friends were proud of their Democratic affiliation. I remember visiting my parents on Election Day where, on repeated occasions, I observed them faithfully staffing the voting booths and enjoying association with other faithful Democrats. I also enjoyed observing healthy sparring between my parents and their Republican friends. In those days, no stigma attached to being a Democrat, even in Utah. Growing up in our family, we had animated discussions about politics, ethics and morality. We were taught that we should take our rights as citizens seriously. We were taught to vote our conscience.

I was reminded of this aspect of my life by a recent event in which I was deprived of my right to vote. My state representative was chosen behind closed Republican doors, absent the healthy discussion, pro and con that took place in my childhood home and that should take place in a democracy, as part of the electoral process. I realized that this could only happen because here in Utah County, for all practical purposes, we have been reduced to only one functioning party.

In this case, the Republicans played to win by waiting to announce that my popular representative, Jeff Alexander, would not seek re-election until ensuring no Democrat was on the ticket to oppose him. Then, sure of a win, they chose his successor behind closed doors, bypassing the popular vote of the successor's constituents.

This is only the most recent of the many events, on both the county and the state level, in which the true views of the people of Utah have been thwarted by the absence of a strong, functioning opposition party. Simultaneously, and partially as a result of this political void, the Republican Party has become increasingly conservative and right of the more moderate views most Utahns hold.

Like many, I can cite only a few liberal positions taken by Democrats on the East Coast (where my husband and I lived for our early adult years) as the incentive I had to leave the party my parents felt so comfortable with. Those issues, however important, are not so important that we should deprive ourselves of our constitutional right to have a say in our government. In fact, those issues do not mandate membership in either party.

Frustrated by the lack of political give and take that provides balance in our government, I have decided to return to the Democratic Party. Here in Utah County in May, I observed a groundswell at the county Democratic convention. With many others, I registered for the first time as a Democrat. We elected party officers who are excited about returning to the strong two-party system our parents knew.

I am convinced that our local Democratic Party has room for me, an active Mormon and for my friends, Mormon or not. I invite all residents to join us to create a government that is more responsive to the views of Utah voters.

Claralyn M. Hill is a local attorney and former Republican.