The pro-traditional-marriage amendment to the Utah Constitution passed overwhelmingly. In some counties, more people voted in the amendment race than voted for governor or president. Who knows how Amendment 3 will play out. Most likely there will be a federal court test at some point.

Governor-elect Jon Huntsman Jr., a Republican, supported the amendment. But he promises that soon after taking office he'll propose new laws to the 2005 Legislature to clearly say that domestic partners still have traditional rights — like being able to visit their loved ones in the hospital, can buy real estate together, and so on.

Let's hope that Huntsman's efforts don't get side-tracked by some ultra-conservatives in the Legislature.

• If you want a part-time job that lasts — even one that doesn't pay well — become a Utah legislator. Odds are, you won't ever lose. You may retire. And you certainly will die. But you won't be kicked out by voters. Thirteen state senators ran for re-election this year. Twelve won.

Sen. James Evans, R-Salt Lake, lost his District 1 race. But Evans is a Republican in a west-side Salt Lake City district that has elected Democrats for something like 50 years. His 2002 victory came because Democrats self-destructed in the area. Thus, in 2004 the incumbent senators' re-election rate was 92.3 percent.

The 75-member House did even better. Sixty-two representatives ran for re-election. (A few more filed to run, but for various personal reasons got out of their races before their party conventions, and I didn't count those.) Fifty-eight won. Two GOP representatives lost in primaries. One Democrat and one Republican lost Tuesday. That's a re-election rate of 93.5 percent.

There are only three new senators, out of 29, who weren't serving a year ago. The House freshman class of 17 is one of the smallest in recent years. And two of those, Fred Hunsaker, R-Logan, and Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, have served in the House before.

You may recall that the Legislature, in its infinite wisdom, repealed the state's 12-year term limit law a year ago, those voting "aye" saying it wasn't needed because there is so much "natural" turnover in both the Senate and House.

Yes, there is turnover. But it comes through retirements and, unfortunately, deaths. It doesn't come at the ballot box.

Is this because Utah's legislators do such a good job their constituents send them back term after term until the legislator finally decides to quit on his own? Or is it because legislators themselves have drawn their own legislative districts, that their parties are relatively safe in those districts, and then the incumbents accept tens of thousands of dollars from special interest groups and outspend their district-minor-party challengers by big bucks?

I don't know. You take a guess.

The elections of 2004 were, of course, important. We have a new Republican governor. Salt Lake County has a new Democratic mayor and councilwoman (although Republicans still control the County Council).

Pat yourself on your back if you voted. And then wonder a bit how that $10 million or more could have been spent in a more productive way.

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Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com