From Deseret News archives:

Happy Valley will have its say on Capitol Hill

Deseret News

Published: Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004 6:58 p.m. MST

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A very popular Provo mayor in the 1980s made the big political boo-boo of joining a Democratic gubernatorial ticket as lieutenant governor. City residents found out his real political identification and promptly voted him out of office at the next election.

And county politicians aren't afraid to flex their muscle. The Utah County GOP legislative delegation often meets as a unit to discuss all matters of politics. While Alexander denies they often vote as a bloc, it's been rumored for years that in internal GOP leadership elections Utah County representatives vote to make sure that at least one of their members is in leadership.

Many believed that Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, would be joining Alexander in House leadership this year. But Lockhart lost her bid, and at least in the House the GOP leaders range from Box Elder County in the north to St. George in the south.

Likewise, Sens. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, and Parley Hellewell, R-Orem, lost their bids to join Senate majority leadership. Maybe other Republican senators and representatives saw the growing Utah County dominance and said enough is enough.

While no one has been able to explain this to me, the Utah County conservatism, at least in the Legislature, stands in contrast to Davis County, another GOP stronghold.

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Like Utah County, all of the Davis County legislators are Republicans as well. But going back 20 years or more, some of the moderate GOP leaders in the Legislature are from Davis County, whose county and city politics are also dominated by Republicans.

Davis County GOP incumbents are regularly challenged from the right within their own party. While Utah County legislators — if they aren't arrested or seen as political odd-ducks — go for years with few or no intra-party challengers.

And, except for Bountiful's Lane Beattie, a former Senate president, Davis County has not produced the top GOP legislative leaders in recent times, either.

In any case, come 2005 Utah state government will have a number of powerful Utah County people.

And what is arguably the most Republican county in a very Republican state will see the opportunities of political influence. We'll see if there's much "home cookin' " in state politics over the next two years.

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