Ashton is from a south-central district, which is likely Republican leaning. But Wilde is from a central valley district that includes parts of West Valley City, Midvale and Murray, locales where Democratic legislators have won before.

Three Democratic council members are also up next year: Randy Horiuchi, Jim Bradley and Joe Hatch. Horiuchi and Bradley hold countywide, at-large seats. Both men had served as county commissioners and have proven countywide support.

Hatch is from the Avenues/Capitol Hill/Central City area of Salt Lake City, a Democratic stronghold.

So there's the possibility that Democrats could actually win a majority on the council.

Corroon and Democratic council members will no doubt say they will clean up the government, increase citizen access and bring higher ethical standards. But issues like domestic benefits — warped into the gay marriage mold — could also come around.

It may sound odd that such so-called "moral" issues would even surface in a county election. Counties provide the most basic — and boring — type of government: trash disposal, fire and police protection, zoning. The county clerk organizes the elections; important stuff. But can you name the 15-year incumbent?

You probably didn't even know that the county surveyor, Vaughn E. Butler, is elected.

Still, a year from now, as the 2006 Salt Lake County Council elections begin to heat up, you may find yourself paying more attention than usual to the campaigns.

Will the 800,000-plus county residents give Democrats the opportunity to run a large local government?

Democratic leaders certainly hope so.

If they prove themselves there, so much so for the argument that Utah Democrats can't be trusted to govern.

But there is the bugaboo of being called a "liberal." The "moral" political question will undoubtedly be raised by GOP campaign strategists who may just see an opening, through last week's vote or other such issues, to paint Democrats with unwanted, and maybe undeserved, colors.

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