The issue of Democrats in Utah County, where nearly 90 percent of residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose Utah adherents have skewed strongly to the right politically for several decades, often frustrates Daynes.

"I wish I didn't live in Utah County sometimes," Daynes said. "It's clearly the most conservative area of the state. We enjoy Salt Lake City, but we didn't enjoy commuting."

Davis said the appointment of Daynes at the Clinton School is a great honor and is further proof there is room for Democrats at BYU and in the LDS Church.

"We say there aren't any (Democrats) in fun," Davis said, "but the comedy of it does reinforce the notion that Mormons wouldn't be going to Arkansas to work at the Clinton Center. Really, we shouldn't think this is out of the ordinary. Hopefully the day will come when someone here stands up and says they're a Democrat and everybody yawns."

For Daynes, whose wife is a history professor at BYU and will take a sabbatical to go with him to Arkansas, his appointment creates a natural bridge between the two schools.

"The interesting thing is, the whole idea of the Clinton School is to train people to go into government service at all levels and teach them to be ethical and competent in what they do. Our motto at BYU is 'Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve,' so there is a parallel with this school in Arkansas and what we try to get our students to do."

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com