Perhaps the most significant of the reform measures introduced by Democrats during the 2007 session, but denied even the benefit of a debate in committee, was Rep. Roz McGee's legislation creating a bipartisan redistricting commission. Utah is not nearly as monolithic as it appears. Upwards of 43 percent of Utahns vote entirely or partially Democratic in just about every election. Unfortunately for Utah's voters, our Legislature has acquired national renown for using the redistricting process to select voters instead of enabling voters to hold their legislators accountable.

After the 2000 Census, Utah's redistricting fiasco garnered attention in papers like the Wall Street Journal, which pointed in disgust at the moving of nearly 700,000 voters from one congressional district to another in a blatant attempt to get rid of Rep. Jim Matheson. Both the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News were openly critical of this blatant gerrymandering.

It has become apparent the voices of Utah voters are not being heard on key issues. The Utah Democratic Party commends those willing to exercise their constitutional rights to be the ultimate "deciders" in Utah by pursuing referendums to ensure they are finally heard, and commits itself to continuing to fight for their interests into the future.

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Wayne Holland is chairman of the Utah State Democratic Party.