And they've discovered intimidation and retaliation are effective ways to keep others from challenging them. With so many Republican rank and file members disgruntled with their leaders, it is not surprising that rumors are circulating that Republican leaders in Utah County are insisting that their precinct officers and convention delegates post signs for Republican candidates in their yards and vote for their candidates if they wish to retain their positions.

I experienced these intimidation tactics firsthand recently when I told a woman's group that legislative-lobbyist junkets needed to be curtailed. Although I never mentioned Sen. Curt Bramble's name, he threatened to sue me for slander. I wasn't sure whether he was uninformed about the law or whether he was attempting to be a bully. Perhaps both.

Of course, Democrats aren't really complaining. The high-handed tactics by Utah County legislators and local Republican leaders have helped us. Many of our activists are current or former Republicans who either have become fed up with their own party.

The defeat of some of these arrogant Republican legislators will cause the local Republican Party to think twice about putting forward mediocre, arrogant or ideologically extreme candidates.

The choice facing voters in Utah County is critical. Will voters choose to maintain a one-party system or vote in favor of a two-party system that includes the voter in the decision-making? This year the choice is in the hands of voters.

---

Richard Davis is chairman of the Utah County Democratic Party.