Utah's Demo delegation shows a conservative tilt

BOSTON — It's not easy to categorize Utah's delegation to the Democratic National Convention here that is expected to make official John Kerry's nomination as the party's choice for president.

Most of the delegates who responded to a Deseret Morning News survey labeled themselves more conservative than the national party and more in line with mainstream Utahns. Only a few called themselves more liberal, and then only on select issues.

Call them "Utah Democrats." They make up a 33-member delegation from the largely Republican state for the four-day political convention that begins Monday. Among them are politicians, business owners, union officials, students and retirees.

"Utah Democrats are Democrats who want to be fiscally responsible. We want to make sure there's a role for government, but it's not the only solution," said Donald Dunn, chairman of Utah's Democratic Party.

What really separates them from the national party, though, are stands on social issues. Several members of the delegation complained about questions on the newspaper's survey dealing with abortion and gay marriage, suggesting they were too controversial.

Such concerns don't make it easy for Utah Democrats to stand with their less-moderate peers at the party's national convention. It can be difficult for Utah Democrats to distance themselves from what's sometimes seen back home as extreme.

Delegate Virginia Wicker, a writer from Logan, said she hopes her fellow Utahns "remain open-minded and tolerant and will understand that there are Utah Democrats who do not necessarily share every position of the national party."

That doesn't make them less-committed Democrats, Wicker said. Even though they may disagree with abortion on demand and gay marriage, she said the Utahns as a rule remain "dedicated to education, better jobs, an improved economy, the environment and equality."

Delegate Ed Mayne, a state senator from West Valley City and head of the Utah AFL-CIO, said he and his wife, Karen, who's also a delegate, see themselves as very conservative on some issues but "quite moderate" overall.

"As far as Democrats are concerned, that's kind of the beauty," Mayne said. "We can agree to disagree and all be under the same tent."

Delegate Michael Picardi, a business owner in Holladay, said his views are not as close to mainstream Utahns as he would like, "yet not that far away. I want good schools, good health care, a strong economy and truth from our leaders."