Dixie Demos urged to step up

ST. GEORGE — Cyril Noble has a tough job, and he knows it.

"Washington County Democrats are a bona fide party and we're trying to do a lot of things," said Noble, who moved to St. George from Washington state about two years ago and is now chairman of the Washington County Democratic Party. "It's important for people to realize that there is another party in southern Utah."

Nearly 200 people are listed as members of the Democrats of Southern Utah, a club that meets monthly in St. George to rally effort and to work on issues. Humanitarian projects, such as raising money to fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases, supporting the local food bank and volunteering for cleanup duty at area parks are big draws. So are local politics.

"What we're doing here is showing people what Democrats can do," said Noble, who is also a member of the St. George group. "There's a lot of interest in doing charitable things, and that's good. What people need to do now is run for election," he said, noting that the only thing holding people back is imagining they won't do well.

Pete Ashdown, Democratic challenger to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, spoke to the group on Monday and knows only too well the point that Noble is trying to make.

"I think you can either win an election by fear or by hope," said Ashdown, a 38-year-old father of three and owner of Xmission, an Internet service provider. "What's extraordinary to me is that there are many people out there who say they are ready for a change. If I can get my face, name and background out to Utahns, then I think we're going to win this thing."

Finding Democrats willing to file for public office in Utah's Dixie isn't an easy task, Noble said.

"I've got two campaign managers, but nobody to run yet," he said. "Whether I'll get people to run, I don't know. But we're starting early in the day now and maybe we can generate interest and get somebody."

Issues dear to Democrats in Utah could appeal to the moderate GOP voter as well, said James Humphreys, a Utah Republican who is throwing his vote behind Ashdown.

"I'm a Republican Party member and I know this is a big no-no for me, but my party has been highjacked by people who don't represent my views," Humphreys said during a telephone interview from his Ogden home. "There are a bunch of people like me who think the same way."

About 20 of those like-minded individuals recently met with Ashdown at Humphrey's home in a sort of getting-to-know-you session, he added.