Demos defeat measure seeking impeachment

With one of their own serving as the county's mayor and the U.S. Congress now in their party's hands, Salt Lake County Democrats were in an upbeat mood Saturday at their annual convention.

There were even predictions that Democrats would one day hold a majority in the Utah Legislature.

The delegates voted down a resolution calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Although some of those speaking against the resolution said they favored impeachment, they argued that hearings would be divisive — and that the resolution would brand county Democrats as trouble-makers just when they are starting to make headway with Utah voters.

"I'm in favor of impeachment and have been for six years," delegate Arlene Pattison said, but added that voting for the resolution might label the county's Democrats as "extremist."

The resolution was put forward by peace activist James Valerian, who cited "numerous acts of treason."

Earlier in the day, the convention elected Christian Burridge the new chairman of the county party in an uncontested race. Burridge, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Congress against Rep. Chris Cannon , R-Utah, last fall, told the delegates that "This is our time. This is a generational moment for us."

Democrats now hold a majority of Salt Lake County's seats in the Utah House, Burridge reminded the delegates, and "there are many more we can pick up. ... We are seven seats from taking over the Senate, and we can do that."

"We're on the offensive in Salt Lake County, not the defensive," Burridge said later in an interview. His objective, he said, "is to take our state back, to have a two-party system. And that starts in Salt Lake County."

Weston Clark, elected Salt Lake County Democratic Party vice chairman, described the county as "an island of blue in a red sea, an island of sanity amidst the insane." Salt Lake County is just the beginning, he said. "Soon we'll all feel safe to travel south of Point of the Mountain."

Utah State Democratic Chairman Wayne Holland was on hand for part of the Salt Lake County convention, held at Highland High School, before driving to Davis County for its convention and then on to Millard. As he travels the state, Holland said, he meets Republicans who say, "'I've never voted for a Democrat before in my life, but I've had enough.' They're signing up to be (Democratic) delegates."

In an interview outside the convention hall, Holland voiced his opposition to the impeachment resolution.

"We've come to the point where we just want the country to be healed," he said.

For a $1 contribution to Young Democrats, delegates could also vote in a straw poll for U.S. president. The winner was Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, followed by Sen. Barak Obama, D-Illinois, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

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E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com