Utah Democrats seek to tear down political walls

Ronald Reagan is the last man anyone might think to hear quoted by Utah Democrats, but tearing down walls became the theme of this year's convention.

Foremost in their sights is tearing down the wall that has historically kept Democrats out of Utah offices.

"Our next governor is in this room today," newly re-elected Democratic Chairman Wayne Holland said to the crowd of delegates in the convention's meeting hall, the Murray High School auditorium. Utah hasn't had a Democratic governor since 1984. Rep. Jim Matheson and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon were trumpeted by the party as viable candidates to join the race.

Even Sam Granato, a member of the state's liquor board, has his sights set on Utah Republican Sen. Bob Bennett's seat in Congress. He received the full backing of his party Saturday afternoon, but not everyone present was so sure the Democrats can win their seats following business as usual.

Jeff Bell, the defeated candidate for Holland's position, doesn't think his way of doing things is going to tear down the wall between them and elected office. During his speech to the delegates, Bell criticized Utah's Democratic Party for relying on old-fashioned methods to get the message out instead of adapting to current trends.

"We need to quit romancing newspapers when the average Utahn watches 1,500 to 1,600 hours of television a year," he said. The newspaper readership numbers are dwindling, and the party needs to shift its public debate with Republicans and its advertising accordingly or continue to suffer the same defeats in Utah, he said.

During President Barack Obama's run for office, which had much of the nation captivated in "Obama-mania," the Democrats only won two new seats in the Legislature. Bell cites it as indicative that all of the money the party can raise is for naught if it doesn't get more blue seats in government.

But Democratic delegates, including Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake City, said they re-elected Holland precisely for his track record with successful fundraising. The party had more than 1,200 additional donors in 2008 than in 2006, outraising the Republican Party. Holland says that most of the candidates who lost still came very close, and a continuity of effort and persistence on the ground and at people's doors can eventually overcome their opposition.