Let's not give them a chance

It's that time of year again when the Legislative session ends and my favorite season begins: Campaign Season! Democrats have a great opportunity in 2008--in Utah and across the country. We started out with an amazing slate of qualified Presidential candidates and have never had to worry about who was the best to lead our country (they all are!).

This election has brought so much excitement already and that excitement will only swell the closer we get to Election Day. This excitement and desire for change has even been felt here in Utah. It's going to be a great year for Democrats and I hope you'll join us.

Rob, the "owner" of this blog and Vice Chair of the Party, has been busy recruiting candidates non-stop around the state. With the help of our county party leaders, we have some excellent Democratic candidates who are going to run this year; they know something is wrong in our state and are going to fight to change it. Even with the great results we've seen so far, we still need capable and willing people to step up and run in a few places. Two years ago, republicans claimed that Democrats did not deserve to win because we did not field candidates in every race. Let's not give them a chance to say that again!

I believe candidate recruitment is the responsibility of everyone in our party. If you or someone you know has ever thought, "Hey, I could be a legislator too!" or, "You know, I'm just as smart (if not smarter) than that guy. I could do that!" then now is the time for you to stop thinking and DO. This is the year for you to run. Let's show republicans in this state that public office is a privilege--a sacrosanct sacrament almost--NOT A RIGHT!

Candidates are needed on every level. Filing begins this Friday. If you are interested in running, let us know. If you know someone who'd be a quality candidate, let us know.

To paraphrase Senator Obama (and possibly our future President), "You are the one we've been waiting for." There's never been a better time to be a Democrat in Utah or to run for office. Do it. You know you want to.

Oh, and for those of you who say Democrats can't win in Utah, I say, "How do you know unless we run and you work your butt off for them?"

From Utah Policy Daily: What’s With Utah County Dems?

Utah County Democrats are offering the strongest field of legislative candidates that I’ve seen in many years of observing Utah politics. The remarkable class of candidates reflects the strong leadership county Democratic Chair Richard Davis and Vice-Chair Larry Brown. Davis, a BYU political science professor, is showing that someone who hangs out in the ivory tower can also fight and scrap and do the nuts and bolts grassroots work so important in building a county party.

Many of the candidate recruits are prominent in their communities and have strong ties to BYU and the LDS Church. Most of them will run smart, well-organized campaigns. While winning in overwhelmingly Republican Utah County will always be difficult for Democrats, it’s clear that GOP candidates are going to have to get out and work, for a change. Here’s a list of the current Democratic candidates, with more expected to announce over the next few weeks. The Republican incumbent in each district is also noted.

Senate 13: Ken Peay is a retired commander of the Utah Highway Patrol in Utah County and worked in law enforcement for 31 years. He heads the criminal justice program at Provo College. In 2006, he ran against Becky Lockhart in House District 64. (Sen. Mark Madsen)

House 27: Gwyn Franson is a former member of the Highland City Council. She was the only person to be elected to two terms on the council. She is currently an elementary school teacher at Highland Elementary School. Her husband, Jay, is currently the mayor of Highland. (Rep. John Dougall)

House 58: Steven Baugh is a former superintendent of the Alpine School District. A native of Orem, he is currently on the faculty of the College of Education at BYU. (Rep. Stephen Sandstrom)

House 59: Paul Thompson is a former president of Weber State University and former dean of the Marriott School of Management at BYU. He recently returned as president of the Massachusetts Boston LDS Mission. (Rep. Lorie Fowlke)

House 60: Boyd McAffee is a retired educator in the Alpine School District and currently director of the Clear Creek Camp in Scofield, Utah. He is a long time Boy Scouter. His father served as a Democrat in the state legislature representing Provo. (Rep. Brad Daw)

House 61: Deon Turley is the president of the Provo Council PTA. She previously served as secretary of the Provo council PTA; secretary to the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters; and Deputy County Clerk in Weber County. (Rep. Keith Grover)

House 62: Claralyn Hill is a local estate planning attorney in Provo. She is a co-author (along with Dallin H. Oaks and Reese Hansen) of a well-known textbook on trusts. She has served on the boards of several community organizations and is a popular lecturer with her husband, Ned, on budgeting and estate planning. Her husband is dean of the Marriott School of Management at BYU. (Rep. Chris Herrod)

House 63: Don Jarvis is a retired professor of Russian at BYU. He was director of the faculty center at BYU and is currently a consultant on faculty development at UVSC. He also served as president of the Russia Moscow LDS Mission. (Rep. Stephen Clark)

Run, Frank, Run!

WE WANT YOU!