Wayne Holland Tribute from 2011 USDC Convention

Leadership: Utah's Democratic Chair

Wayne Hollnd, Jr. at today's Central Committe meeting

Their silence speaks volumes

Sen. Chris Buttars believes the issue is done, but his constituents have not weighed in

By Wayne Holland
Utah State Democratic Chair
From Utah State Democratic Party Blog

State Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, told the Deseret Morning News today [02/14/08] that he apologizes for using a racist description of a bill being debated in the Senate.

He said, "I stand by my apology. That's it. This issue is done as far as I'm concerned."

And apparently that is the sentiment of the elected Republican leadership of Utah – enough is enough, let it go.

Their silence speaks volumes.

Gov. Huntsman and Senate President Valentine, the issue is far from done.

Sen. Buttars’ District 10 constituents in November will have an opportunity to make a decision on their representation in the Senate - whether Buttars’ bullying, abuse of power, moral crusading, and flippant bigotry best represents their values to Utah and to the rest of the country.

We think they deserve much more than a constant embarrassment. The Democratic Party of Utah will offer them a candidate they can respect and admire, one who will work to find sensible solutions to common problems.

Speaker Curtis, listen up!

Curtis refuses to listen to the people
By Wayne Holland

In his column (June 5), Doug Robinson refers to House Speaker Greg Curtis as "Mr. Twenty" in reference to the speaker's narrow 20 vote victory last November. Most of the remainder of his column is dedicated to why "Mr. Twenty" is so willing to buck the will of his constituents on issues like vouchers and the Real Salt Lake stadium deal in spite of his obvious growing unpopularity.

Robinson concludes Curtis' willingness to stick his neck out on issues unpopular with the voters, particularly vouchers, is an indication he is attempting "to make someone happy." Otherwise, his actions "make no sense." I respectfully disagree. Curtis' actions make perfect sense when you take into account the arrogance that comes with a long stretch of single-party dominance. This dominance itself, perpetuated through the nation's most egregious example of gerrymandering, institutionalizes arrogance and unaccountability.

Since the voucher referendum received sufficient signatures to be placed before the voters, we have seen more arrogance on display than at any time in recent memory. Within days of telling the State Board of Education they must implement a voucher program "immediately" on the grounds "All legislation is presumed valid until it is stayed or overturned by a court. ...," Attorney General Mark Shurtleff announced he had sent Utah's gasoline retailers "a letter well over two years ago that I wasn't going to enforce (The Motor Fuel Marketing Act)." Apparently our attorney general is of the opinion he gets to decide for himself which laws need to be reviewed by the courts and which ones he just gets to ignore.

Utah Democrats have joined with some Republican legislators to support letting the people have their say on vouchers. In a letter sent to the governor's office on June 6, House Minority Leader Ralph Becker and Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich endorsed a plan offered by two House Republicans to repeal HB174 until the voters have spoken. "In the event that the referendum fails, the Legislature can then re-enact HB174."

This is a fair solution that forces both sides of the controversial voucher question to defer to the voters. Unfortunately, arrogance and ideology continue to trump people power in Utah's Legislature. What the people decide is beside the point for Speaker Curtis, Sen. Bramble and others more committed to vouchers than the citizens of Utah they are sworn to serve.

In signing the referendum petition, Utah voters said "yes" to the democratic process and should demand their leaders do the same. This November Utahns will have the opportunity to say "yes" to public education, and we deserve legislators who are willing to hear us when we do.
Utah's Democratic legislators are willing to set aside their views on the voucher question and allow the people to be heard. Speaker Curtis, Sen. Bramble and others have made it abundantly clear they intend to ignore the will of the people regardless of the outcome of the vote on the voucher question. Utah's Constitution recognizes the people as a co-equal branch of state government. We deserve legislators who are not too arrogant to defer to the people when they exercise their rights through the referendum and initiative process. "Mr. Twenty" would do well to remember that come November 2008 voters will remember his refusal to listen to them.

From USDP Blog: Arrogance and Abuse of Power

Frustrated by his failed attempt to convince the Utah State Board of Education or their legal counsel that a bill entitled "Education Voucher Amendments" is really a stand alone bill that implements the nation's most extensive voucher program for private academies, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has finally gone too far. Today he fired Special Assistant Attorney Generals Jean Hill and Carol Lear for telling the State Board of Education a bill with "Amendments" in the title cannot be implemented when the bill it is amending is facing a referendum vote in November.

Republican leaders on the hill, Speaker Curtis and Senator Bramble in particular, have made it abundantly clear they will not abide by the will of the people if they don't get their voucher program. Now Attorney General Shurtleff, a man who has taken it upon himself to decide which laws will be enforced and which ones will not, has decided to begin firing anyone in his office that dares express a legal opinion that differs from his own. One wonders if Attorney General Shurtleff is now using Attorney General Gonzales' management style when it comes to the administration of justice in Utah.

In his May 11, 2007 letter to the Utah State Board of Education, Attorney General Shurtleff demanded the school board follow his instructions stating in bold print "I am the constitutionally designated sole legal advisor to both the Utah State Office of Education and the Utah State Board of Education." He went on to explain "All legislation is presumed valid until it is stayed or overturned by a court of competent jurisdiction or repealed by the legislature."

Not seven days passed before the same attorney general protecting the jurisdiction of the courts and the legislature when it comes to determining the validity of a law announced on KUTV more than two years had passed since he sent a letter to gas retailers in Utah informing them he would not enforce The Motor Fuel Marketing Act. "I sent a notice out, years ago to all the retailers out there. This is a law that I'm not going to enforce" he told KUTV.

Apparently our attorney general has determined that the courts, the legislature AND the attorney general can decide for themselves what laws are valid and which ones are not. Perhaps, being an attorney with an apparently unprecedented knowledge of the law, he can explain to Utahns exactly where in the Utah Constitution the attorney general is given the power to determine for his/herself what laws he/she will or will not enforce.

The time has come for elected officials willing not only to disregard the will of the people, but to boast about their plans to do so, to be shown the door. Utah Democrats will hold these officials accountable for their arrogance in 2008, of that they can be sure.

Wayne Holland featured on Utah Policy

Wayne Holland didn’t have a chance. The die was cast. His political proclivities were set at an early age, and they didn’t waver. By the age of 6, he was on his way to become State Democratic Party Chairman

Check Out,Wayne Holland: A Lifetime of Politics
By Greg Jarrad

Chairman Wayne Holland Jr. in Washington County