Throwing Candy with J. Dell Holbrook

Last Saturday the Miller kids joined future Davis County Commissioner J. Dell Holbrook at the 2008 West Bountiful City Independence Celebration Parade to throw candy.

The kids had a great time throwing 30 lbs. of sweet water taffy to the cheering crowd and I was personally honored to be the official player piano piano player.

I think J. Dell won "The Biggest Political Banner Ever, in West Bountiful" contest, but I'm not sure that is actually official.

When I ran for commissioner two years ago I was in a l0t of parades and occasionally I would hear a shout out from someone I knew in the crowd, but that experience was nothing compared to the shout outs J. Dell received in West Bountiful. It seemed like everyone in West Bountiful knew J. Dell and wanted to congratulate and/or thank him for running.

The best quote of the day was, "Hey J. Dell, what you running for?"

The parade was great fun and the Miller kids and their cousins wanted to thank future commissioner Holbrook for asking them to ride on his float and throw candy.

What could be better than that!

Sami Boy is so happy!

Abby and cousin Alex are all smiles too

Kids from 17 months to 63 rode on J. Dell's float

The Val Verda Stake got stuck

Alex, Abby, Anna, William, and Sami with future commissioner Holbrook

"Hey J. Dell, what you running for?"

Davis County's next commissioner, J. Dell Holbrook

Road back to office?
Dem eyes Davis County Commission seat
By Cathy McKitrick
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:

n.
fluke
(flook) [Informal] a result, esp. a successful one, brought about by accident; stroke of luck
- Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition

Some called it a fluke when Democrat J. Dell Holbrook got elected to the Davis County Commission in 1990.

After all, Republicans had enjoyed total dominance in the largely white, largely Mormon county for three decades.

The small Democratic gain marked by Holbrook's election 18 years ago has not been duplicated since.

But this year the 62-year-old Holbrook is back, ready to test his chances to win another term on the three-person commission.

"Once you have insanity, it can recur," quips Holbrook about his reasons for a repeat run.

Holbrook faces a formidable Republican opponent in West Point Mayor John Petroff.

Petroff, in his second term leading his fast-growing westside city, has well-established relationships and support within the Davis GOP, an organization secure in the fact that it wins elections.

"Government should not hinder our success as businessmen. It should help us," Petroff says, summarizing his philosophy of efficient, nonintrusive government.

Holbrook describes himself as a Cal Rampton Democrat, referring to the late three-term governor who was born and reared in Davis County. He acknowledges his strong Republican and Mormon roots, underpinnings he shares with most Davis County voters.

So why the blue streak when he could easily go red?

"A one-party system doesn't serve us well," Holbrook says. "When one faction gets too powerful, it becomes abusive. We need checks and balances."

While Petroff touts the state's stable economy as a tribute to Republican ideals, Holbrook points to Davis County's double-digit property tax increases that occurred under Republican reign.
"Taxes have doubled since I served on the commission," Holbrook says. "The only thing comparable is the rise in elected officials' wages."

Holbrook recalls making about $45,000 a year during his single term. Now Davis commissioners receive an annual salary of $108,000.

During his short stint at the helm, Holbrook scrambled to get the causeway to Antelope Island rebuilt.

"It had washed out and UDOT estimated it would cost $40 million to rebuild," Holbrook says, noting he had witnessed large numbers of international tourists who had hoped to reach the island.

With the help of former Davis Public Works Director Sid Smith and then-Gov. Norm Bangerter, Holbrook put together a successful $16 million renovation, and a modest toll helped fund the road's upkeep.

Holbrook ran unsuccessfully to regain the seat in 1994 and 1998.

"Some might say I'm gutsy to run again, others might say I'm mentally defective."

To Rob Miller, vice chairman of the State Democratic Party, the choice is clear.

"They need him so badly," Miller says. "J. Dell is a true administrator, someone who can go in and cut the fat."

Right now the commission seat belongs to Alan Hansen, who retires at the end of the year.

"I'm 100 percent behind Petroff," Hansen says. "I think he's the best man for the job."

Hansen acknowledges that his mother and grandfather were Democrats.

"I know good people on both sides," he says. "But it's hard to say if a Democrat can get elected in Davis. The statistics bear it out that it probably won't happen."
cmckitrick@sltrib.com

Democrats in Davis recruiting candidates

By Joseph M. Dougherty
Deseret Morning News
Published: November 4, 2007

FARMINGTON — Utah Democrats are gearing up for runs at every partisan seat that will be up for election in 2008, and they want lots of help.
"We're going to fill every legislative seat," said Rob Miller, vice chairman of the Utah State Democratic Party. "We're going to find the best names we can."

Miller is charged with heading up the recruitment of Democratic candidates in the most heavily Republican state and he said his mission is not a lost cause.

He points to Democratic governors Calvin Rampton and Scott Matheson Sr. as examples of the popularity Democrats have had in the past and he hopes to resurrect that popularity during the 2008 elections.

In Davis County, Miller will have his work cut out for him. In 2006, he and fellow Democrat Chris Martinez were defeated in races for two county commission seats, both of which went to Republicans.

In fact, a Democrat has not been elected to the County Commission since J. Dell Holbrook was elected in 1990 and served one term.

Both Miller and Holbrook recently told a group of local Democrats that their party would bring more accountability to the County Commission.

"We have languished for 12 years with no one holding office other than Republicans," Holbrook said in a plea to county residents. "If you don't want to run for office, help someone who will."

Miller said, "If Davis County were smart, it would be asking that man, J. Dell Holbrook, to run again."

One seat on the County Commission — the one held by commission Chairman Alan Hansen — is up for election in 2008.

Miller said he doesn't want to foster animosity between the two parties and invited a Republican, Bountiful resident Ron Mortensen, co-founder of CitizensForTaxFairness.org, to share ideas for tax reform in Davis County, such as urging officials to control spending and working with the Legislature to keep school districts from receiving property tax revenue.

"Just because we're in different parties doesn't mean we always have to have different opinions," Miller said.