A statement from Wayne Holland, Chair of the Utah Democratic Party, on the death of LDS President Hinckley

It is customary for organizations to release short statements of condolence at the death of prominent community leaders. Upon learning of the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I found it impossible to sum up the Utah Democratic Party’s feelings about his leadership in a few short words. Utah Democrats appreciate his contributions to the world and our community too much to let his passing be memorialized with a one paragraph statement.

Utah Democrats embrace diversity as a source of strength in our community rather than a reason for division. President Hinckley exemplified this principle more than any other Utahn. He did more than just outreach to people around the world. In various LDS temple dedications and other services, he celebrated our cultural differences and, in doing so, helped us all discover the common humanity that we share. President Hinckley demonstrated this value with his good works around the globe and here at home in Utah.

Utah Democrats are constant advocates that access to government services be as widespread as possible. This principle is reminiscent of President Hinckley’s commitment to improving the access of LDS Church members to facilities where they could participate in sacred temple ordinances without undue travel and financial hardship aiding many LDS faithful who previously had little hope of ever attending far-away temples. Again, the work of his life demonstrated our common values.

President Hinckley wrote two books that many Utah Democrats cherish. Democrats in Utah and around the country are familiar with his 2000 book “Standing for Something.” The book speaks to people of all political persuasions and all faiths expounding on common personal virtues that bring us together as a community and help uplift us. The Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, was featured on the dust jacket of that book. While the book focuses on ten specific values, it provided Democrats in Utah with another virtue – courage, the courage to stand for their convictions which are based on the ten virtues that he did write about.

The other book of importance to Utah Democrats was President Hinckley’s biography “James Henry Moyle: The Story of a Distinguished American and an Honored Churchman” published in 1951. James Moyle was the first Chairman of the Utah State Democratic Party and our party’s nominee for governor and the United States Senate in the first two decades of our State’s history. He served on the Democratic National Committee until 1932. Mr. Moyle was a prominent attorney who went to law school in Michigan with George Sutherland, who later became a Supreme Court Justice. Moyle would serve in the Treasury Department of two national administrations for Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This book is an important historical document for the Utah Democratic Party and we are grateful to President Hinckley for his work on this important text.

Another thing we need to mention is President Hinckley’s dedication to openness both with the news media and in the political process though establishment of the Public Affairs Committee. The establishment of this important Church committee institutionalized a method of communication between the Church and the secular world. He used it masterfully, empowering the committee to meet with local and national officials and arranging numerous interviews with the national and local news media, increasing transparency about the LDS Church and its positions.

As an example: For years, politicians and the news media have treated political statements coming from the LDS Church administration as though they were delivered in some code that could only be discerned by the worthy. One particular instance took place in May of 1998 when Elder Marlin Jensen speaking for the LDS Church made its strongest public statement to that date about the need for political diversity among members, while expressing concerns the Republican Party is becoming the “church party.” The statement was immediately dismissed by then Congressman James V. Hansen who insisted that if the LDS Church really meant what Elder Jensen had said it would have come from President Hinckley. So, at a later date when President Hinckley was asked at the National Press Club, “Given the platform and positions taken by the Democratic Party, can you be a good church member and a Democrat?” He answered, “Yes, I think so.” He thus put an end to the debate.

Finally, on a personal note, I will always appreciate the words of comfort that he brought to the family and friends of former Congressman Wayne Owens by speaking at his funeral services. Congressman Owens was a close friend and mentor to me. I will never forget President Hinckley’s comment that, “Any man who is engaged in the cause of peace is engaged in the cause of Christ. That was the essence of Wayne's life.” President Hinckley offered his comfort to thousands of others in a similar manner that I know will always be appreciated.

The world has lost an irreplaceable role model who taught us how to reach out to one another and appreciate our diversity. He showed us the importance of access to the facilities and services that are important to conducting our lives in a fulfilling manner. He taught us to stand for something and live our virtues. He gave Utah Democrats an important text telling of our Party’s history. And, he was a community leader, who brought some openness and transparency through his willingness to talk to the public. We thank his family for sharing him with us and supporting his efforts. We thank the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint for providing us with such an inspiring leader. At this time our prayers are with them.

Wayne Holland Jr. in The Spectrum

S. Utah Democratic conventions

Southwestern Utah is seeing the most rapid population growth of any area in the United States. St. George and surrounding communities have experienced unprecedented growth of 40 percent or more since 2000. This growth promises to continue.

As Washington and Iron counties continue their rapid growth, local and state leaders will face challenges, among them health care, transportation and water shortages. Education is likely to remain at or near the top of the list.

Utah's looming teacher shortage coupled with southwestern Utah's record growth makes this an especially bad time for us to turn our backs on public education. Utah's Democratic leaders recommended a long-term investment in education during the 2007 legislative session, including a 10 percent increase in state spending over each of the next five years.

This increase would have enabled us to move up in the education funding race from 51st in the nation. It would have allowed us to provide salaries to attract desperately needed new teachers instead of driving them away after just a few years of service. Unfortunately, the Legislature rejected this idea, deciding instead on a large one-time increase in education spending and a huge long-term investment in subsidies for private education academies was the way to go.

Private school vouchers, opposed by every Democrat in the Legislature, draw funding from the general fund that provides the revenue needed to build and maintain Utah's infrastructure and support other basic government services. Voucher supporters like St. George's Republican Rep. Stephen Urquhart ignore the impact the establishment of a new program that competes with transportation, health care, etc., for funding will have on their constituents as St. George's rapid growth continues and demands for these services become more urgent.

We cannot afford to ignore the significant demands our education, health care and transportation systems face in the name of conducting risky taxpayer funded experiments intended to promote private education academies. Our continued economic growth depends upon investing our state resources wisely, not adopting programs developed in right-wing think tanks and promoted with the donations of large out of state corporations.

Utah Democrats such as Congressman Jim Matheson have represented southern Utah well. He has been an outspoken critic of Bush administration proposals such as the recently canceled Divine Strake test and has introduced legislation to prevent a repeat of Utah's tragic experience with nuclear testing. Congressman Matheson has also been a strong voice in Congress for a return to fiscal responsibility, a value Utahns share.

Our party's history of standing up for education, fiscal responsibility, and strengthening working families represents the kind of visionary leadership Utah's Dixie needs as it faces the future. This weekend State Sen. Pat Jones will be joining me and other Utah Democrats at the Washington and Iron County conventions. We invite voters to join us and learn more about our party.

Wayne Holland is the chairman of the Utah State Democratic Party

Utah needs America

As Bob Aagard mentioned on his blog, The World, According To ME, I was on NIGHTSIDE last night where I fully endorsed Senator Orrin Hatch for his campaign to replace current US Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales.

When Michael Castner asked who I thought Governor Huntsman should appoint my immediate response was Utah Democratic Chairman, Wayne Holland Jr (after all, he is the chair).

Michael laughed and then asked who I really thought would be the Governor's choice. Ethan Millard suggested that Governor Huntsman should appoint himself (which isn't a bad idea at all), but in the 0.25 seconds I had to answer I mention that if it had to be a Republican that President John Valentine would be a good pick for the Republicans as I feel he is a true statesman.

Today JM Bell e-mailed me and lovingly scolded me by reminding me that President Valentine was the guy who killed all day Kindergarten because of a joke that Governor Huntsman made about the Utah legislature at a dinner in Washington DC. What I haven't shared with Jeff or anyone else until now is that I actually have a great candidate for that seat if President Valentine were to suddenly move on.

Unfortunately due to time restraints I was unable to give Michael my best recommendation. If Senator Hatch is nominated by President Bush I think that it would be in Utah's best interest to appoint Congressman Jim Matheson as our next senator. Jim is Utah's best congressman with the highest approval ratings from our federal delegation, and quite frankly, Utah needs America, especially now that both the House and Senate are under Democratic control.

I want to thank Michael Castner and Ethan Millard for taking my call last night; Bob Aagard for not losing that loving feeling (to understand you need to check out Bob's blog), and to Congressman Jim Matheson and Jeff Bell for inspiring this post.

With every best wish,

The Utah Amicus

It's time for Utah Democrats to make this a two-Party state

By Wayne Holland Jr.

During the 2006 election, one local Republican candidate ran against his Democratic opponent arguing his district deserved "a representative in the Utah State Legislature who is seen as more than an interloper in a one-party system."

There was a time when a "one-party system" was something to be ashamed of, but apparently not anymore.

Being perceived as a "one-party" state has not exactly resulted in better treatment for Utah citizens from previous Republican-controlled Congresses or the White House. Having our votes taken for granted by the Republican Party has proven bad for both the democratic process we hold dear and for our state in general.

Perhaps the most glaring recent example was the proposed Divine Strake test. Though eventually canceled, it took considerable outcry from the citizens of Utah. Having Republican congressmen like Chris Cannon speak favorably of the test didn't help matters.

The Republican Party demonstrated again this month why enjoying solid support in Utah won'ttranslate easily into benefits for our state. Utah has been seeking a fourth congressional district since the 2000 census. The Legislature was even called back into special session in 2006 to redraw district boundaries in anticipation of the lame duck Republican Congress finally taking some action on the proposal. They never did.

Within 48 hours of Democrats passing a bill out of committee earlier this month giving Utah the fourth congressional district it has been seeking for seven years, President Bush announced his opposition to it. No more than a couple of more days passed before Sen. Bennett declared the bill's chances in the Senate practically zero as a result.

Republicans serving on Utah's Capitol Hill are not immune to the arrogance that comes with almost absolute power over the legislative process. Public opinion polls have consistently shown strong support among Utahns for their neighborhood public schools. In spite of this fact, vouchers passed the House by one vote and the Senate by nine votes without a single Democrat
voting in favor in either chamber.

Popular reforms that consistently enjoy two-thirds support or greater -- including the creation of a bipartisan redistricting committee, banning or further limiting gifts from lobbyists to legislators and prohibiting legislators from using campaign funds for personal purposes -- rarely
received a hearing in committee, let alone a vote on the floor of the House or Senate.

Perhaps the most significant of the reform measures introduced by Democrats during the 2007 session, but denied even the benefit of a debate in committee, was Rep. Roz McGee's legislation creating a bipartisan redistricting commission. Utah is not nearly as monolithic as it appears. Upward of 43 percent of Utahns vote entirely or partially Democratic in just about every election. Unfortunately for Utah's voters, our Legislature has acquired national renown for using the redistricting process to select their voters instead of enabling voters to hold their legislators accountable.

After the 2000 census, Utah's redistricting fiasco garnered attention in papers like the Wall Street Journal, which pointed in disgust at the moving of nearly 700,000 voters from one congressional district to another in a blatant attempt to get rid of Congressman Jim Matheson. The Standard-Examiner, The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News were openly critical of this blatant gerrymandering, as well.

It has become apparent the voices of Utah voters are not being heard on key issues. The Utah Democratic Party commends those willing to exercise their constitutional rights to be the ultimate "deciders" in Utah by pursuing referenda to ensure they are finally heard, and commits itself to continuing to fight for their interests into the future.

Holland is chairman of Utah's Democratic Party.

Read: Voucher Referendum not dead, but those opposed to it do raise some interesting questions

By Utah Democratic Chair, Wayne Holland Jr.

There was a flurry of articles in this morning's papers regarding the possibility the voucher referendum just launched to overturn House Bill 148 creating the most extensive voucher program in the country may be dead almost before it really got started. See the Deseret Morning News' New fight over vouchers, the Salt Lake Tribune's Loophole may ensure vouchers go forward, or the Daily Herald's Anti-voucher drive may be dead.

Voucher supporters seemed almost gleeful arguing those initiating the referendum should have filed to overturn House Bill 174, which amended the original law- House Bill 148- creating the voucher program in the first place. "It appears they filed a referendum against the wrong piece of legislation" crowed Senate Majority Leader Curtis Bramble in the Salt Lake Tribune. In the Deseret Morning News Bramble argued "The only big difference [between the two bills] that I am aware of is the hold harmless...

Click here to read Wayne's article in its entirety on the Utah State Democratic Party blog.