Cache Democrats host annual picnic
A pouring rain could not dampen the spirits of those attending Cache County’s second annual Campaign Kickoff Democratic Picnic Saturday.
“We knew we were underdogs in the election, but we didn’t know Mother Nature was against us, too,” said Vince Wickwar, a physics professor at Utah State University who organized the event. “If we had known, we would have held this in July and ended the drought sooner.
A group of loyal, local Democrats huddled under the picnic area in Merlin Olsen Central Park and listened to brief speeches by 2002 election candidates, including Congressional candidate Dave Thomas.
Thomas told the audience that in the last poll taken regarding the upcoming
election, Democrats were only 7 points behind Republicans.
“We hadn’t planned on being there until mid-October,” he said. “We’re coming on strong. By Nov. 5, we’re going to win.”
The way to win the race is to ensure there is a high turnout at the voting booths, he said.
“We need every single Democrat to vote. Your Independent friends out there – we need 60 percent of them,” Thomas said. “We need 15 to 20 percent of Republicans to vote for us, and we’re going to get it, because Republicans are so disillusioned by the shenanigans of their party.”
Thomas also denounced dishonest, big-business CEOs who steal money
from hard-working families in America.
“The Democratic Party is going to bring back trust to the American people,”
Thomas said. “We’re going to do the right thing.”
Also speaking at the picnic were the three Democratic County Council
candidates: Monti Jones, Justin Miller and Brian Chambers, who said every county seat is currently held by a Republican.
“One of my main motivations in running for political office was my concern and disappointment with a one-party government,” said Chambers, who is running for the northeast seat in the council.
Miller, who is also a student at USU, agreed.
“One party in charge of every county seat produces a lot of bad decisions,” he said, citing the current push to build a ski resort on Power Mountain as an
example.
Tim Hutson, candidate for the District 3 House of Representatives seat,
criticized the Legislature’s decision to make heavy cuts in public safety and education.
“I’m tired of us having to give an arm and a leg to these programs,” Hutson
said. “What we need to cut out are the people running the government from
their marble palace on the hill.”
Hutson is an elementary school teacher and emphasizes education as an area of concern, as does Connie Morgan, who is running against Loraine Pace for the District 4 House of Representatives seat.
She called the Legislature’s decision to limit residency eligibility for tuition purposes “hurtful.”
“If you don’t have a commitment [to education], you’ll never look for ways for long-term funding,” Morgan said. “Long-term funding requires teamwork, and I want to be on that team. I will always support families, no matter what party they are in.”
Dennis Austin, candidate for the District 5 seat in the House of
Representatives, sang a song he wrote about his joy in moving to Cache Valley from his home in Salt Lake City.
“I fell in love with this valley,” Austin said. “The reason I’m running is to
try to serve this people and maintain the quality of life.
After the speeches, attendees enjoyed freshly grilled hamburgers and live,
bluegrass music. Candidates mingled and spoke to them one-on-one,
rallying support and asking for financial donations.
-heidithue@cc.usu.edu