CEDAR CITY — Democrats in Southern Utah are gearing up for the Utah Democratic Party’s statewide organizing convention, which is scheduled to be held in Cedar City for the first time ever.
The event, themed “Building for Lasting Change,” is scheduled for Saturday, May 20, at the America First Event Center on the Southern Utah University campus. Additional training sessions for party leaders will take place the day before. Convention participants will also have the option of participating virtually online. For more information about the convention, visit its website.
The statewide convention comes on the heels of the Iron County Democratic Party convention, which was held on the evening of May 6 at the Courtyard Marriott in Cedar City. At that dinner meeting, state delegates were chosen and other local party officers were elected.
The evening’s keynote speaker was Darlene McDonald, who ran for Utah’s 4th Congressional District last year, losing to Republican Burgess Owens.
“We must dispel the myth that Republicans are better for the economy,” McDonald said during her remarks, adding, “The data does not support that. And as Democrats, we must become better at messaging that. But we even fall into that trap: survey after survey after survey, even Democrats believe that the Republicans have been better for the economy.”
Added McDonald: “When Democrats are in the White House, we create more jobs. We do big things. We talk about making sure that we can have health care for everyone, or at least making sure that it is affordable.”
McDonald also called for less divisiveness and more civility, “making sure that we do love thy neighbor” and know exactly what that means.
“We should not see each other as evil,” she added.
“I’m going to be standing beside you. I’m going to be walking beside you. I’m going to be fighting with you,” McDonald continued. “We have to win in 2024. I know they say every time, ‘This election is going to be the most consequential election of our lifetime.’ Every single election is the most consequential election of our lifetime. And it has been that way ever since I’ve been voting. I’m not going to tell you how old I am. But every single one … we must vote in every election.”
During his welcoming remarks at the beginning of the meeting, Cedar City Council member R. Scott Phillips said, “I hope as we move forward in this convention tonight, as we look to the next two years ahead of us, that we will remember … we’re here to serve. We’re here to make lives better for the people we care about.”
Added Phillips:
We all chose to live in this city, this county, and this state for a reason. And for me, it’s about the relationships I have. It’s about the quality of life we have. And I think Democrats can do a better job of trying to make that happen than anyone else.
Party members then voted Kaja Bills and Katelyn Mumford to serve as state delegates, with Aidan Roustan and Marilyn Boudreau chosen as alternates.
In addition, Schuyler Rhodes was elected chairman of the Iron County Democratic Party, with Kathy Long and Steve Merrill as vice chairs, Stephanie Flores as secretary, Emily Dean as treasurer and Bruce Washburn as legislative chair.
Rhodes also gave remarks toward the end of the meeting, as did incumbent statewide party chair Diane Lewis, who is running for re-election. Other statewide party candidates who were present included vice chair candidate Nick Mitchell, secretary candidate Elizabeth Weight and incumbent treasurer Kathy Long, who is running unopposed for re-election.
Afterward, newly elected party chair Rhodes sent out an email to Iron County Democrats, expressing his gratitude for their support.
“It was a tight race, with me running unopposed and all,” he quipped. “But kidding aside, I want you to know that this is a charge I take very seriously and a challenge I pick up with enthusiasm. We have much to do to move our county and our state to a location of hope, compassion and justice. But I am confident that together, we will find success.”
Rhodes expressed a desire to see growing participation within party ranks, including a goal of allowing no races to go uncontested.
He also encouraged party members to “stand together without apology for what is good, what is right and what is true as we build a better future for everyone. And by everyone, I mean everyone. We seek to build a community that includes and engages all people, no exceptions.”
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