The burglar alarm that sounded during Saturday's Utah County Democratic Party convention turned out to e a false alarm, but Democrats hope just the same to steal a few seats this fall from Republicans.
The convention at Timpview High School, interrupted for about 45 minutes after a burglar alarm was tripped by a janitor, attracted nearly 250 of the party faithful."For a non-statewide election year, that's a good turnout," said county Democratic Party Chairman Bob Stringham. He said the convention left him optimistic about the party's chances this fall.
"I was really tickled with the convention, even with the little break we got," he said in reference to the alarm. "There was a lot of energy, and the people feel we're going to win some seats. There's going to be a two-party system again in Utah County."
Stringham said 1990 is a good year to elect Democrats in Utah County because, "I think the Republicans have demonstrated their inability to get good candidates."
County delegates pared the race for county attorney to one Democratic candidate as C. Robert Collins, who received 71 percent of the delegate vote, eliminated Brent D. Young. Collins, American Fork, worked several years for the Salt Lake County attorney's office before going into private law practice.
"He's definitely the best candidate out of either party," Stringham said of Collins, who has done voluntary work for the county Democratic Party. Collins will square off this fall against a GOP challenger for the seat being vacated by Utah County Attorney Steve Killpack.
In the party's other contested race - for the District 60 House seat held by Rep. John Valentine, R-Orem - H.K. Pang ousted Ernest Rogers with 80 percent of the District 60 delegate vote.
"I think he has a chance" against Valentine, who is seeking re-election, Stringham said. He predicted other Democratic candidates will do well this fall as well, including Marie F. Van Wagenen, who is running for the seat being vacated by County Commissioner Sid Sandberg.
No Democrats are running for Commissioner Malcolm Beck's seat, but if Commissioner Brent Morris steps down as he has pledged, Stringham said, "We will have a Democrat step forward."
Delegates heard from 3rd District congressional candidate Bill Orton, state Democratic Party Chairman Peter Billings, Senate District 13 candidate E. George Mantes and South Lake Mayor Jim Davis, who offered the convention's keynote address.
In other business, delegates debated portions of the party's proposed platform but postponed approval. After the party's platform committee reworks portions of the platform, including the preamble, delegates will be called back into session, Stringham said.