Utah Democrats may not have a credible candidate for governor as the filing deadline speeds toward them, but they do have a sense of humor.
"If you haven't been asked to run for governor yet it's because your line was busy or your kids forgot to give you the message," party vice chairman Fae Beck joked at Saturday's state central committee meeting.Only perennial candidate Byron Marchant has filed as a Democrat to run against Gov. Mike Leavitt, but party chairman Mike Zuhl promised Saturday that the party will have a credible candidate signed up by Monday's 5 p.m. deadline.
Zuhl said he has spoken with a party member willing to run against the popular Republican incumbent and is confident he will come through on his promise to run. Zuhl, however, stopped short of naming the candidate.
Zuhl did note the party's sole incumbent state officeholder, Attorney General Jan Graham, is running again and several other candidates have come forward, including Emery County's Karen Truman for state auditor. He also promised a candidate for state treasurer.
On the congressional level, Davis County party chairman Greg Sanders is running against incumbent Rep. Jim Hansen in the 1st District, Ross Anderson has filed and state Rep. Kelly Atkinson will file on Monday in the 2nd District. Democratic incumbent Rep. Bill Orton is running again in the 3rd District, Zuhl told the committee members.
The woes of incumbent GOP Congresswoman Enid Greene Waldholtz were also good for some laughs. "Joe Waldholtz was a gift from God," Beck said to Democratic cheers.
Zuhl said he's optimistic about the 1996 elections. "I'm feeling very positive about 1996. It's going to be a good year for Democrats across the country and a good year for Democrats here," Zuhl said.
Zuhl, along with House Minority Leader Rep. Frank Pignanelli, were critical of the recently adjourned Utah Legislature.
The lawmakers failed to grapple with issues that are important to Utahns, such as education, families, and tax relief for working families, Zuhl said, and that will come back to haunt GOP legislators in the fall elections.
Pignanelli noted the Legislature approved an $80 million tax cut but concentrated it in income and property tax relief instead of removing the sales tax on food where it would have most helped working families.