The Utah County Democratic Party is holding its county convention today, and the party's direction over the coming year could hang in the balance.

Convention goers will be voting on a new executive committee. They'll have two choices -- the New Democrats led by Richard Davis and the Daily Democrats led by Mary Lou Huffmon.

It's also a choice between whether they will steer their party left or right.

With two very different sets of candidates for the party's executive offices, the selection of new leadership will have a major impact on the tone and tenor of next year's party platform.

Huffmon and the Daily Democrats say they are pushing for a more centrist platform that any Democratic candidate could stand on and have a chance at success. They call the New Democrats too conservative.

For their part, the New Democrats refer to the Daily Democrats as the "liberal wing" of their party, thinking of themselves as the moderate center.

Both groups believe that the Utah County Democratic Party has been suffering from low interest and poor structure over the past several years. The New Democrats call the party a "virtual nonentity."

Both groups want to win elections and increase the number of Democrats in office. Both feel that the Republican Party desperately needs local opposition.

Davis said that the Republican-controlled Utah Legislature is no longer representing the traditional values of Utahns and is instead opting for "extremist right wing" values.

In reference to issues like education, school vouchers, transportation and health care, Davis said that "we think that the Republican legislators are not holding to those values."

The question that conventioneers will have to answer comes down to the differences between the two competing tickets.

The New Democrats are seeking to pull from the ranks of disaffected Republicans. Many of the New Democrat platform issues support those similar to those of the Republican Party, including abortion.

The current county party platform includes a plank that mirrors the stance of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' view on abortion. Huffmon said that abortion shouldn't be addressed in the Democrats' platform at all, though she personally notes her support Roe v. Wade.

Davis said that opposition to abortion absolutely should be a part of their platform.

Issues that Huffmon hopes to put forward are health care for everyone, public safety, economic stability and civil rights.

"That's what's harming families these days," Huffmon said. "It's not how the family's made up."

She said the real issues for families that government could address include not being able to earn enough money, not having health care and not having job security.

Huffmon said that Daily Democrats are also seeking to run candidates in every race, while the New Democrats' Davis said that they will be pushing primarily for viable candidates in specific races.

The convention will start at 6:30 p.m. today in the Provo City Council chambers. Anyone may come, register to vote as a Democrat and participate in the election.

Nathan Johnson can be reached at 344-2543 or at njohnson@heraldextra.com.

Running for the Utah County Democratic Party Executive Committee:

The New Democrats

Richard Davis - Chair

Larry Brown - Vice-Chair

Hinckley Jones-Sanpei - Secretary

Kristin Gerdy - Treasurer

www.newutahcountydems.com

The Daily Democrats

Mary Lou Huffmon - Chair

Kena Jo Mathews - Vice Chair

Millicent Lewis - Secretary

Chris Stowe - Treasurer

www.dailydemocrats.org

Utah County Democratic Party:

www.utahcountydemocrats.org

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.