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Twenty years after earning distinction as the last Democrat elected from Utah County, Tim Moran died Friday at age 95.

The Spanish Fork native served in the Utah House for 12 years until 1996, when he was defeated by a Republican challenger.

Moran and his Senate counterpart, Eldon Money, were the last two Democrats serving from Utah County both from Spanish Fork. Moran won his final two-year term in 1994, while Money won his final four-year term in 1992.

Before his election to the House, Moran served four years on the Spanish Fork City Council and 12 years as mayor. He was a professional educator, ending a 35-year career as principal of Brockbank Elementary School. Services are set for Friday at 11 a.m. at the Spanish Fork LDS 12th Ward Chapel, 310 E. Center St.

Utah County Democratic Chairman Josh Hogan acknowledges that a generation after Morans defeat, it may yet be awhile before the next Democrat wins election in the biggest GOP bastion in a Republican state.

"Its going to be a long battle," Hogan says. "You need to change a lot of hearts and minds."

Hogan says the largest challenge is convincing people "Were not who you think we are."

His message is simple: "Our focus is to improve education, support livable wages and demand government transparency, and it certainly wouldnt hurt to do that in more breathable air."

Hogan praises the quality of candidates running on the Democratic ticket this year, including Zach Lewis, who is running for the House District 66 seat once held by Moran, but now occupied by Rep. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork. "Hes a promising young man just graduating from BYU law school," Hogan says of Lewis.

The party leader concedes he wishes he had a candidate in the Utah County Commission Seat A race where newcomer Greg Graves defeated incumbent Gary Anderson to claim the Republican nomination earlier this month.

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Last Democrat elected in Utah County dies at 95

By M.L. Johnson Associated Press

State Sen. Joe Leibham announces his candidacy for the U. S. House race Tuesday in Sheboygan, Wis. Leibham seeks the seat held by Rep. Tom Petri. (AP Photo/The Sheboygan Press, Gary C. Klein)

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Republican state Sen. Joe Leibham and Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris, a Democrat, announced their runs for Congress on Tuesday, with both saying that their ability to work with others made them a good choice to replace Republican Rep. Tom Petri.

Leibham, who has long been mentioned as a possible successor to Petri, launched his campaign at his parents' home in Sheboygan, where he was joined by three state lawmakers, the chairman of the county Republican Party and dozens of friends and relatives. While Leibham described himself as a strong conservative, many in the party see him as more mainstream than the two other Republicans already in the race, state Sen. Glenn Grothman, of West Bend, and state Rep. Duey Stroebel, of Saukville.

State Rep. Paul Tittl showed up to lend his support, saying afterward that while he knows and likes all three GOP candidates, Leibham's enthusiasm and work ethic make him stand out. Tittl also praised Leibham as someone who can unite conservatives and moderates and understands the district's values, which he described as "people going to church on Sunday values, people working very hard values."

"And I think they want their elected officials to understand what they are going through," added Tittl, who lives in Manitowoc.

Leibham, 44, described himself as someone who could break the gridlock in Washington even as he works to cut taxes, reduce the nation's debt and foster economic growth. He pointed to Gov. Scott Walker and other Republicans' efforts to cut spending and taxes in Wisconsin as the kind of thing that should be done in Washington and noted his backing of Walker's law eliminating most public employees' union rights.

Yet at the same time, Leibham said he was willing to work with Democrats at the national level.

"Collectively, we all share the same goal ... of working to restore the greatness of this nation," he said.

Harris, 58, said he would campaign on four key issues: funding Social Security, highway repairs, raising the minimum wage and college affordability. The first Democrat to join the race, he also said he has worked with Republicans and Democrats on his officially nonpartisan county board and would bring to Washington a willingness to negotiate.

Read the original here:
GOP's Leibham, Democrat Harris join race for Petri's seat

Twenty years after earning distinction as the last Democrat elected from Utah County, Tim Moran died Friday at age 95.

The Spanish Fork native served in the Utah House for 12 years until 1996, when he was defeated by a Republican challenger.

Moran and his Senate counterpart, Eldon Money, were the last two Democrats serving from Utah County both from Spanish Fork. Moran won his final two-year term in 1994, while Money won his final four-year term in 1992.

Before his election to the House, Moran served four years on the Spanish Fork City Council and 12 years as mayor. He was a professional educator, ending a 35-year career as principal of Brockbank Elementary School. Services are set for Friday at 11 a.m. at the Spanish Fork LDS 12th Ward Chapel, 310 E. Center St.

Utah County Democratic Chairman Josh Hogan acknowledges that a generation after Morans defeat, it may yet be awhile before the next Democrat wins election in the biggest GOP bastion in a Republican state.

"Its going to be a long battle," Hogan says. "You need to change a lot of hearts and minds."

Hogan says the largest challenge is convincing people "Were not who you think we are."

His message is simple: "Our focus is to improve education, support livable wages and demand government transparency, and it certainly wouldnt hurt to do that in more breathable air."

Hogan praises the quality of candidates running on the Democratic ticket this year, including Zach Lewis, who is running for the House District 66 seat once held by Moran, but now occupied by Rep. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork. "Hes a promising young man just graduating from BYU law school," Hogan says of Lewis.

The party leader concedes he wishes he had a candidate in the Utah County Commission Seat A race where newcomer Greg Graves defeated incumbent Gary Anderson to claim the Republican nomination earlier this month.

Read the original here:
Services slated for Tim Moran, last Democrat elected in Utah County

Democrat Discussion Season 3 Episode 10
The Double D: The Democrat Discussion forges onward this episode as we welcome a very special guest into our midst. Kristen Callahan, a Junior Political Scie...

By: UniversityofOzarks

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Democrat Discussion Season 3 Episode 10 - Video

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) Republican state Sen. Joe Leibham and Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris, a Democrat, announced their runs for Congress on Tuesday, with both saying that their ability to work with others made them a good choice to replace Republican Rep. Tom Petri.

Leibham, who has long been mentioned as a possible successor to Petri, launched his campaign at his parents' home in Sheboygan, where he was joined by three state lawmakers, the chairman of the county Republican Party and dozens of friends and relatives. While Leibham described himself as a strong conservative, many in the party see him as more mainstream than the two other Republicans already in the race, state Sen. Glenn Grothman, of West Bend, and state Rep. Duey Stroebel, of Saukville.

State Rep. Paul Tittl showed up to lend his support, saying afterward that while he knows and likes all three GOP candidates, Leibham's enthusiasm and work ethic make him stand out. Tittl also praised Leibham as someone who can unite conservatives and moderates and understands the district's values, which he described as "people going to church on Sunday values, people working very hard values."

"And I think they want their elected officials to understand what they are going through," Tittl added.

Leibham, 44, described himself as someone who could break the gridlock in Washington even as he works to cut taxes, reduce the nation's debt and foster economic growth. He pointed to Gov. Scott Walker and other Republicans' efforts to cut spending and taxes in Wisconsin as the kind of thing that should be done in Washington and noted his backing of Walker's law eliminating most public employees' union rights.

Yet at the same time, Leibham said he was willing to work with Democrats at the national level.

"Collectively, we all share the same goal ... of working to restore the greatness of this nation," he said.

Harris, 58, said he would campaign on four key issues: funding Social Security, highway repairs, raising the minimum wage and college affordability. The first Democrat to join the race, he also said he has worked with Republicans and Democrats on his officially nonpartisan county board and would bring to Washington a willingness to negotiate.

"We've always been able to work together when you're looking for practical solutions. That's what you really need in Washington. You can't portray the other side as villains," said Harris, who was elected county executive in 2005.

Several other candidates from both parties have indicated they also are considering running for the seat after Petri announced earlier this month that he would not run for re-election. John Hiller, a confidant of Walker, said in an email Tuesday that he plans to make a decision within the next few days.

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Democrat Harris joins Wisconsin congressional race