Utah County Democrats are honoring a former Republican governor Saturday.
The Democrats will present former Gov. Olene S. Walker with their first distinguished service award during the party's annual dinner at the Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W. Center St., Provo.
"She has not been honored by her own party, so we are going to do it," said Richard Davis, Utah County Democratic chairman.
Walker, a former state legislator, served as Gov. Mike Leavitt's lieutenant governor until 2003, when Leavitt resigned to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Walker lost her bid for the party's nomination at the 2004 state GOP convention.
Davis said Walker is the antithesis of extreme partisans who dominate the Legislature today and had a hand in driving her out of office.
Walker was "a public servant who was able to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats and Republicans," Davis said. "She appealed to the mainstream."
By honoring Walker, Davis said the party is sending a message that moderate Republicans who are frustrated by extremists in their party can find a home in the Utah County Democratic Party.
He pointed out that Utah County Democrats also reject the views of Democratic extremists, fielding a slate of socially and fiscally conservative candidates.
Attempts to contact Walker on Thursday were not successful.
It's not the first time Utah Democrats have reached out to moderate Republicans.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Corroon tapped Bountiful Republican Rep. Sheryl Allen as his running mate.
And Karen Hyer, an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University and a Republican, is running as a Democrat in the 3rd Congressional District against Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah.
