A couple dozen Democrats gathered outside Rep. Jim Matheson's South Salt Lake office Friday afternoon to let him know they were disgusted with his recent vote against the House health care bill.

Richard Lafon, a regional coordinator with the liberal MoveOn.org, said the event was one of 133 taking place across the nation.

"As you all know, the public option has been declared dead so many tmes," Lafon said. "But here we are again and the public option is still alive."

When the final legislation does come up, Lafon said he hopes Matheson reconsiders and votes for "real health care reform."

Matheson was one of just 39 Democrats to vote with Republicans against the health care bill on Nov. 7.

The conservative Democrat said the bill was too costly and missed the mark of fixing the system's problems.

"A one-size-fits all, nationally run plan that doesn't acknowledge the different health demographics in the states isn't the answer," he said in announcing his vote.

Kim Spangrude, who directs a small nonprofit clinic in Midvale, threw out a personal challenge to Matheson.

We serve 3,000 patients per year and 95 percent are uninsured," Spangrude said. "I'd like him to come and spend a day in my clinic ... seeing what we do and seeing what the need is."

Peggy Wilson, of Holladay, said she was fed up with Matheson being "unavailable."

"Inasmuch as we wanted to have town halls,

we knew that Jim Matheson was unavailable to us," Wilson said, expressing disgust that the state Democratic Party kept defending Matheson because he represents a gerrymandered, largely Republican district.

"That no longer can be an excuse," Wilson said, noting that Matheson would get no more of her votes.

A call to Matheson's spokeswoman was not immediately returned Friday evening.

Murray Democrat Tami Sablan was among several who helped tack "Public Option Now" signs to Matheson's office door.

"I've been to his office before," Sablan said, "and told him what a turncoat he is. I can't wait for Election Day."

cmckitrick@sltrib.com