Add that title to the politically aligned résumés of Utah's de facto Democratic leaders, Ralph Becker and Peter Corroon.

The two mayors, who have applied to be National Democratic Convention delegates, have pledged to back presidential hopeful Barack Obama if they are picked to represent Utah at the Denver gathering.

They join a wave of Beehive State applicants who are breaking "overwhelmingly" toward the Illinois senator, according to Rob Miller, vice chairman of the Utah Democratic Party.

Wednesday marked the filing deadline for delegate hopefuls wishing to attend the August convention. Twenty-three pledged delegates - who will join Utah's six superdelegates - will be selected during the state's Democratic convention May 9-10.

Miller notes that Obama's 57 percent to 39 percent trouncing of Hillary Clinton in Utah's Feb. 5 primary may have factored in the lopsided applications - though delegates are not bound by that result.

Corroon said Wednesday he is an Obama supporter, but pointed out that he also wants to honor Utah voters who backed the first-term senator in the primary.

"My goal is to represent their wishes," the Salt Lake County mayor said.

Corroon said he would like to be in Denver to join his cousin Howard Dean, who may be serving his last year as Democratic National Committee chairman.

Becker believes Obama would "and will" do better in the West than Clinton.

He became convinced that Obama is not a special-interest politician after spending one-on-one time with Michelle Obama during her February visit to Utah.

"What I've been so impressed with is his dignity and class and his ability to really listen well," Becker said. "Senator Obama is particularly inclined to look at the big picture and the common good."

Two officials from the Salt Lake City mayor's camp will be in Denver - as superdelegates - though they are currently pledged to Clinton.

Communications Director Karen Hale and her deputy, Helen Langan, are two of Utah's six superdelegates. Both have said they reserve the right to switch to Obama depending on how the primaries play out.

At a forum in Salt Lake City last week, the CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee said both Becker and Corroon would have "prominent roles" in Denver to showcase the West's rising prominence. She stopped short of pledging speaking slots.

Miller said mayors are not guaranteed spots as delegates. "They have to run like any other Utah resident," he said.

At the same time, Miller said the status of Becker and Corroon may give both an edge in Republican-heavy Utah.

"Does it give them a leg up? Sure," he said. "But the [state] delegates can surprise you."

Said Corroon: "We'll see what my fellow Democrats think of me."

djensen@sltrib.com