Bob Springmeyer made a surprise move Saturday at the Democratic State Convention, nominating Valdez before delegates had voted on a gubernatorial candidate. She was elected by acclamation.

Later that afternoon, Springmeyer won the election with nearly 87 percent of the vote.

Valdez has been politically active since moving to Utah from Texas in the 1970s. She joined the now-defunct grass-roots political activist group Spanish-Speaking Organization for Community, Integrity and Opportunity.

She began working for the Small Business Administration in the mid-'80s, helping small businesses owned by ethnic minorities and women apply for federal grants.

"I didn't want to work for an agency. I wanted to work for the people through an agency," she said. "I told people 'I'm not here to work for Uncle Sam, I'm here to work for you through them.' "

While she was at the Small Business Administration, her husband, Rep. Mark Wheatley, D-Murray, began running for office and she took over as campaign manager.

She has two grown sons who also have helped on campaigns for Wheatley, who is running for his third term this year.

"We believe that people need to be involved in the political process," she said. "Families need to be involved."

In 2004, she started a local chapter of the White House Project, aimed at getting women from all parties involved in politics. She focused on getting Latinas to run for local and state offices. It was then she vowed to run for office.

"I was inspiring Latina women to run," Valdez said. "How could I not run myself and be true to the message I was speaking?"

In 2006, she attempted to beat out Salt Lake County's 12-year incumbent assessor, Lee Gardner. She lost, but garnered 46 percent of the vote.

"It was the first time I'd ever run. It was a David and Goliath race, but I thought I did pretty well considering it was my first time in the political arena," she said.

She now faces yet another challenge to an incumbent, Gary Herbert, who runs in tandem with the hugely popular Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

"We realize we have a tremendous challenge," she said. "But with Obama looking like he'll lead the presidential ticket, there has been a trickle-down effect. A lot of people are getting involved - a lot of people who have felt disenfranchised from past leaders."

Springmeyer selected Valdez after talking with many Democratic county chairmen, who consistently suggested her as a running mate.

"I thought about who could help bring over enough new voters so we win the election," Springmeyer said. "I'm tickled to death to have her run with me."

He said the fact that Valdez is Latina is "just a bonus" and that he chose her because of her connections with many in the small-business community and her skills as an organizer.

"She'll be able to run the elections office, and I would want her to take over small business initiatives," he said.

Valdez realizes if elected she would be the first Latina lieutenant governor, but she hopes to be judged the way she likes to gauge others.

"People should be evaluated by their talents and ability to perform and not color of skin or ethnicity or any other attributes."

smcfarland@sltrib.com