Democrats will choose a new party leader during their state convention May 7, when current Chairman Donald Dunn's term expires. Dunn opted not to run again.

"I don't know that there's been a time that so many people were running for chair," Dunn said. "We have some terrific candidates."

The candidates who filed by Thursday's deadline are: Craig Axford, Wayne Holland Jr., Leon Johnson, Jan Lovett, Mike Marty, Thayne Trevenen, Paul Van Dam, Tracy Van Wagoner and Nancy Jane Woodside.

Axford ran as a Green Party member for Congress, but has since rejoined the party and now leads the Utah Progressive Democratic Caucus. Holland is leader of the local United Steelworkers of America, and is backed by U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, Utah's lone Democrat in Congress.

"He can reach across a lot of constituencies in the party," Matheson said Thursday about Holland.

Lovett ran an unsuccessful campaign last year against state Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan, and Marty is the Summit County party chairman. Van Dam, a former state attorney general, lost his low-budget race last year against U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah.

Dunn is personally backing Woodside, a former Congressional challenger and current vice-chairwoman of the party. "I'm supporting her because she's been a member of my team," Dunn said. "She would do a fantastic job as chair."

Running for vice chairperson are: former Green Party member Laura Bonham, Billie Larson, Rob Miller, Colt Smith and Josh Ewing, the former spokesman for Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson.

tburr@sltrib.com