Wayne Holland Jr., who heads Utah's local United Steelworkers of America, was hand-picked by Utah's lone Democratic congressman, Jim Matheson, to be state party chairman. Nearly all other Democratic officeholders - few that they are - also backed Holland.
The self-proclaimed moderate Democrat narrowly bested a much more liberal candidate in the final round of voting during the Democrats' state convention at the Salt Palace in downtown Salt Lake City.
Holland pledged to an exhibit hall filled with an estimated 1,500 people that he would bring new voters to the party.
"The optimistic winds of change are blowing throughout the West," Holland said, noting several Democratic victories in the Rocky Mountain states. "It's time to bring those victories home to Utah.
"I am ready to battle with our opponents today."
Holland, who will take paid leave from the union for the two-year stint, replaces Donald Dunn, who pushed the party to be more aggressive and edgy after his election two years ago.
Dunn held frequent news conferences and made controversial statements, a change from former Chairwoman Meghan Holbrook, who picked her battles.
Kelly Patterson, director of the Brigham Young University Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, says delegates may have selected a leader who won't make the party appear too far left in a Republican-dominated state.
Staying moderate, "is the only viable long-term strategy in Utah. There's no way they win in Utah by becoming an appendage of Massachusetts or New York, one of those visible Democratic bastions," Patterson said.
Holland used a slick video with endorsements from a spectrum of well-known Democrats to defeat six other contenders, including finalist Jan Lovett, a liberal former state House candidate.
The final race was decided by just 25 votes of 729 cast.
Delegates also chose other new party leaders: Vice Chairman Rob Miller; Secretary Marco Xavier Hermosillo; and Treasurer Robert Jurek. Miller topped former Salt Lake City spokesman Josh Ewing by 18 votes.
The elections capped a party-pumping convention that featured a speech Friday night by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Matheson, who last year won his third term in a Republican-heavy district.
The convention, sometimes rocking with techno music, thanks to a dance competition in an adjacent hall, even featured a booth by the National Rifle Association staffed by Republican stalwart Janalee Tobias.
Matheson heralded the party for fighting back against what he termed Republican slander.
"We have refused to let our opponents unfairly label us and lie about us," said Matheson, who has often voted with Republicans on key issues.
"We've shown that our diversity is our strength, that we can come together and not let our opponents use wedge politics to divide us. . . . Utah Democrats have wandered in the political wilderness long enough."
Some Democrats protested Matheson during last year's convention for his stand against gay marriage, but this year the state party's highest ranking elected official was welcomed with unadulterated applause and cheers.
tburr@sltrib.com
