BENJAMIN ZACK, Standard-Examiner file photo

OGDEN — Weber County Democrats are fielding fewer candidates this cycle compared to 2020 and 2018.

While the numbers may be down, though, those on the ballot are enthusiastic. “We can win this one against Ann Millner, there’s no doubt in my mind,” said Mike Blodgett, the Democratic hopeful in the race for the District 5 Utah Senate seat, now held by Millner, a Republican.

John Thompson, who ran for Ogden City Council last year and has vied for many other posts over the years, said it’s about messaging. He’s running as a Democrat this go-round for seat A on the Weber County Commission, now held by Gage Froerer, a Republican.

If Democrats have a good message, offer a solid alternative to voters, “we have a good chance,” Thompson said. “Why not?”

The party faithful meet Saturday at DaVinci Academy, an Ogden charter school, for the Weber County Democratic Party convention. With no contests featuring multiple Democratic hopefuls, the gathering will serve, in part, to rally the troops as election season ratchets into gear.

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The party may be fielding fewer candidates this year than in 2020 or 2018, said Carly Cassidy, the party chairperson, but they are solid hopefuls. There are five Democratic candidates this cycle in Weber County for Utah Senate, Utah House and Weber County posts compared to nine in 2020 and 10 in 2018. “It was pretty hard across the state for Democrats,” she said, alluding to candidate recruitment efforts across Utah, where Republicans dominate.

But she remains hopeful and says campaigning for Democrats will be, in part, about reaching out to similarly minded Republicans and independents. “We share more values than they might realize,” Cassidy said.

Keeping hold of District 10 in the Utah House, now held by Rosemary Lesser, an Ogden Democrat, will be a priority for Democrats here.

Here’s a look at the Democrats running this cycle for offices representing Weber County, including the 1st District U.S. House race and the District 2 Utah State Board of Education spot.

1st District U.S. House: Rick Jones is the Democratic hopeful for the 1st District U.S. House seat, now held by Blake Moore.

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Jones, from West Haven, unsuccessfully vied for the District 12 seat in the Utah House in 2018. Back then, he told the Standard-Examiner that big issues for him were fighting for clean air and education. He also called for less partisanship among political leaders.

Jones couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. Blake Moore, the GOP incumbent, is running for the post again, challenged by fellow Republicans William Campbell, Tina Cannon, Andrew Badger and Julie Fullmer.

Utah Senate, District 5: Mike Blodgett had originally planned to run for a Weber County Commission spot, but shifted gears and decided to run for the District 5 Utah Senate seat instead.

He’s from Ogden and noted that the district — District 18 under electoral maps that phase out at the end of the year per redistricting — encompasses much of the city. District 5 also covers portions of Morgan and Davis counties. “I’m an Ogden guy at heart,” he said, and he’s eager to represent the people of the city.

Broadly, he sounded a message of inclusion. “I don’t care what you look like. I don’t care who you love,” he said. “We all belong here and I believe we all have the same rights no matter what.”

Blodgett works for a family-run printing business and is also a bike mechanic. He unsuccessfully vied for the District 10 Utah House seat last year following the death of Rep. Lou Shurtliff, the Democratic lawmaker who had held the post.

Millner, the GOP incumbent, is also running, challenged by fellow GOPers Kevin Hall and Doug Durbano.

Utah House, District 8: Monica Hall is the Democratic hopeful for the District 8 seat, which covers part of Ogden as well as the Ogden Valley.

This is her first bid for office and she said she was spurred by a desire to serve. She’s executive presbyter for the Presbytery of Wyoming, which represents 28 Presbyterian churches in the state. She used to serve as minister at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ogden, where she lives.

A big concern for Hall is poverty, she said, noting that more than 20% of the population in District 8 falls into the category. Defending air quality and environmental conservation are key, too. “Over in the Ogden Valley, I think conservation is a really important issue,” she said.

Steve Waldrip, a Republican, is the incumbent and he faces a challenge on the GOP side from Kimberly Cozzens and Jason Kyle.

Utah House, District 9: Neil Hansen of Ogden held the District 9 post for six terms, from 1999 through 2010, and he’s vying for the seat again. He’s unsuccessfully vied for other posts in Weber County as well.

Five principles are guiding his candidacy, a focus on integrity, accountability, responsibility, checks and balances, and transparency. “These five principles are being lost and somebody’s got to bring it back to the forefront,” he said.

He put a particular focus on the importance of checks and balances in government, between the political branches and between political parties. “We don’t have the checks and balances we should, especially when it’s a one-party system,” he said, alluding to GOP dominance in Utah.

Cal Musselman, a Republican and the incumbent, and Libertarian Jacob Johnson are also running for the seat, which extends from central Ogden west to West Haven.

Utah House, District 10: Rosemary Lesser, who now holds the seat, is seeking election to the seat for the first time. She was tabbed by her fellow Democrats in early 2021 to the seat following the death of Shurtliff, who had held the seat.

Lesser has said her focus is on meeting with the public to get their gauge of issues. She pushed for an end to the state sales tax on groceries during the 2022 session and said she would keep at it as a lawmaker.

Lorraine Brown and Jill Koford are running on the GOP side. The district covers southern Ogden, part of South Ogden, northern Riverdale and northern Washington Terrace.

Utah State Board of Education, District 2: Adi Finsen of Roy is vying for the seat, which covers the bulk of Weber County.

“I want to be a voice for teachers and make sure their voices get across,” she said. “They’re the ones that are teaching the students. They’re the ones with the students all day long.”

Funding of schools is important to her, as well as making sure teachers get sufficient support mentally and otherwise. “They’re the ones who have their boots on the ground,” said Finsen, a financial coach for a nonprofit agency.

The post is now held by Scott Hansen, a Republican. But he was beat out by Joseph Kerry at the Weber County Republican Party convention on March 26, which made Kerry the GOP candidate this cycle.

Weber County Commission, seat A: John Thompson of Ogden has unsuccessfully run for numerous posts over the years, most recently the Ogden City Council last year. “The people deserve a choice. As I’ve said before, I’m at least giving them that,” he said.

Conservation of water is important to him, he said, noting the low level of Pineview Reservoir.

Unfettered development, too, is a concern. “We keep doing that — that doesn’t appear to me to be a good idea,” he said.

Weber County Sheriff Ryan Arbon is pursuing expansion of the county jail, which could cost around $62 million. The plan calls for more inmate space, expanded medical facilities and a new community-release center for low-risk offenders.

County commissioners will have a key role in the future of the proposal and Thompson said he backs the plans. He also supports the notion of raising property taxes to fund the upgrades, if necessary.

Gage Froerer, a Republican, now holds the county commission spot and he is facing a challenge on the GOP side from Shanna Francis.

The Weber County Democrats pass on to the November general election ballot since none of the posts they’re seeking are contested by others from the party. The Republican primary, meantime, is set for June 28.

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