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Democrats being in short supply, Hyde Park creates other political parties By
Rachel Irvine
A two-party election in Utah is about as rare a meeting a Utah State Student who hasn't tried Aggie Ice Cream. Many towns in Cache Valley have found that most people run for their city councils unopposed. Everywhere you look you see a Republican. Because of the shortage of Democrats the city of Hyde Park came up with a new way to even out the elections. It has created two parties for people to run under, the People's Party and Citizens Party. Hyde Park has had three elections on this two-party system. The conventions are held the second or third week in September. People are assigned to a party, and nominate their candidates. Judy Hawkins, County Recorder, said last year about 40 people came to the convention. Each year the participation has grown from the previous year. "People think, I can get involved for one night," Hawkins said. Hawkins hopes that as the parties grow that they will begin to develop platforms. Each party has a president and a secretary. They are responsible for nominating candidates. Judy Allen, past president of the People's Party said that she enjoyed handing out flyers, and recruiting citizens to come participate. "It's really grass-roots, " Allen said. Right now the most effective way to get the news out about the conventions is by word of mouth. Anyone who wants to can participate. The two-party system helps put the best candidate on the council. It gives the voters more of a choice, and a chance for more people to get involved.
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