Rob Miller is a good guy. Recently elected as the Davis County Democratic Party Chairman, Miller is not only a good guy, but a smart one as well. After serving as the Vice Chairman for the state Democrats, Miller decided to serve the people where he lives and where he grew up.

It is difficult to think of advice for Miller because after meeting him, it is evident that he has a clear idea of the party’s direction. Miller is politically savvy without being politically slick. He is friendly without being fake and professional without being pretentious. But even with all those great qualities, a pedigree rooted firmly in the Davis County family tree, Miller has a difficult task ahead of him. I’d like to give him a little unsolicited advice.

First of all, copy the entire playbook of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party Chairman, Weston Clark. Clark, an alumnus of Woods Cross High, identifies himself as a very liberal Democrat. However, in setting the tone for Salt Lake County, he approached the job like a pragmatist, asking himself “what will work?” Instead of marking the differences in the two major political camps, he emphasized the values that would resonate with people – education, health care, the economy, ethics.

Instead of making it a goal to field a candidate in every race and spreading the limited campaign money like diet mayonnaise, Clark looked at races where Democratic candidates could be competitive and then poured on the funding. For his efforts Democrats picked up several seats in the Utah Legislature. While not afraid of a fight, Clark has chosen a less in-your-face type of leadership.

Rob Miller should also make it a priority to remind older voters of popular Democrats of the past: Cal Rampton (another Davis County man), Scott Matheson, and Gunn McKay. At the same time he should highlight the anti-education stance and deaf ear arrogance of current Republican leadership. What Davis County residents want are thinking men and women in the State Capitol, not rubberstamping robots.

Finally, Rob Miller should live by the words of anthropologist Margaret Mead. “Never doubt,” said Mead, “that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Indeed, Davis Democrats are small in number. But, unlike the right-wing Republicans, they have Utah’s future solidly in mind.