The last time someone other than Jim Hansen won an election in Utah’s 1st Congressional District, the Jazz still played in New Orleans. The Grumpy Old Man’s retirement throws open the door for a hungry pack of potential GOP successors. Yet Hansen leaves sizeable shoes to fill.

For Democrats, Hansen’s announcement presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Failure to squeeze through this narrow gate may result in another two decades of wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The congressman’s decision also ushers in a new era, regardless of who succeeds him. For most University of Utah students, little or no memory exists of anyone before Jim Hansen.

Hansen rode into Washington on the crest of a massive Republican tidal wave. 1980 marked the fruition of a conservative movement that rose from the smoking ruins of Barry Goldwater’s disastrous 1964 presidential bid.

Though Richard Nixon lead Republicans back to power, it wasn’t until Ronald Reagan pummeled Jimmy Carter that a true conservative reclaimed the White House. Reagan carried with him a crop of fresh young reactionaries that including a former Utah State University grad from Farmington.

By the mid 1990s, Hansen secured significant influence. Despite holding several committee chairmanships, maintaining federal funding for Hill Air Force Base represented Hansen’s most important service to Utahns. Without the clout of Hansen’s seniority, the base might have closed or at least suffered significant reductions.

Though the events of Sept. 11 and after make base closings unlikely in the immediate future, Hill Airforce Base may eventually find itself back on the endangered list. In keeping the base open, Hansen saved thousands of jobs and protected northern Utah’s economy.

Hansen’s adherence to the economic needs of his constituency provides a lesson in populist politics, especially for environmentalists who struggle to comprehend the man’s electoral success.

Creating jobs so families can pay their grocery bills will always surpass any other election issue’s importance. Any political hopeful seeking to make environmental issues the primary concern in the 1st District will surely lose. The future of Hill Air Force Base and the jobs tied to it top the list of priorities for Hansen’s heir.

As to who will claim the throne, Republicans offer no shortage of candidates.

The lack of open seats in higher offices typically creates a logjam for Republicans who hold a practical monopoly on Utah politics. With entrenched incumbents like Hansen, Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, and Gov. Mike Leavitt, the 2nd Congressional District usually grants the lone opportunity for other Republicans to ascend.

Hansen’s surprising retirement suddenly offers a new option to Marty Stevens, Kevin Garn and other popular locals in danger of withering on the political vine.

Yet Republican retention of the 1st District won’t occur automatically. In fact, Republicans at the Utah legislature may have performed themselves a disservice by adding more Democratic voters to the 1st District.

In making room for the rural surprise left on Rep. Jim Matheson’s doorstep, Republicans needed a home for displaced Salt Lake County voters.

You can imagine the GOP brass concocting their diabolical redistricting scheme: Throwing a few more Democrats at old Jim Hansen couldn’t hurt. After all, he’ll win re-election as long he wants it.

Altered political boundaries minus the power of incumbency suddenly make the 1st District almost challenging for Republicans. Whoever survives the wild GOP primary fight will likely emerge as the general election favorite. Yet this time around, Republican victory does not appear inevitable.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats face their most important contest in northern Utah in two decades. When Hansen rode Reagan’s coattails to upset five-term incumbent Gunn McKay in 1980, Utah Democrats had no idea how painful the next twenty years would feel.

Failure to squeeze through this window of opportunity?however slightly ajar?could set off a new era of Democratic futility.

Democrats need a candidate from Davis or Weber County?someone indigenous to the district’s population center. Since there’s no such thing as a Davis County Democrat, Weber becomes the key. Furthermore, a sluggish economy and post-Sept. 11 charity donations will strain political fund-raising efforts, meaning any candidate who can self-fund a race becomes the front-runner.

And what do you call an independently wealthy Utah Democrat? A Republican. In other words, even with Hansen out of the picture, Democrats face enormous challenges.

An array of Democratic monikers has escaped from the rumor mill in the past week, from Donald Dunn to Bill Orton to Ron Allen.

Democrats must avoid the infighting sure to plague the GOP’s 1st District seekers, lest any hope of an upset perish amidst inner-party cannibalism.

Making matters worse is Craig Axford, whom the Green Party has named its 1st District hopeful. Any liberal who considers supporting Axford needs to realize that only a well-funded Democrat with broad-based support can upset the Republicans.

The Green Party’s leftist ideology simply does not offer enough common ground to lure conservatives into its tent.

Some liberals may choose to vote Green on principle, but they won’t win. And losers with principle seldom bring about political change.

Taking an active interest in each of these 1st District dynamics allows U students the opportunity to help forge their generation’s political future. Whether one loves or loathes Jim Hansen, the stage nonetheless waits for a new actor or actress to create the policies and the legacy that will define our future.

James welcomes feedback at: [email protected] or send letters to the editor to: [email protected].