The state's Democratic Party leadership elected by acclamation a former Teton County commissioner to be its chairwoman for the next two years at its state central committee meeting in Casper on Saturday.

Leslie Petersen, who had no opposition, takes over the position, held since 2007 by John Millin of Cheyenne.

The party intends to build on the momentum from the 2008 national Democratic caucuses when candidates Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton came to Wyoming to seek party members' support, Petersen said.

The effort must start on a local level, where few Democrats hold office on county commissions and city councils, she said.

"It's pathetic," Petersen said. "We've got to build a bench from the bottom up."

The Wyoming Democratic State Central Committee held its biennial convention at UW's Agriculture Extension Building. The central committee includes all county chairpersons and other officers.

In the only contested race for state leadership, Mike Bell of Cheyenne defeated John Faunce of Casper.

Faunce was the head of the Wyoming AFL-CIO and chairman of the Natrona County Democratic Party.

In his nomination speech, he recounted his experiences of building the county party, and said causes such as civil rights and abortion rights did not happen overnight. "There's only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time."

Bell is a writer, historian and stay-at-home dad, he said. His wife, Dr. Amy Trelease-Bell, is a family practice physician.

He intends to encourage more youth participation, and proposed creating a speakers bureau and county-level offices to research comments made by Republicans, he said.

The state central committee also elected by acclamation Linda Barton of Lander to the secretary position, and re-elected by acclamation Chuck Herz of Jackson to the treasurer's position.

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at tom.morton@trib.com. Read his blog at tribtown.trib.com/TomMorton/blog.

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