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Could it be, as local Democrats would have us believe, that the "big blue wave has finally hit"?

Yakima County party leaders Saturday pointed to record turnout at their convention and FDR Dinner as further evidence of a newly energized progressive bloc in Eastern Washington politics. A turnout of about 550 for the convention -- and about 350 for the Gov. Chris Gregoire-headlined dinner later in evening -- led Yakima County Democratic Party Chairman Paul George to his "blue wave" conclusion.

"This is the largest gathering of Democrats in the (U.S.) Fourth Congressional District anyone can remember," he said Saturday during the convention.

And Saturday wasn't the first sign that the wave, if it hasn't hit, at least is building momentum. Democrats drew 1,800 Yakima County residents to their presidential nominating caucuses in February, compared with about 400 who attended Republican caucuses. So, even while recent election history shows Yakima County remains highly Republican, the local Democrats were feeling energized at their event Saturday.

Convention attendees attributed the recent upswing in numbers and energy to an American public increasingly fed up with the Bush administration. They also feel good about their two candidates this year, which wasn't the case in 2004 when John Kerry was the nominee.

"People have had it just right up to here with what's been happening in our country," said Carole Sahlstrand, a Yakima County peace activist who never attended a county convention before this year.

Gregoire, in an interview before her speech, agreed that missteps by President Bush have caused a shift away from the political right, even in Eastern Washington. She also said the Republican east versus the Democratic west is an outdated concept, repeating the one-Washington theme that has become something of a mantra at campaign stops on this side of the state.

"One: I think people are frustrated with the president and his administration, and it has hurt us as a state," Gregoire said. "And two: I think folks in Eastern Washington, if they take a look at it, will realize what we have done over these last four years. We have torn down that Cascade Curtain."

Local Democrats also have some recent successes to point to. Though city council races are nonpartisan, George delighted Saturday in recognizing newly elected Granger Mayor Ramona Fonseca, Sunnyside Mayor Paul Garcia and Toppenish Councilman Ed Pacheco, all of whom were in attendance at the dinner. Each was applauded heartily as a banner carrier for progressives in those Lower Valley towns.

The Lower Valley seems to have provided a good chunk of the new Democratic momentum in Yakima County, party leaders said throughout the day. It could provide even more momentum if Wapato Mayor Jesse Farias survives the new "top two" primary in his race against three Republicans for the Yakima County Commission District 2 spot. No Democrat has served on the commission since 2000, and the new primary system has led to speculation that Democrats may not even make the general election ballot.

"I've got news for those folks," George roared to the dinner crowd. "Jesse will make it. And he'll be the first Democrat to crack the courthouse in eight years."

The line got thunderous applause from a standing-room-only crowd at the Yakima Convention Center. It was, in fact, the first time the local party has needed to rent the center for its convention or its annual FDR Dinner. In the past, the group used the much smaller Carpenter's Hall on Third Street.

"It was so low-key," party official Mary Stephenson said, recalling the last convention. "There are a lot more people this time."

* Pat Muir can be reached at 577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.