Brian’s Utah Weblog

The Utah legislature held elections on Friday to pick leadership teams for the upcoming two years.

The House Democrats elected the most progressive team you could possibly imagine,

• Leader Ralph Becker (D-Avenues)
• Whip Brad King (D-Price)
• Assistant Whip Carol Spackman Moss (D-East Bench)
• Caucus Manager David Litvack (D-SLC)

The Senate Democrats stayed the course but selected new senator (and experienced legislator) Pat Jones to join the leadership team.

• Leader Mike Dmitrich (D-Price)
• Whip Gene Davis (D-SLC)
• Assistant Whip Ed Mayne (D-West Valley)
• Caucus Manager Pat Jones (D-Mid Valley)

The House Republicans showed off their contempt for honesty and ethics in government by failing to muster even a challenger for corrupt speaker Curtis who was caught stealing public money with double-dipping falsified reimbursement reports.  He had to quit his county job but the House Republicans still want him in charge.

The race for majority leader was a contest between Dixieites Steve Urquhart (R-St. George) and Dave Clark.  Clark won but if we have the fourth congressional set next year it may work out well for Steve Urquhart who has ambitions toward higher office.  The primary to go up against Matheson in the new Sandy-to-St. George Fourth District will probably be between Urquhart and LaVar Christensen and Urquhart will need all the free time he can muster to win.

• corrupt Speaker Greg Curtis (R-Sandy)
• Leader David Clark (R-Santa Clara)
• Whip Gordon Snow (R-Roosevelt)
• Assistant Whip Brad Dee (R-Washington Terrace)

The Senate Republicans chose to elect a leadership that promised to be more aggressive.  Senator Valentine had to promise to drive the agenda to be reelected over Senator Waddoups (R-West Valley) to the Majority Leader position.  And Senator Bramble won over Senator Knudsen (R-Box Elder) on a promise to assert the power of the Senate over the House more forcefully.

At least Senate Republicans understand that the House Republicans with their casual approval of corrupt leadership need some adult supervision.

Brian’s Utah Weblog had an earlier comment on the absence of Salt Lake County representation in the Senate leadership.

• President John Valentine (R-Utah County)
• Leader Curt Bramble (R-Utah County)
• Whip Dan Eastman (R-Davis County)
• Assistant Whip Sheldon Killpack (R-Davis County)