SENATE MAJORITY ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP ELECTION RESULTS
SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah State Senate Majority met tonight to elect leadership team. The results are as follows:
President: Senator Wayne Niederhauser
Majority Leader: Senator Ralph Okerlund
Majority Whip: Senator Stuart Adams
Majority Assistant Whip: Senator Peter Knudson
The leadership team will begin work next week on appointments and committee assignments for the 62nd Legislature.
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Senate Majority To Announce Leadership Election Results
WHO: Utah State Senators in the Majority Caucus
WHAT: Press conference to announce the results of senate leadership elections. Join us in person or find us on Facebook Live or Periscope.
WHAT: Utah State Capitol – Majority Caucus Room
WHEN: Thursday, November 10, 2016, immediately after leadership elections. Leadership elections are set to begin at 6 p.m. The announcement will likely be made around 6:45 p.m.
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NOTES:
1 – Visit our Utah Senate Facebook for a Facebook LIVE after the election with the results.
2 – We will also Periscope the results via our Utah Senate Twitter account.
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ETHICS COMMISSION ISSUES ORDER AND RECOMMENDATION IN JUAB COUNTY COMPLAINT
Salt Lake City – Today, the Utah Political Subdivision Ethics Commission released an order regarding a citizen complaint against County Recorder Craig Sperry. The order and recommendation found part of the complaint had merit while other allegations were unproven by clear and convincing evidence and therefore dismissed.
The order & recommendation was sent to the Juab County Commission, along with the original complaint and the accused official’s response.
Commission chair, Paul Warner commented, “The role of the commission is to provide a venue for citizen concerns. We expect all Utah officials to maintain high ethical standards. If that doesn’t happen there needs to be a competent mechanism to assess the complaints and seek justice. In this case, we listened carefully and treated both sides fairly. The report contains our finding – now it is up to the Juab County Commission to take whatever action they deem appropriate."
The Political Subdivisions Ethics Commission was created in 2013 by SB 180, patterned after the Legislative Ethics Commission created in 2010. The Executive Branch Ethics Commission was also created in 2013. This is the first order and recommendation issued by any of the three new commissions.
Information about the ethics commissions and standards of conduct for elected officials can be found at Ethics.Utah.gov.
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Gov. Herbert announces appointments to cabinet, senior staff
SALT LAKE CITY (November 10, 2016) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has announced appointments to his cabinet and senior staff:
Tani Downing has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Department of Administrative Services. Downing currently serves as the state risk manager for the State of Utah. Prior to her current position, she held several additional positions within state government, including deputy chief of staff and general counsel to Gov. Jon Huntsman, executive director of the Utah Department of Workforce Services, and associate general counsel to the legislature.
Jaceson Maughan has been appointed as Commissioner of the Utah Labor Commission. Maughan was appointed as deputy commissioner and general counsel for the Utah Labor Commission in April 2013. Prior to his appointment, Maughan worked as legal counsel for the Department of Workforce Services. He has also served as an assistant attorney general with the Attorney General’s Office, where he represented the State of Utah in the recovery of Medicaid funds, condemnation actions, and child support issues.
Jill Remington Love has been appointed as Executive Director of the Department of Heritage and Arts. Love brings more than twenty years of service experience in government, including work with Salt Lake City Mayors Ted Wilson, Palmer DePaulis and Ralph Becker. Most recently, she served in Mayor Ralph Becker’s cabinet as director of community and economic development, responsible for planning, housing and neighborhood development, the Salt Lake City Arts Council, and economic development for Salt Lake City. Love previously served 12 years on the Salt Lake City Council.
Paul Edwards has been appointed as a Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor over communications and policy. Edwards will serve as primary spokesman for the Herbert administration. He currently serves as editor and publisher of the Deseret News. Prior to joining the Deseret News, Edwards served as executive vice president and provost at Southern Virginia University, as the president of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and as vice president for academic affairs at the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University.
Sal Petilos has been reappointed as Executive Director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Petilos was appointed as acting director of the department in 2012. He began his career in state government as an internal auditor with the Office of the Legislative Auditor General. Petilos then joined the Utah Department of Administrative Services internal audit team, and was eventually promoted to director of internal audit. He served as deputy director of the Department of Administrative Services prior to being appointed director of DABC.
“I look forward to welcoming these talented individuals to my administration,” Gov. Herbert said. “These individuals are uniquely qualified for the positions to which they have been appointed. I am confident that each will serve with dignity and integrity as we labor together to ensure that Utah remains the best place to live, work and raise a family,”
The appointments of Tani Downing, Jaceson Maughan, Jill Remington Love and Sal Petilos are subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
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Governor orders flags lowered in honor of fallen officer
SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 10, 2016) – Governor Gary R. Herbert has ordered the lowering of the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of Utah on the day of West Valley City Officer Cody Brotherson’s funeral, Mon., Nov. 14, 2016. Officer Brotherson died in the line of duty on Sunday. The governor issued the following statement:
"It is with heavy hearts that Jeanette and I join all Utahns in mourning the passing of Officer Cody Brotherson, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of his community. We are heartbroken to lose such a young and dedicated officer who by all accounts had a bright future ahead of him.
"Once again we face a tragic reminder of the selflessness and unwavering courage that is required of our peace officers and their families each day. We cannot thank enough those who put their lives on the line to serve, defend and protect our communities. Officer Brotherson's sacrifice will not be forgotten. We offer our prayers and sincere condolences to his family, fiancée, friends, and the entire law enforcement community at this difficult time."
Flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset at all state facilities on Mon., Nov. 14, 2016 only.
