Senator Mike Dmitrich to Retire

Mar 06, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

Minority Leader Spent 40 Years on Capitol Hill

(KCPW News) A long career on Utah's Capitol Hill is coming to an end. After forty years serving in both the Utah House and Senate, Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich is stepping down. Just after the session ended last night, the Democratic senator from Price announced he will not seek re-election. Dmitrich said during his tenure on Capitol Hill, he's learned to cooperate with the majority party.

"I personally have gotten along well with the majority part," he said. "I think you have to learn to work within that system. If we as Democrats think we're gonna impact the major budget decisions, that's just not gonna happen, and that's just the way politics are. The majority party has the responbility of setting the budget, and so we try to work within that and get some small things that mean a lot to a lot of people."

Senator Dmitrich says the Republicans have given him his fair share of legislation and speaking time.

As for his replacement, Dmitrich is hoping House Minority Leader Brad King steps up to the job, and he's confident he will.

"He's been a good friend of mine, and a good legislator, and I think he's faithfully been waiting by for me to step down, very similar to when Senator Omar Bunnell was there and I was in the House waiting for him to step down," said the senator.

Dmitrich, who turns 72 this year, says he'll still be "part of the scene," saying it's hard to stay out of politics once you have it in your blood.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom and 2008 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW