Senate Leadership Will Have Some New Faces Next Year

Mar 20, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Four of the most influential Senators in the Utah Legislature are resigning, signaling a changing of the guard. Senate President John Valentine isn't worried.

"We always worry when there is going to be new members of leadership because we wonder how that will change the dynamics," Valentine says. "But I think we have some very senior members of the body who want to move into those positions. And I think we'll find that things will go pretty smoothly when we get the new faces in place."

The Senate Majority Whip, Davis County's Dan Eastman, the Rules Committee Chairman, Senator Bill Hickman, and Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich will not be running for re-election this fall. Additional turnover could also take place if Senate President John Valentine, Majority Leader Curtis Bramble, and Executive Appropriations Committee Chairman Lyle Hillyard aren't successful in their re-election bids. Valentine says this will make for an exciting election season.

"These are always exciting times to see new faces and new ideas come into existing institutions," Valentine says. "This November is a very unique challenge for everyone, because we have so many elections that are so competitive. I guess all of us, including the voters, will have a bigger part to play in that than we've had in the past."

New leadership members will be elected in separate party caucuses in both legislative houses held just after the elections in November, Valentine says. Click here for a list of all the candidates.

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