Legislators pick leaders

Republican legislators in the Utah Senate and House picked two lawyers with a total of 26 years of legislative experience to lead them over the next two years.

Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, is the new Senate president. Rep. Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, is the new speaker of the House.

Come January, they will join Utah's new governor, Republican Jon Huntsman Jr., in overseeing the passing of hundreds of bills and adopting a $7 billion state budget.

It's the first time anyone can remember that two attorneys have headed the 29-member Senate and the 75-member House. President and speaker are officially part-time jobs, but in recent years the men holding the positions put in long hours on Capitol Hill.

House Democrats also elected new leaders Tuesday night. Rep. Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, won back the minority leader post he lost two years ago.

Senate Democrats elect their leaders Wednesday. Democrats hold less than one-third minorities in both bodies, and the GOP House and Senate caucuses set the legislative priorities in Utah.

Valentine has coveted a top leadership post for years. He held various important jobs in the House when he served there, but never speaker. Upon being congratulated Tuesday night by long-time House Clerk Carole Peterson, Valentine beamed and said: "Mom, I finally made it."

Curtis' victory is extra sweet for him — and perhaps scandal-cleansing.

Just five months ago, Curtis resigned his post as embattled Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman's legal counsel while her office reeled over various allegations of improprieties. Curtis had paid back to state government gasoline mileage he'd taken for the 2004, 45-day general session after admitting he'd driven his Salt Lake County vehicle (gassed up with a county credit card) to and from Capitol Hill.

He said the apparent double-dipping was an oversight, and he was never charged with any wrongdoing.

But some believed the incident — coupled with Workman's ultimate political downfall — would haunt him in his speakership race, which he'd been eyeing for months. In the end, however, Curtis prevailed.

Curtis defeated Rep. Dave Ure, R-Kamas; Valentine beat out Rep. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville. Both Curtis and Valentine said their challengers would get meaningful appointed posts in their new administrations, but no jobs were offered immediately.

Curtis, 44, is joined by other newly elected House GOP leaders: Reps. Jeff Alexander, R-Provo, majority leader; Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, majority whip; and Ben Ferry, R-Corinne, assistant majority whip.