From Deseret News archives:

Accord reached on McCoy issue

Published: Friday, Feb. 11, 2005 9:41 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Questions are being raised about whether newly appointed Sen. Scott McCoy has been a resident of Utah long enough to fill a vacant Senate seat.

However, Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, said he and Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, have agreed the issue won't disrupt the session.

It's an issue Dmitrich said probably never would have been raised if McCoy, D-Salt Lake, wasn't openly gay.

"It was all over Amendment 3," the Senate Democratic leader said, referring to the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage that was approved by voters. McCoy headed the campaign to defeat the amendment.

The question arose over a state constitutional requirement that in order to qualify for the Senate, a candidate must be a resident of Utah for three years prior to the last date for filing for office, said M. Gay Taylor, general counsel for the Legislature.

McCoy, who took office Monday, moved to Utah three years ago. Taylor said "there is some ambiguity" when it comes to mid-term appointments. It's not clear whether the three-year residency requirement starts at the time of appointment or at the time of the general election, she said.

Story continues below
A senator could challenge McCoy's right to hold the seat and ask for his expulsion. It would take a two-thirds vote of the Senate to remove him, Dmitrich said.

McCoy replaced a longtime senator, Paula Julander, who resigned for health reasons, in a contested race among District 2 delegates. The district includes the Avenues, Capitol Hill and Central City neighborhoods of Salt Lake City to 33rd South.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Sounds like a good option if you can't or won't switch to AT&T for the...

I worked with and around Bill Sederburg for 5 years while he was at...

Price injured; Miles has cast removed

hand. He needs to work on his moves to the basket and rebounding. Lateral...

Jazz blow big lead, hang on

play Fez or Koufos tonight. He went with a smaller line up and Boozer, Okur...

I've met Bennett before and he is a nice man. He also knows the Constitution...

Thousands protest health bill

That's never been a secret. Everyone will pay for it except those that don't...

What exactly were Nephite interpreters?

I agree with NonMormon. I am active LDS, and I enjoy Ash's articles, and I...

I kept saying don't resign Milsap, especially after Portland offered that...

U. hopes to keep clicking

BYU is the slowest team that has ever been in the top 25. Utah will put up a...

NFL: Midseason grades

i think u have the cowboys ranked too low! at least an A- LOL nice work!

Advertisements
Advertisement