House's only black to retire

Rep. Duane Bourdeaux, D-Salt Lake, the state's only black lawmaker, plans to retire after completing his fifth term representing west side District 23.

Bourdeaux said Saturday at a civic participation training aimed at ethnic minorities that the 2006 legislative session will be his last. He told the Deseret Morning News he wants to dedicate more time to his family but plans to remain involved as an advocate, focusing on issues such as education.

"As an elected official, you have to dive into all areas," he said. "My top priority is education, helping schools."

House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, has worked with Bourdeaux since 1996 when both were elected for the first time. He said Bourdeaux is "a man of great integrity" who has been a valuable ally in the House. While Becker had not heard officially if Bourdeaux would retire, he said it would not surprise him.

Both men represent portions of Salt Lake City's west side, and Bourdeaux's district is one of the most racially diverse in the state.

"Duane has been a superb public servant," Becker said. "He cares deeply about his community and is very responsive to his constituents."

This session, Bourdeaux said, he plans to sponsor legislation to look at accountability in encouraging students to take advanced placement courses. He may also sponsor a bill to prioritize funding for districts with the most at-risk kids.

Bourdeaux said he plans to sponsor a bill to codify and fund the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the criminal and juvenile justice system.

During his tenure, Bourdeaux has sponsored bills to allow judges to suspend the drivers' licenses of truant high school students, to give college students a tax exemption for the purchase of textbooks and to study racial profiling by police officers. Although he never sponsored a hate crimes bill, he has worked closely with the late Sen. Pete Suazo, D-Salt Lake, and Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, on those bills.

"I look up to him, particularly on that issue," Litvack said.

Bourdeaux said he doesn't have anyone in mind to replace him, saying, "It's an open process."

Bourdeaux, one of four ethnic minority state lawmakers, said diversity is important but what's critical is that whoever wins his seat be able to represent the district.

"I didn't come to the Legislature as a minority," he said. "I came to represent the people who elected me."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com; jloftin@desnews.com