Orem politicians playing musical chairs

OREM — Politicians in Orem have a new favorite game: musical chairs.

State Sen. Parley Hellewell, R-Orem, started the chain of events Jan. 13 when he announced he will not seek re-election to the Utah Senate in November.

That same day, Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, announced her intention to leave the Utah House of Representatives to run for the open District 15 Senate seat.

Other dominoes began to fall this week as suitors lined up to make a run for Dayton's seat. So far, Garr Judd, legislative chair for House District 61, and John Tinsley, an Orem Republican precinct chair, have announced their intentions to run.

Judd, who has served with Dayton for the past six years as the elected legislative chair for her district, said he is comfortable in the legislative process, having organized caucus meetings, planned leadership training sessions and spearheaded different projects in voting precincts.

However, in preparation for the possible new position, Judd is concentrating on meeting the individual voters and garnering support.

"The dialogue and the communication back and forth is vital," he said. "I don't think there's anything more effective than face-to-face."

Judd has lived in Orem since 1988 with his wife and three children. He currently serves as the executive director of the American Red Cross Mountain Valley Chapter in Provo.

Tinsley said he has been planning to run since late summer. He believes he has had great "behind-the-scenes" experiences to prepare him for an official position on the Hill, including working with the Freedom Festival in Provo and working on what he called "grass roots" legislative efforts such as Neighborhood in Action committees.

He has also drafted legislation with the help of Rep. Dayton.

"I feel that we are very much in line with one another," Tinsley said of Dayton, who has spearheaded state challenges to the federal No Child Left Behind initiatives. "I can carry the same torch."

A small business owner, Tinsley would focus on three areas if elected: improving transportation, addressing education needs and reducing unnecessary government involvement in small businesses.

Tinsley and his wife and their four boys have lived in Orem for 14 years.