Legislators decide to pack it in after session

After 16 years in office, the leader of the Cowboy Caucus in the Utah House, Rep. Brad Johnson, is retiring this year.

"It's time to go," said Johnson, R-Aurora.

Johnson joins a half dozen other part-time legislators who are either calling it quits after 2006 or are running for another office.

Those leaving from the 75-member House include: Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, running for the 2nd Congressional District; Rep. Duane Bourdeaux, D-Salt Lake, retiring; Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, running for the Utah Senate; Rep. Craig Buttars, R-Lewiston, retiring.

In the 29-member Senate, those likely to hang up their legislative floor passes include: Sen. Parley Hellewell, R-Orem, retiring; and Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake, retiring.

Hellewell announced his retirement plans prior to the opening of this year's general session, saying he wanted more time to focus on his growing plumbing and heating business, and spend time with his family. Dayton already has thrown her name into that race.

Hale, on the other hand, has not made anything official. When asked Friday about her plans, however, she said it is doubtful she will run.

"My family is ready to have me back," she said, although she hinted at some disappointment at how this session has gone, saying, "This year really helped solidify my decision."

Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, said he knew of no other senators in his party planning to retire. As for Hale, he wants her to at least wait until after the session ends and she has time to recover before making any decisions.

"I'm really working on keeping her up here," Dmitrich said. "I think the odds are that she will run."

If history holds true, another four or five legislators will jump ship before the mid-March candidate-filing deadline, going out more secretively than those listed above.

In some cases, legislators try to pick their own successors by pretending they are going to run for re-election, but then having their personal choice come in and file at the last minute before the filing deadline — thus keeping away those who may have wanted to run, but didn't want to challenge the incumbent.

In drawing their own House and Senate districts in 2001 following the 2000 Census, legislators have given themselves mostly safe districts, politically speaking. Possibly a dozen House seats and a handful of Senate districts are realistically in play for both political parties each election.

Hale's eastside Salt Lake County district will likely be challenged by Republicans.

But Dayton is running for Hellewell's safely-GOP Orem seat. Another Republican may run against Dayton, but a Democrat has little chance in the very conservative district.