Utah Legislature: Same captains, different crews

Republican legislators will have the same captains supervising different crews for the next two years.

Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, and House Speaker Greg Curtis, R- Sandy, were both elected to second terms in their respective positions Friday night. Valentine defeated Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, while Curtis ran unopposed.

Both leaders will have different leadership teams, however, and in some cases the differences could be stark. The only Republican legislator who retained his current position was Majority Whip Dan Eastman, R-Bountiful.

The Democrats have essentially their same leadership teams as Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, and House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, both won. Other Senate Democratic leaders are Minority Whip Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake; Assistant Whip Ed Mayne, D-West Valley; and Caucus Manager Pat Jones, D-Salt Lake. In the House, it will be Minority Whip Brad King, D-Price; Assistant Whip Carol Spackman Moss, D-Salt Lake; and Caucus Manager David Litvack, D-Salt Lake.

New Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, has earned a reputation as hard-nosed and aggressive during his six years in the Senate. In winning the post, he defeated current Majority Leader Pete Knudsen, R-Brigham City, who presented, at least publicly, a softer and more conciliatory nature.

While he refused to comment on the style differences, Bramble said it's important for the Senate to establish its agenda early.

"We need to have a clear vision, objective and goals that we can communicate to the public," he said.

The new Senate leadership team is equally split between Utah County and Davis County legislators as Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, is the Assistant Majority Whip. Valentine dismissed any concerns about a Wasatch Front focus for leadership, saying that "geography is not as important in the Senate as a body with more members."

House Republicans, however, elected a team lacking anybody from Utah or Davis counties. Instead, they chose Rep. Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, as their new majority leader; Rep. Gordon Snow, R-Roosevelt, as their majority whip, and Rep. Brad Dee, R-Ogden, as their assistant majority whip.

Curtis said that many of the caucus members actually heard the results of the Senate elections just as they started voting for their own leaders and may have decided to avoid giving too much power to Utah County legislators.