Hiring of senator's son drawing fire

While Sen. Stowell certainly supported the CEBA's request for the $125,000 grant that would pay the salary for a new executive director, others were more involved than the senator in the work before lawmakers, Schultz said.

Sen. Stowell couldn't be reached for comment. But Schultz said that there was no discussion during the session that his son would apply.

"Sen. Stowell certainly supported us and he voted for the money," Schultz said.

During the session, Schultz met more with officials from the Governor's Office of Economic Development, and Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, than with Stowell. GOED has also recommended the grant in previous years.

Part of Kelly Stowell's one-year job will be to lobby the Legislature for $3 million to build the first phase of a new Kanab building where education classes can be taught and economic development activities held. Schultz said: "We have already produced a short film about Kanab, that will be shown" to Hollywood producers and others trying to lure new motion picture productions to the unique scenery of southwestern Utah.

The Spectrum article listed Kelly Stowell's qualifications as serving internships for U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, at the Legislature for his father and at the State Institutional Trust Lands Association. He is currently employed with the Utah Board of Regents as executive director of the Utah Students Association. Schultz said the Regent job was Kelly Stowell's first, full-time position.

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