Senate 'old guard' being challenged

What could prove to be a bitter battle among Utah Senate Republicans — and maybe spark infighting among House GOP members, too — won't be settled until after the Nov. 4 general election.

That's when secret leadership elections are held to decide the bosses of the Republican-dominated Senate and House, races that could, in the end, be as important as the Utah legislative races on the ballot.

This year, the Senate's "old guard" is being challenged. President John Valentine, R-Orem, faces Sen. Mike Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, for a third time, and Assistant Majority Whip Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, is trying to unseat Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo.

Waddoups said it's time for new leadership in the Senate.

"John's been in it for four years. I think we need to change and see what we can do with me," Waddoups said. "You would see less of the nastiness going on like you saw with (Sen. Chris) Buttars. ... I think that could have been handled a lot better."

Buttars, a Republican from West Jordan, created controversy last session by using the word "black" to negatively describe the "baby" being divided by a bill during floor debate, saying, "This baby is black, I'll tell you. This is a dark and ugly thing."

Waddoups said Valentine went too far in announcing that the statement, quickly labeled racist, was a breach of decorum. But Valentine said he stands by his decision. "I believe now and believed then it was a breach of decorum," the Senate president said.

Valentine said he was running for a third, two-year term because with the state's budget woes, "this is the time to have consistency and stability, rather than volatility and change. The biggest problem we have is we're going through some rough times."

Waddoups also had critical words for Bramble.

"There's a lot of people who feel Curt is abrasive," Waddoups said. "He's been involved in several things that are probably not in the best interest of the Senate," he said, citing as an example the recent flap over a pizza delivery. "That doesn't help our image."

Bramble said his role as majority leader "is to effectively advocate the agenda of the (Senate GOP) caucus. I recognize my style is direct. ... There are times when we're in tough negotiations."

Killpack said he was encouraged to run against Bramble by other lawmakers. "Curt is a tremendously capable individual and a good legislator. I think there are differences in terms of style and perhaps approach," Killpack said. "I obviously feel I have something to offer."