Clark unchallenged for House speaker

As House Republicans prepare to vote tonight for new majority party leaders, it appears that Rep. Dave Clark, a banker from Washington County, will be the new speaker and lead the 75-member House.

Clark, the current House majority leader, and other sources told the Deseret News Monday that Clark had no opposition for the top post, which will make the 55-year-old father of four and grandfather of nine one of the most powerful politicians in the state.

Clark is moving up to speaker because of the defeat Nov. 4 of current Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, who lost his re-election race to Democratic challenger Jay Seegmiller.

Clark will join with newly elected Senate President Mike Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, in working with GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. in setting goals for state government over at least the next two years.

"We absolutely have to build new bridges" within the House, in the Senate and with Utahns, Clark said Monday. "The people of Utah expect it."

He said that's what he's done during his 32-year career with Zions Bank, where he now holds the title of regional president. First elected from his Santa Clara, Washington County, district in 2000, Clark will be the first speaker from Southern Utah in recent memory. And he thanked his Zions Bank bosses for giving him the time to travel often to Salt Lake City to conduct state business.

Waddoups beat two-term Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, on Friday. Valentine, who has served in leadership positions for 18 of his 20 years in the House and Senate, said Monday he expected to win going into the closed-caucus vote.

"I was really surprised. I really thought I had the votes going in, but I didn't," Valentine said.

Both Waddoups and Valentine said the 21 GOP senators decided three two-year terms for one president were too many. "The major thing was after four years, they wanted to let someone else build on the progress made," Waddoups said.

Other issues affecting the Senate vote were what's been described as the abrasive style of Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, and the controversy surrounding a comment deemed racist made last session by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan. Bramble also lost his bid to keep his leadership post. He declined comment Monday.

Waddoups said he expected to name Valentine as chairman of an appropriations subcommittee. Other committee assignments are expected to be made by the new leaders by Nov. 19.