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12 |
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7 |
35 |
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10 |
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34 |
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11 |
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24 |
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6 |
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17 |
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6 |
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| SUI |
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| NED |
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House leader has few Oly jobs
Perks slim, too — but it's OK, Stephens says
By Bob Bernick Jr.
Deseret News political editor
Don't get him wrong. Utah House Speaker Marty Stephens is having a wonderful time at the Olympics, and he thinks Utahns are doing a smashing job hosting the world.
But he does smile while being quizzed by a newspaper reporter about what he's been doing these past two weeks as opposed to what Gov. Mike Leavitt has been doing.
For example, while Leavitt has an "all area" SLOC pass that allows him to attend any event, any time, Stephens, who is actually on SLOC's management committee, has a "limited" area event pass.
"It means I can go to second-tier events," said Stephens, R-Farr West.
He can't get into the women's ice skating finals without a ticket. He can attend curling — an event located near his Weber County home. "I'm going to that, maybe today," Stephens said Wednesday.
Speaking of the women's ice skating finals, Stephens said Leavitt actually had some extra tickets for that one.
"The governor's office called to say he had some (women's final) tickets. They offered me 10 tickets at $250 apiece. They suggested I could sell them to my friends and we could all go together."
Stephens is still considering that offer.
Leavitt's top aides said before the Games began Feb. 8, Utah's 104 part-time legislators, who adjourned their general session for the two weeks of the Games, would be used as greeters-at-large, asked to fill in for myriad events that Leavitt and his department heads couldn't attend.
But in practice that operation seems haphazard.
Stephens said he has not been asked by Leavitt's office to represent the state at any specific event. "They said we would get weekly or daily invitations — almost assignments."
But Stephens hasn't received one from the governor. He received a list before the Games started of all the events being held by state executive officials at the Devereaux House. But there was no request for which ones, if any, he should attend.
"I've been invited to some events as speaker, but all by the sponsors of those events. I was invited, for example, to meet the king of Sweden. But not by the governor."
Senate President Al Mansell, R-Sandy, said he has been to some events at the suggestion of the governor's office, both at the Devereaux House, where the state is hosting maybe half a dozen events a day for a variety of business leaders, and at other places.
Asked if the speaker was invited to attend any of the events with national big shots, such as the visit with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld this week, Stephens replied: "Nope."
Natalie Gochnour, spokeswoman for Leavitt, said the problem, if there is one, seems to be one of communication. Every three days an e-mail is sent to House and Senate staffs detailing the events to which all legislators are invited and the events in which they could help host Olympic visitors.
"We're not making assignments," Gochnour said.
The Legislature is a separate branch of government and that wouldn't be appropriate. But legislators have not been shunned, she said.
For example, all were invited to the rehearsal for opening ceremonies and all will be invited for the closing ceremonies.
"I understand what (Leavitt's staff) said they were going to do before the Games started — work out a schedule each night and make suggestions to where we (legislators) could best serve. It hasn't happened like that; not for me. And that's fine, I can tell (from newspaper stories) how busy everyone, including the governor, has been," Stephens said.
And those $250 tickets to the women's figure skating finals?
Gochnour said Leavitt set up a nonprofit organization, called 2K2, funded with state economic development and private funds, "as the hosting entity for the state for the Games." The organization purchased blocks of event tickets, and those not used to host specific non-government people "can be purchased by state officials at face value."
No one is getting free tickets, no one is paying more than 2K2 did, she said. State officials are being offered tickets as they become available, she said.
Stephens added he's not looking for attention or freebees. "I'm not being critical at all and I don't feel slighted in the least."
E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com
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February 21, 2002
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