Deseret News | Legislator gives up his seat to become lobbyist for UEA

Reader comments
Legislator gives up his seat to become lobbyist for UEA

Bob gives another pass | 12:14 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

showing his bias once again. If this were a conservative Republican resigning to become a lobbyist, the tone of the story would be much different. Can't you just hear it now?

Conservative Repub. resigns to become a lobbyist, but SAYS he would support the ethics reforms that would prohibit just such conduct. Hypocritical? Yes. Unethical? (He'd make you think so, surely).

It is unbelievable to me the bias in "reporting" and the pass it gets in our media. Just unbelievable.

Confused | 12:33 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

How is this considered switching jobs? As a legislator he was working for UEA it just wasn't in writing.

JUST UNBELIEVABLE/CONFUSED | 1:04 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

I guy works his fanny off working with kids most people have given up on. He decides do serve in another capacity.

QUICK!

CALL GLENN BECK!

I smell a CONSPIRACY here...

somewhere.

Comments continue below

anonymous | 1:07 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

His job was a teacher at Taylorsville High - did you read the article?

Liberty | 3:05 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

Past UEA leaders have not helped teachers by waging wars on conservative legislators. I hope that Mr. Holdaway can help forge better relations beween teachers and many legislators. The future of public education depends on it.

Sam & Jenny | 3:21 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

Thank you, Kory Holdaway, for years of dedicated service. Thank you for not only being a great teacher but for respecting and appreciating the profession of teaching. We need more legislators that respect our professional teachers rather than fighting against them because they are an independent voice.
Good luck, Mr. Holdaway.

So much for ethics | 4:37 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

Where is the cooling off period? Holdaway is cashing in on legislative contacts. The UEA has made a collosal mistake with this one. UEA & Holdaway couldn't look more hypocritical if they tried.

Utah | 4:57 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

To Sam and Jenny he worked for himself he is and was a teacher now I call that a conflict of interest every where but in teaching. I'll bet he voted for every pay increase he has received in the last 10 years are more so I have no respect for someone like that. I would say he has been self serving. UEA is a joke if you don't belong to the union you are blackballed. They say more money for teachers but the product is not getting any better. I see kids everyday that can't read, and if they can read they don't under stand what they have read. produce a good product and I'm all for more money for teachers.

Hypocrits | 5:43 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

Love the comments regarding ethics and lobbying. Guaranteed that if he had left to work some conservative group, or some group that you support, it would be a good move. Who do you want representing your voice to the legislature - someone who knows the system, knows the people, and knows what people respond to...or a newbie that will get run over by those that are the previous. great choice by UEA, and an even better decision by Holdaway. Now he can actually pay his bills.

Utah teachers... | 5:49 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

...need to understand that the UEA does not help them, it hurts them. Without collective bargaining, good teachers would get paid what they're worth and bad teachers would be fired.

Don't pay your dues or join the UEA. Be your own person.

Not a product... | 5:52 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

Students are not a "product" to be "produced" by schools. That has never been the mission of school and I hope it never will be!

I like UEA | 6:12 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

But have no respect for Holdaway and his unethical decision to use his status as a legislator to cash out and become a lobbyist.

Yo, Bob! | 6:19 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

Aren't you the guy who knows better than anybody else how HB345 works? How can Representative Holdoway become the UEA lobbyist before his one-year cooling off period expires?

Investigate this! | 7:00 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

When was Holdaway offered this job? Has he taken any official legislative action since being offered a job? When did he know UEA was interested in him?We need someone to investigate.

Where is his honor?? He "says" he would personally support and, in fact, will now be lobbying for an ethics initiative, that if already passed would prevent the very actions he's taken? In sum, "listen to what I say, not what I do." Wow.

Agree with Confused | 7:15 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

I agree with "confused." Holdaway seems to have been working for the UEA for a long time. Now it's official. I hope the other legislators ignore him completely. His ethics are questionable and very suspect now.

Anonymous | 7:37 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

We need to file ethics charges. There is a one year cooling off period that has been violated.

Don't any of you remember the Mel Brown controversy? Getting a job offer from a special interest while serving in the legislature?

It just happened again.

anonymous | 10:06 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

To Utah - you obviously don't know Rep Holdaway he is very ethical no question about that!

I like UEA - if you don't know Rep Holdaway how do you know why he choose to take this job.

Investigate this - there is nothing to investigate, looks like everything is on the up and up. Rep Holdaway wouldn't have taken it if it was not approved.

Supporter | 11:18 p.m. Sept. 29, 2009

Representative Holdaway will be missed as a legislator. He's a good and decent man. He'll help bring civil conversation between the UEA and the Legislature.

Sam & Jenny | 8:15 a.m. Sept. 30, 2009

To Utah: Get a life and maybe your bitterness will subside. Utah Legislators HAVE to vote on every issue. Rep. Holdaway voted for pay increases to benefit all teachers, and they are doing a good job. This year, teachers have had a pay decrease because they are working fewer prep days.
What causes all this nastiness? Is it Utah's water or misinterpreting church sermons or what?

Dwight | 9:07 a.m. Sept. 30, 2009

What do all the commentators who are righteously indignant about the ethics problems of Kory Holdaway moving from straight from the legislature to the UEA lobbyist position have to say about this: Senator Howard Stephenson has served as the President of the Utah Taxpayers Association and as a sitting legislator for more than 15 years! Is that OK? We've got a far bigger ethical problem on this issue than Kory Holdaway.

Annoyed | 9:23 a.m. Sept. 30, 2009

Hey UTAH...You annoy me! I have no respect for people like you (and the others on this board who are so critical). Until you know the facts about his Representative you should probably keep your mouth shut so you don't look so foolish. I am one who elected Rep. Holdaway into office, and continued to do so every 2 years. He is a stand up, classy, honest man. He has respect for his constituents. He will be missed! He has left some big shoes to be filled. Rep. Holdaway, I hope you aren't reading this garbage. If you do, just remember these people are mindless idiots who don't know the truth. Those of us in your district knew you and respect you. Unethical is something that could never be linked to your name! Thank you for all your hard work over the last decade, it did not go un-noticed or un-appreciated!

Utah | 10:28 a.m. Sept. 30, 2009

Sam and Jenny get a life. Open your eyes and see that all is not well in your little Zion. I would never send a kid to a Utah Public School. I would be afraid the 12 or 13 year old would become an object to that male are female teacher. You pay more taxes you people have so many kids it is a shame. 9,10, 15 kids and you pay no taxes. Get a JOB.

Utah | 2:48 p.m. Sept. 30, 2009

Annoyed talk about mindless you are. The guy has been in 10 years he will have better health care then any of you that elected him PAID IN FULL by my tax dollars. Because he had seved ten years in the Utah House he can retire and have better health care then any teacher. I think he should have to wait a year before going to work for UEA. You must belong to that one Utah Church where most of the mindless attend.

Should be illegal. | 5:57 a.m. Oct. 1, 2009

These elected legislators are really unscrupulous and dishonest and a prime example of insider trading crimes. This also reflects on the UEA and how criminal they are in having an unethical government.

He should be barred from any association or contact with anyone in the government in the state of Utah until after the next 2 elections of the position he is deserting. Doing this kind of turncoat government is why we must pass the citizens ethics petition to limit and stop insider jobs from becoming lobbyists for special interest groups.

anonymous | 7:57 a.m. Oct. 1, 2009

Utah - You are crazy, get your facts straight on the "insurance" you claim Rep Holdaway will get because you are WRONG. Until you know this man you look like a fool because he is an ethical legislator, one who cared about those he represented and is passionate about education. If you are the one "teaching" your kids I'm sorry!

Reform Needed | 1:19 p.m. Oct. 1, 2009

My favorite quote from the story: "...there is one other legislator who is a registered lobbyist." A lobbysit in the Legislature? Need we any further proof that most legislators do not take ethics seriously? At least Kory Holdaway realized that the two roles were mutually exclusive. Thank you, sir!

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