Senate committee advances three governor nominees, including Questar Gas president, to full Senate

The Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee on Oct. 1 advanced three of Gov. Cox’s nominees to the full Senate by unanimous voice vote, moving Judd Cook to the Board of Economic Opportunity as a member at large, Brigham Tomko to the same board as a targeted-industry representative, and Ryan Paul to the Board of State History.

The nominations drew brief but substantive exchanges. Judd Cook, introduced as the governor’s appointee to replace Brigham Tomko in the member-at-large seat, described a 28-year career in the natural gas industry and his current roles as “the president of Questar Gas, vice president and general manager of Enbridge Gas, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.” He said Questar Gas “serve[s] 1,200,000 customers” across Utah and maintains “roughly 22,000 miles of pipe in the ground.” Cook said his long ties to the state — he said he is a native Utahan from Plain City —…