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Senate confirms multiple governor appointments after waiver of notice
Summary
The Utah Senate waived the 15‑day notice and consented to a slate of John Huntsman Jr. appointees, confirming executive directors and commissioners (including David Sundwall for Health and Darcy Dixon Pignanelli for Administrative Services) by roll call.
The Utah Senate moved swiftly to act on a batch of gubernatorial nominees when Senator Eastman successfully moved to waive the 15‑day notice period required under Utah Code §67‑1‑2. With the waiver in place, the Senate consented to a slate of appointments transmitted by Governor John Huntsman Jr. on January 5, 2005.
The reading clerk listed nominees for multiple state agencies. Confirmations included Dr. David Sundwall as executive director of the Utah Department of Health; Darcy Dixon Pignanelli as executive director of Administrative Services; Leonard Blackham as commissioner of agriculture (reappointment or appointment depending on position); Russell Scalzen (Commerce); Scott Carver (Corrections); Diane Nielsen (Environmental Quality); Edward Leary (Financial Institutions); Jeff Herring (Human Resource Management); Kent Michie (Insurance); Michael Steiler (Natural Resources); Robert Flowers (Public Safety); and John Nord (Transportation), among others. A confirmation committee report from the Health and Human Services panel recommended Dr. Sundwall’s appointment.
Senate consent to the governor’s appointments was approved by roll call; the president announced the motion had received 26 yea votes, 0 nay votes, with 3 members absent. After the formal roll call, the newly confirmed officials were invited to the floor to introduce themselves and acknowledge family members present.
Senators voiced brief remarks thanking departing Senator Leonard Blackham, who had been appointed Commissioner of Agriculture and offered parting comments to colleagues before his replacement was sworn in. Darren Peterson then took the oath of office to fill the vacant Senate seat.
Procedural notes: the Senate explicitly cited Utah Code provisions governing appointments (including §67‑1‑1 and §67‑1‑2) during the reading of the governor’s letter and the subsequent motions to waive notice and give consent.
