Utah Senate holds extraordinary session, confirms multiple gubernatorial appointments including Sam Granato and Clark Ivory

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate met in a second extraordinary session on June 14, 2011, to consider and consent to a slate of appointments submitted by Gov. Gary R. Herbert. Senators approved multiple nominees, including Sam Granato for the Board of Business and Economic Development and Clark Ivory for the University of Utah Board of Trustees.

Greg Bell, the lieutenant governor, read the governor's proclamation calling the Senate into extraordinary session “for the purpose: for the consent to appointments made by the governor to positions within state government of the State of Utah since the close of the 2011 general session,” and certified the accompanying documentation. The session record shows the proclamation and certification were read into the record at the start of the meeting.

Senator Dayton moved that the Senate adopt the same rules used during the 2011 general session for the extraordinary session; the motion was adopted on voice vote. The body proceeded to consider the governor’s communications and nominations as listed by the lieutenant governor, which included dozens of appointments and reappointments across state boards and commissions.

On the nomination of Sam Granato to the Board of Business and Economic Development, Senator Hilliard moved to consent. Senator Valentine reported that the confirmation committee had met and recommended Granada without reservation, saying the committee “found that Sam Granato ... [was] a good appointment” and urging the Senate to approve the nomination. The motion to consent to Granato was approved in roll call (the transcript records the consent vote as 27 yeas; absent senators were noted in the roll call record).

Senators also considered and consented to numerous other appointments and reappointments reported by the Senate confirmation committees, including reappointments and new members across the state university boards, the Tax Commission and other state boards. Senator Bramble told colleagues the Revenue and Taxation confirmation committee had voted unanimously to recommend Darcy Dixon Pignanelli for reappointment to the Utah State Tax Commission and “strongly commend[ed] her to your vote for confirmation.” Dr. David Patten was introduced on the floor as the governor’s nominee to serve as executive director of the Utah Department of Health; Senator Christensen said the committee had worked with Patten and declined to hold a separate hearing.

Before acting on the nomination of Clark Ivory to the University of Utah Board of Trustees, Senator Jenkins moved to waive the statutorily required 15‑day notice so the Senate could act immediately on the nomination. The motion to suspend the rule was called and passed by voice vote after the chair noted the special‑session procedure for waiving notice in this circumstance. The subsequent roll call on the package of appointments that included Clark Ivory was recorded in the transcript as 28 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent.

President’s remarks closed the formal business after the confirmations. In addition to appointment votes, the President announced internal personnel selections: Leslie MacLean was named Chief Clerk of the Senate and Joanna McKay was introduced as Leslie MacLean’s replacement in her prior role. The Senate then adopted a motion to adjourn moved by Senator Jenkins and left the floor.

The record contains roll call and voice votes at several points in the session; transcript counts fluctuate as senators arrived during roll call. Where tallies are reported in the transcript, they are cited in the text above exactly as read into the record (for example, the Granato consent vote is recorded as 27 yeas in the transcript; later package votes are recorded as 28 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent).