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Utah Senate unanimously consents to governor’s slate of appointees in brief extraordinary session
Summary
In a short extraordinary session in May 2015, the Utah State Senate adopted session rules and voted 25–0 (with four absent) to consent to a batch of gubernatorial appointments to state boards and commissions, then adjourned the same day.
The Utah State Senate convened its third extraordinary session in May 2015 and, after adopting the 2015 general-session rules for use in the special sitting, voted to consent to a series of appointments submitted by Gov. Gary R. Herbert.
Senator Van Tassel moved to adopt the rules for the extraordinary session, which were approved by voice vote, allowing the Senate to proceed to consideration of the governor’s nominations. The clerk then read the governor’s proclamation and certification, which cited Article VII, Section 6 of the Utah Constitution and identified the purpose of the session as consenting to appointments made since the close of the regular session.
Senator Hilliard moved that the Senate consent to the slate of appointees as read by the clerk, noting there had been no confirmation hearings. The Senate proceeded to a roll call vote; the Presiding Officer announced, “With a vote of 25 yeas, 0 nays, and 4 being absent, The Senate has consented to the governor's appointments.” The roll call recorded an affirmative tally of 25 and four absences; no nays were recorded.
The appointments covered multiple state boards and commissions. The clerk’s reading included reappointments and new appointments to bodies such as the State Money Management Council (Marina Scott; Mark David Watkins reappointed), the Board of Aging and Adult Services (Richard Kirkham Jolley reappointed), the Water Quality Board (Myron E. Bateman reappointed; Clyde Bunker reappointed; Stephen K. Early appointed), the Drinking Water Board (TGI Flint reappointed; David King Stevens reappointed; Brett Harvey Chenoweth reappointed; Betty G. Naylor reappointed), the Air Quality Board (Michael William Smith reappointed; Erin Mendenhall reappointed), the University of Utah Board of Trustees (Philip W. Klinger reappointed; Christian Gardner reappointed), and the Board of Juvenile Justice Services (David B. Harper reappointed), among others. Several appointees and the boards they will serve on were read in full to the chamber.
After the vote the Presiding Officer congratulated the appointees and acknowledged an appointee present in the chamber, Alan Mathison. Earlier in the session the President had appointed Senators Vickers, Okerlund, and Maine to wait upon the governor’s representative and notify the office that the Senate had convened; Senator Vickers reported the representative had been notified.
Senator Escamilla also introduced a visiting official, Senator Robles Montoya from Oaxaca, Mexico, who was attending a governor’s energy summit and was welcomed as a guest of the governor.
With the day’s business complete, Senator Vickers moved to adjourn; the motion passed and the Senate adjourned the extraordinary session.
