Utah Senate gives unanimous consent to multiple gubernatorial appointments

The Utah Senate consented to a slate of gubernatorial appointments on Jan. 27 after a confirmation committee recommended approval. The chamber recorded 24 yays, 0 nays and 5 absent on the motion to consent, and the presiding officer announced that the Senate had approved the governor’s nominations.

The appointments read into the record included Denise M. Porter to replace Jesse Gallegos as a full-time member of the Board of Pardons and Parole and multiple appointments to regional water conservancy district boards: Al Mansell, Amy Winder Newton (to replace Dallin Jensen), Merrill Bingham (to replace Gary J. Anderson), Shelley Brennan (to replace Kent Petros), Byron B Woodland (to replace George Jackson) on the Central Utah Water Conservancy District Board of Trustees; William Brent Johnson to the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District Board of Trustees (to replace Jaylynn Crane); and Marlon K. Jensen to the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District Board of Trustees (to replace Eric Story). The governor’s cover letter accompanying the nominations was dated Jan. 12, 2016, and cited Utah Code 67-1-1 and related provisions.

A confirmation report from the Senate Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Confirmation Committee, dated Jan. 27, 2016 and signed by committee chair Mark Madsen, recommended approval of Denise M. Porter to the Board of Pardons and Parole. Senators on the floor described a unanimous committee endorsement and extended congratulations to nominees who were present.

The motion to consent was made from the floor, put to a roll call and announced by the president. The Senate’s adoption of the appointments requires no further floor action; the approved nominees will assume the duties described in their appointment letters and applicable statutes.

The Senate proceeded to the second-reading calendar after taking the consent vote.