Utah Senate unanimously consents to governor's slate of appointments in extraordinary session

The Utah State Senate met in a sixth extraordinary session on May 13, 2020, and gave its consent to a package of nominations sent by Gov. Gary R. Herbert, approving the slate by a recorded vote of 28 "yay," 0 "nay" and 1 absent.

The appointments were transmitted in a gubernatorial proclamation invoking Article 7, Section 6 of the Utah Constitution and Utah Code (67-1-1 and 67-1-2) to call the Senate into extraordinary session. The Secretary read the communications from the governor, which listed numerous appointees and reappointments to state boards and commissions, among them Logan Wilde as commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food; Christopher R. Parker as executive director of the Department of Commerce; and Marshall M. Thompson as a full‑time member of the Board of Pardons and Parole.

Senators voiced support for several nominees during the brief discussion preceding the roll call. Senator Aukerman told colleagues the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Confirmation Committee had found Logan Wilde "very qualified" and unanimously recommended his confirmation. Senator Bramble praised Christopher Parker’s experience and said the committee had likewise issued a unanimous recommendation. Senator Weicker spoke in favor of Marshall M. Thompson, calling him "a remarkable person" with extensive experience advising on sentencing matters.

Senator Hill moved for the Senate to consent to the appointments as read; after brief remarks and no formal amendments, the Secretary called the roll. President Adams announced the result: 28 yeas, zero nays and one absent, and declared that the Senate had consented to the governor’s appointments.

Senator Hemmert confirmed that the governor’s representative was notified electronically that the Senate had concluded its business. The chamber then adopted the 2020 general-session rules for use in the extraordinary session earlier in the proceeding and adjourned.

The confirmations fill vacancies and reappointments across a range of state boards and commissions; the Secretary's communication named appointees to the Central Utah Water Conservancy District Board of Trustees, Uinta Basin Technical College Board of Directors, Labor Commission Appeals Board, State Records Committee, Search and Rescue Advisory Board, Board of Tourism Development, Utah Indigent Defense Commission, Board of Pardons and Parole, Utah State Fair Corporation, Department of Commerce leadership, Department of Agriculture and Food leadership, the Utah Board of Higher Education, Dixie State University board of trustees and several other entities. The full list of names and positions was read into the record by the Secretary.