Former legislative intern Douglas S. Peterson knew from past experience that it was difficult to slip past the House of Representatives doormen, who are famous for their diligence in guarding access to legislators.
But, on the first day of 1993 Legislature, Peterson tried to stroll nonchalantly into the legislative chamber."They stopped me short," Peterson reported, "and said, `Only legislators and staff allowed. Are you an intern?' "
The youngest Utahn ever elected to the Utah House wasn't insulted. He figured that he'd confront "the-kid" test on more than one occasion during his first term. Although 26, Peterson agrees that he could easily be mistaken for someone barely out of high school.
Name tags issued to legislators the first week solved some of the problem, but the affable Peterson is still constantly being singled out with the qualifier, "The Youngest Legislator."
During an interview in the House lounge, a colleague showing off the Capitol to his children introduced Peterson with the qualifier. The Roy Republican didn't mind.
"How old are you?" he asked the children.
When the duo responded 9 and 11, Peterson related that he was 11 years old when he took a similar Capitol tour. Peterson is the son of Lowell S. Peterson, who served in both the House and Senate and later as Weber County commissioner.
The older Peterson now occasionally offers political advice to his son, who is single and still lives at home. "I listen," Peterson said, "but I've had to put my dad's advice down a couple of notches. I view his opinions now as a constituent's viewpoint."
At his request ("I didn't think I had a chance"), Peterson was named to the Joint Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee. That may put another first on Peterson's resume - the first college student to have a vote on the subcommittee that shapes higher education's budget.
Peterson, a former Weber State University student body president and student regent last year, needs to complete four quarters to receive his WSU diploma.
"I think I bring a different perspective to the subcommittee," said Peterson, who, unlike some of his colleagues, probably didn't need the glossary of higher-education jargon that was passed out on the subcommittee's first day.
"He can speak with a background that the others don't have," agreed Commissioner of Higher Education Wm. Rolfe Kerr, "but his test and strength as a legislator will come over time."
As for his year on the state Board of Regents, Peterson was "very conscientious. He did his homework well. He wasn't intimidated by the more seasoned members of the board. He represented the students very well," the commissioner said.
The student-legislator doesn't see any more of a conflict with his legislator-student role than those faced by other legislators because of their backgrounds. "It was more of a conflict to be a student regent and have a vote on tuition increases," he said.
The lawmaker doesn't deny his affinity for WSU and higher education, but Peterson said he realizes his constituents now encompass more than just students. "My role as a legislator is not to protect higher education but to advance the interests of the state of Utah."