The Utah Senate this week approved only 19 of 44 appointments suggested by Gov. Mike Leavitt. But not to worry, the Republican-controlled Senate is not thumbing its collective nose at the Republican governor, just angry over a sloppy appointments process.
State law clearly outlines when appointments to judgeships and various citizen boards must come to the Senate. The problem is that rarely, if ever, has Leavitt's office gotten the potential appointees' names - with full resumes and, where necessary, party affiliations - to senators 15 days before the Senate met to consider the appointees."More and more, the names were coming up on interim day (when confirmation sessions are held by the Senate)," says Richard Strong, director of Legislative Research and General Council.
Senate leaders, Republican and Democratic, were forgiving for awhile. After all, Leavitt was a new governor and much of his staff was also new and not up to speed.
But when the appointments to the Board of Water Quality came up to the Senate five months after some of the board members' terms had expired in March . . . well, that was too much, Strong said.
So, to send a message to Leavitt, senators turned down 25 of his August appointments. They must come back next month, this time at least 15 days before the next interim meeting - as the law requires - and with full resumes and other items attached.
In a regularly scheduled meeting with legislative leaders, Leavitt admitted his office has been sloppy in getting appointments to the Senate. Former Govs. Scott M. Matheson and Norm Bangerter used to say that they got more heat over appointments than any other decisions they made - with some party members thinking they should get this or that job or assignment, and others saying the governors were too partisan.
Senators did confirm the reappointments of a number of Board of Water Quality members so the board could continue to function, even though some of those appointees' applications weren't completed as senators wished.
Here are appointments the Senate confirmed this week:
Keith W. Welch, Leroy H. Wullstein, A. Bruce Dursteller and Lynn F. Pett all reappointed to the Board of Water Quality.
Larry Rigby and Lawrence Alder reappointed and Beth Quist appointed to the Utah Technology Finance Corporation Board of Trustees.
Jeff Packer, Lucille Tuttle, Scott Truman and Bruce King all appointed to the Board of Parks and Recreation.
Penny Brooke, Patrice Speigel and Orrin Colby Jr. reappointed and Wen Kuo appointed to the Health Data Committee.
Curt Webb appointed to the Real Estate Commission.
Andrew A. Valdez confirmed as a Third District Juvenile Court judge.
Anthony W. Schofield and Steven L. Hansen appointed as judges to the Fourth District Court.