The first new appointments to the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee board of trustees since Utah's capital was awarded the 2002 Winter Games were announced Friday.
Former House Speaker Nolan Karras and Salt Lake Community and Economic Development Director Michael Danielson were named to the private group responsible for staging the $800 million Olympic Games.Karras and Danielson will serve on the board's executive committee, now headed by Frank Joklik. The other executive committee members are businessmen Verl Topham and Spence Eccles.
Karras, the governor's appointee, is a self-employed investment adviser and chairman of the Utah State Building Board. He served five terms in the Utah House, and headed Leavitt's transition team.
Danielson, chosen by the mayor, joined the city after retiring as head of Valley Bank and Trust Company. He oversees housing, economic development, capital planning, building services and licensing, and the arts council.
The appointments, by Gov. Mike Leavitt and Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini, could replace two of the six current members up for reappointment. Or the pair could serve in place of the governor and mayor, who are both trustees.
The 19-member bid committee automatically became the organizing committee for the Olympics. Committee bylaws require a total of as many as 30 members, including the two International Olympic Committee members from the United States.
Other required members include the two top officials of the U.S. Olympic Committee as well as six recent participants in elite amateur athletic events who are yet to be named.
There are currently enough members on the board of trustees to hold a meeting before the remaining appointments are made. A meeting is expected to be set soon to consider whether to locate an ice hockey arena in West Valley City.