No need for introductions when the Legislature convenes in January. In the House of Representatives, most of the faces will be familiar.
In fact, it was a particularly good election day for House incumbents. Of the 65 who stood for re-election Tuesday, all but one - Rep. Brian Allen, R-Salt Lake - won their races.And most won easily. Furthermore, 19 were either unopposed or faced no major-party challenger.
"Generally speaking, the economy is good and the public, as a result, has a fairly good impression of the Legislature," said Speaker of the House Mel Brown, R-Midvale and the winner of a close race.
"People appreciate the planning we are doing in transportation and the fact that we have cut taxes in six of the last nine years. I think people are happy with that," said Rep. Marty Stephens, R-Farr West.
House Republicans went into the 1998 election thinking they might pick up a couple of seats or they might lose a couple, but there would be no significant changes.
So they weren't surprised that they ended up losing only one seat to the Democrats. (Republicans now hold a 54 to 21 majority.)
"What was surprising was we would lose one of the best we had in the Legislature in Brian Allen," said Stephens, who plans to run for House speaker. Elections for leadership positions will be held Friday night.
"I am just sick about losing Brian."
Allen's loss puts Karen Morgan in the Legislature along with six new Republicans and four new Democrats who won election after the incumbents retired, resigned or ran for the Senate.
One incumbent, Rep. Brent Haymond, R-Springville, lost his re-election bid in the Utah County convention.
In one of the state's most contentious races, Democrat Jackie Bis-kup-ski easily defeated Republican Bryan Irving for the District 30 seat vacated by Gene Davis, who won his bid to the Utah Senate.
Biskupski, who is openly homosexual, was the target of media attacks by conservative groups during the final days of the campaign, but still won with 61 percent of the votes.
A new face with a familiar name is Ben Ferry. The Republican son of former Senate President Miles "Cap" Ferry won District 2 in Box Elder County by a wide margin. Cap Ferry and Ben's mother, Sue, are now prominent lobbyists who will soon find themselves in the position of buttonholing their son to get his vote on key issues.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
District 22
16 of 16 precincts
Carl W. Duckworth (D) 2,724 54%
Dan R. Cripps (R) 1,935 38%
Dub Richards (IP) 268 5%
Don W. Johnstun (L) 106 2%
District 23
19 of 19 precincts
Duane Bourdeaux (D-inc.) 3,005 64%
Jack Ellefsen (R) 1,715 36%
District 24
25 of 25 precincts
Ralph Becker (D-inc.) 4,671 67%
Bryce Brady (R) 2,292 33%
District 25
26 of 26 precincts
Dave Jones (D-inc.) 5,611 69%
J. Robert Latham (R) 2,305 28%
Steven D. Estes (NL) 187 2%
District 26
18 of 18 precincts
Fred J. Fife III (D) 2,465 78%
Larry D. Garske (IA) 692 22%
District 27
21 of 21 precincts
Loretta Baca (D-inc.) 2,861 61%
David B. Burnham (R) 1,598 34%
Ronald Amos (L) 236 5%
District 28
23 of 23 precincts
Afton B. Bradshaw (R-inc.) 5,324 59%
Bruce G. Cohne (D) 3,733 41%
District 29
18 of 18 precincts
Brent Goodfellow (D-inc.) 2,795 61%
Troy Staker (R) 1,814 39%
District 30
23 of 23 precincts
Jackie Biskupski (D) 4,267 61%
Bryan J. Irving (R) 2,732 39%
District 31
24 of 24 precincts
Mary Carlson (D-inc.) 4,314 54%
Verdi White II (R) 3,334 42%
Betty Christensen (IP) 234 3%
Charles G. Pearce (L) 120 1%
District 32
15 of 15 precincts
Ron Bigelow (R-inc.) 2,738 57%
Necia Christensen (D) 1,942 40%
Janet Mantle Ericson (IA) 154 3%
District 33
19 of 19 precincts
Neal Hendrickson (D-inc.) 2,585 58%
John W. Cannon (R) 1,876 42%
District 34
18 of 18 precincts
Kory M. Holdaway (R) 2,556 51%
Dennis Carty (D) 2,487 49%
District 35
23 of 23 precincts
Judy Ann Buffmire (D-inc.) 3,186 62%
Kevin R. Arrington (R) 1,997 38%
District 36
24 of 24 precincts
Lamont Tyler (R-inc.) 5,238 58%
Greg Peters (D) 3,858 42%
District 37
25 of 25 precincts
Ray Short (R-inc.) 4,572 54%
Zane Gill (D) 3,970 46%
District 38
15 of 15 precincts
Gary F. Cox (D-inc.) 3,497 87%
Chauna P. Pierce (L) 527 13%
District 39
21 of 21 precincts
David L. Zolman (R-inc.) 3,989 82%
Jim Dexter (L) 889 18%
District 40
25 of 25 precincts
Richard L. Walsh (R-inc.) 3,732 51%
Jerold L. Jensen (D) 3,635 49%
District 41
25 of 25 precincts
Patrice Arent (D-inc.) 5,345 57%
Athelia T. Woolley (R) 3,792 41%
Steven B. Olsen (IA) 181 2%
District 42
19 of 19 precincts
Perry L. Buckner (D-inc.) 2,854 53%
Max Byron Meng (R) 2,551 47%
District 43
20 of 20 precincts
Wayne A. Harper (R-inc.) 3,012 56%
Mary K. Hammond (D) 2,376 44%
District 44
24 of 24 precincts
Chad E. Bennion (R) 3,549 55%
Gary Yengich (D) 2,626 40%
Bruce Bangerter (IA) 317 5%
District 45
26 of 26 precincts
Melvin R. Brown (R-inc.) 3,399 53%
Michael Ray Olsen (D) 3,071 47%
District 46
21 of 21 precincts
Karen W. Morgan (D) 3,783 50%
Brian R. Allen (R-inc.) 3,681 48%
Alan Hepner (L) 170 2%
District 47
21 of 21 precincts
Bryan D. Holladay (R-inc.) 3,667 77%
D. Mark Faux (IP) 1,097 23%
District 48
20 of 20 precincts
Trisha S. Beck (D-inc.) 3,923 55%
Richard Perry (R) 3,265 45%
District 49
18 of 18 precincts
Greg J. Curtis (R-inc.) 4,498 65%
Chris Shouse (D) 2,394 35%
District 50
31 of 31 precincts
Lloyd Frandsen (R-inc.) 7,690 83%
Drew Chamberlain (IP) 1,255 14%
Charles C. Hardy (L) 296 3%
District 51
23 of 23 precincts
John E. Swallow (R-inc.) 4,504 56%
Sherry L. Hall (D) 3,491 44%
District 52
26 of 26 precincts
David L. Hogue (R-inc.) 7,920 88%
Lee McKenzie (Proh) 1,078 12%