Identical twin brothers running for seats in the Utah House of Representatives certainly qualifies as quirky.

But the fact that neither knew of the other's plans until it came time to file for candidacy moves beyond quirkiness and into that spooky area of "twintuition."

Keith Grover, Provo, is seeking the Republican nomination in House District 61, and Kenneth Grover, Salt Lake City, is doing the same in District 25.

It wasn't until after Keith had filed for office that the 36-year-old twins learned of each other's plans.

"I told Kenneth I'd filed," Keith said, "and he said, 'Well, I'm looking at my race,' and then he filed, too."

"It would sound better if we had gotten together and schemed the idea," Kenneth said, "but we didn't."

It's not the first time the twins have gone their separate ways only to end up in the same place, they said.

"It's almost the bane of our lives," Kenneth said, jokingly. "I'll call him and he'll say, 'Hey, I'm thinking about doing this,' and I'll say, 'Me, too.' "

Their career paths have been similar, both feeling the pull of education. Keith is vice principal at Orem Junior High School, and Kenneth is a director of programs for the Salt Lake School District.

Both said their political aspirations were influenced by their older brother, Jerry Grover, the longtime Utah County commissioner now seeking a fourth term.

But growing up Grover really wasn't about politics, the twins said. Jerry is the only member of the family who's "clearly a politician," Keith said.

"We're not the Kennedys," he said.

Keith is running for office for the first time and says his political background consists of, well, voting.

"I've watched what Jerry's done, how he's been able to be effective and still maintain his dignity and be direct," Keith said. "I thought, 'Well, let's see if I can do that at my House seat level.' "

Keith Grover is one of three candidates seeking the Republican nomination in District 61, joining Orem residents John Tinsley and Garr P. Judd. With Rep. Margaret Dayton vacating the seat, Keith said the timing for entering the political area felt right.

"My wife said, 'Don't you dare,' so I had to take her up on the challenge," he said.

Kenneth, meanwhile, has shied away from the politics since his college days at Brigham Young University when he unsuccessfully ran for a House seat. The whole process soured him toward politics, he said.

Since then, Kenneth says he's gained experience through his work in education that he feels is needed in the House.

Kenneth Grover and Martine Smith, Salt Lake City, are seeking the Republican nomination in District 25, a seat currently occupied by Democrat Ross Romero.

With Romero running for a District 7 Senate seat, Democrats Joel Briscoe, Christine Johnson, Josh Ewing, Chris Ferguson and Jack L. Gray, all of Salt Lake City, are battling to replace him.

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"It's going to be tough where I live because about 65 percent vote Democrat," Kenneth Grover said.

Keith, too, says he's a longshot to win the Republican nomination.

"I see it as it is. I'm a realist," he said. "But I think I can make a real significant difference."


E-mail: jpage@desnews.com

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