If Davis County Republicans feel that it is crucial on April 10 to fill former state Rep. Kevin Garn's District 16 Utah House seat for the rest of his term, then the person selected should be a short-term replacement who should agree not to run for the seat this fall.
It would provide an unfair advantage of "incumbency" upon any potential candidate who wants Garn's seat permanently. And it appears that the race for Garn's old seat, at least on the Republican side, will have several vying for it. They include former Layton Councilman Stephen G. Handy, current Layton Councilman Michael Bouwhuis, and Chris Crowder, a pastor with Christian Life Center and Layton Christian Academy. Other contenders are software engineer Tom Clay and Cathy Nilsson.
If there is a replacement for Garn's remaining term, hopefully delegates at the April 10 county convention will select a candidate to fill the term and another to be the candidate this fall for a full term.
Garn resigned his seat on March 13, a couple of days after he admitted to have hot-tubbed nude with a 15-year-old girl, Cheryl Maher, in 1985, when he was 30. He also admitted that he had paid Maher in 2002 $150,000 to maintain her silence regarding the incident.
When he resigned, Garn was the Utah House majority leader. There will soon be a replacement. Top of Utah state Rep. Brad Dee, Ogden, the majority whip, has already declared himself a candidate.
Dee has a lot of experience and since he is next in line in position, likely has a good shot at the job.
What the House needs for majority leader is someone who knows the Legislature's duties inside and out as well as a leader who can repair the ethical damage that has plagued the Legislature this year. Both one-time majority leaders this year, Garn and former state Sen. Sheldon Killpack, have been forced to resign due to scandals.
We need a change of climate on the Hill. We hope we get a House majority leader capable of initiating positive change.
Comments