Senate confirmation committee deadlocks on William Winfield for Permanent Community Impact Fund Board

The Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Confirmation Committee failed to recommend William “Bill” Winfield to the Permanent Community Impact Fund Board after a 2-2 tie on the committee vote.

Winfield, a Grand County commissioner nominated by the governor, described his background and priorities in a remote confirmation hearing. “I'm from the Grand County originally and grew up and graduated in Moab,” he told the panel, and said he has spent most of his career in construction and local housing development and was elected county commissioner in November 2022. He said he has worked with neighboring county commissioners and with the Utah Association of Counties and that one of his priorities would be supporting infrastructure in smaller, rural communities.

The committee’s nut graf: the vote underscored a recurring committee concern about balance on boards that allocate Community Impact Board (CIB) funds, which panel members said are financed in part by mineral-leasing revenues and are intended to fund local infrastructure and mitigation projects.

Committee discussion and public comment
Senator Milner, chair of the confirmation committee, opened the hearing and invited Winfield to describe his qualifications. Winfield told the committee he has “built pretty solid relationships with both state and federal legislators” and that he spends time abroad supporting an NGO in Nepal, which he mentioned as part of his personal background.

A member of the public, Kevin Clyde, spoke in support of Winfield, saying he had known Winfield in the Moab area for 10 to 15 years and that Winfield was “willing to listen” and had helped connect local officials with legislators and state officials. Clyde said he supported Winfield as someone who could “bring benefit to underserved populations, which are the rural populations, particularly in southeastern Utah.”

Opposition and tie vote
At least two committee members voiced opposition or withheld support. One committee member identified in the transcript as “Senator Bluhin” said, “I'll speak, in opposition to that motion,” and argued the committee needs broader perspectives on boards that handle oil- and gas-derived revenues. Senator Kwan also said, “I will not be supporting this nomination,” echoing the call for more diverse viewpoints on such appointments.

Senator Wilson made a motion to favorably recommend William Winfield to the full Senate. The motion did not carry on the committee floor after members recorded two ayes and two nos. The chair announced, “Motion fails,” and later staff said the nomination would still go forward to the full Senate but without the committee’s recommendation.

Why this matters
The Permanent Community Impact Fund Board (CIB) awards infrastructure funds to counties and municipalities, often using revenues tied to mineral development and related sources. Committee members said the composition of the board matters because decisions can affect how those funds are spent — from road and water projects to larger, sometimes controversial projects in rural counties.

What happened next
Committee staff informed the panel that Winfield’s nomination will still be transmitted to the full Senate without a favorable committee recommendation. The committee adjourned after the tie vote.

Ending
The committee recorded approval of the minutes from its Jan. 17, 2024 meeting earlier in the session; later, it took no further action on nominations after the Winfield tie and adjourned.