Utah Senate unanimously consents to governor’s slate of appointments in brief extraordinary session

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate convened for its seventh extraordinary session in April 2024 to consider and consent to appointments submitted by Gov. Spencer J. Cox, and voted unanimously to approve the slate.

The session opened with a prayer led by Senator Harper and the pledge led by Senator Stevenson. A gubernatorial proclamation read to the Senate said the body was called into session to provide consent to executive appointments under Utah Code §§ 67-1-1 and 67-1-2.

President Adams moved through the communications from the governor, which listed nominees for a range of state boards and commissions. Among the names read by staff were Sonia Martinez Ortiz (Victim Reparations and Assistance Board); Christina Brown and Morgan Sutherland (Davis Technical College Board of Trustees); Jeff Richards, Joseph Havasi and Elizabeth Kitchens for positions on the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council; Jerry Fenn for the Public Service Commission; Jennifer Fresquez for the State Tax Commission; Janice Ugaki to the Utah Athletic Foundation Board; and other appointees and reappointments.

Committee chairs reported favorable recommendations for several nominees. Scott D. Bridal’s committee reported support for Jeff Richards and others for the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council; Senator Daniel McKay reported a favorable recommendation for Jennifer Fresquez to the State Tax Commission; and the Transportation Confirmation Committee reported a favorable recommendation for a candidacy identified in the record as Brad D. Senator Wayne A. Harper described Jerry Fenn as bringing “a great level of expertise in a variety of areas,” including telecommunications and broadband, and the committee recommended him for the Public Service Commission.

The Senate placed the consent motions to roll-call votes. President Adams announced each result as 29 yay, 0 nay, 0 absent; the chamber therefore consented to the governor’s appointments in the motions taken during the session.

Before adjourning, President Adams took personal privilege to recognize Laurie Poole, a long-serving member of Senate staff who joined the legislature as a session employee in February 2012 and moved to full-time status in February 2016. “She’s always done it with the same great smile,” Adams said, praising her work across roles including amending clerk and receptionist; her last day was announced as May 3.

Senator Milner reported that the governor’s representative had been notified that the Senate had concluded its business. Senator Vickers moved to adjourn; the motion passed and President Adams declared the Senate adjourned.

Actions taken during the session were procedural consents to executive appointments; no hearings, amendments to statute, or substantive policy votes were recorded during the extraordinary session.