Suzanne Harrison speaks as officers mark the twelfth annual Governor’s Idle Free Declaration throughout a press convention on the Capitol in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sept. 16, 2019. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox responded on Tuesday to latest controversy over his nomination to the Utah Air High quality Board being eliminated, telling reporters that his alternative of Salt Lake County Council member Suzanne Harrison “didn’t go the best way we had hoped” and that his workplace is now on the lookout for a brand new nomination.
Harrison’s nomination to the board, which enacts air high quality laws for the state and consists of native politicians and specialists, was held up earlier this month after a break up vote from the Senate Pure Assets, Agriculture and Setting Committee.
And on Monday, Harrison confirmed by way of a assertion that her nomination was withdrawn.
“I'm disheartened by the blatant show of divisive partisan politics that characterised the nomination course of,” she stated, calling the result “unprecedented.”
Throughout a ceremonial invoice signing Tuesday, Cox briefly addressed the withdrawal.
“Clearly it didn’t go the best way we had hoped and so I’ve had conversations with Suzanne, she’s a beautiful one who served within the legislature and is now serving in county authorities. And we’ll work exhausting to search out one other title that can be authorized,” he stated.
Harrison is a doctor and former Democratic member of the Utah Home of Representatives, who launched a profitable bid for the Salt Lake County Council’s at giant seat after the redistricting course of made her district closely Republican.
Whereas within the legislature, Harrison was the co-chair of the bipartisan Clear Air Caucus, and based the web site tier3gas.org, which confirmed Utahns have been they will purchase cleaner burning gasoline.
“I've devoted my efforts to working throughout get together traces to search out common sense options to assist clear up our air so that every one Utahns can dwell completely happy and wholesome lives,” she stated in an announcement.
Nonetheless, through the affirmation listening to Harrison’s voting document as a lawmaker got here into query — significantly her “no” vote on a invoice that might have prolonged tax breaks for refineries that produce tier 3 gasoline.
“She does stroll the stroll, however when it comes right down to the ultimate votes ... I don’t see that she’s a workforce participant, I see that she’s enjoying get together traces,” stated Sen. Ron Winterton, R-Roosevelt.
Harrison, in response, stated her opposition to the invoice was as a result of one of many refineries “hadn’t proven any measurable effort to go down the trail of creating tier 3 gasoline. And a number of other of the opposite refineries who had already begun the work on creating tier 3 gasoline additionally had considerations about extending tax breaks.”
Winterton, together with Derrin Owens, R-Fountain Inexperienced, and Keith Grover, R-Provo, in the end voted in opposition to Harrison’s nomination. Uinta County Commissioner Sonja Norton, one other nominee for the board, bought the inexperienced mild from lawmakers throughout that very same assembly.
Harrison would have changed Salt Lake Metropolis Mayor Erin Mendenhall on the Utah Air High quality Board.
“I consider the perfect choices and insurance policies are made when a number of views are on the desk. Air high quality is a matter that ought to transcend partisan politics. All of us share the identical air and have a stake in guaranteeing it stays clear and wholesome,” Harrison stated.
Now, with Mendenhall gone, the board doesn't have any sitting Democrats. It has one Republican, and the remaining are both unbiased or unaffiliated. Utah legislation doesn’t require a minimal variety of board members from every get together, however does forestall lawmakers from stacking it with both Republicans or Democrats.