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One-Fifth Of State Lawmakers Not Seeking Re-Election In 2018

Speaker Greg Hughes, who will not be running for re-election in 2018.
house.utah.gov
Speaker Greg Hughes, who will not be running for re-election in 2018.

Nearly one-fifth of state lawmakers are not running for re-election this year.

The retiring lawmakers include some big names like Speaker Greg Hughes, tax-guru Republican Sen. Howard Stephenson and Republican Rep. Mike Noel, known for his clashes with environmentalists.

Democratic retirements include Sen. Jim Dabakis, the only openly-gay member of the Legislature who helped shepherd Utah's 2015 antidiscrimination law, and Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, who unsuccessfully tried for years to pass a law allowing terminally ill adults to end their lives.

Stephenson says he's not worried about an exodus leaving the Legislature without enough seasoned members. He says it's healthy to have rotation and lawmakers who've served for more than 20 years will still be there.