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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Longtime state legislator John Valentine is set to leave the Senate to become chair of the Utah state tax commission, Gov. Gary Herbert announced Monday.
Herbert said he selected Valentine to replace Bruce Johnson because of his experience as an advocate for sound tax policy during his 26 years in the Utah Legislature. The Republican governor said Valentine has written many of the tax laws in state code.
Valentine, a Republican from Orem, is a tax attorney in a Provo law firm. His appointment is pending confirmation from the Utah Senate.
During his time in the Legislature, Valentine became known for his opposition to measures aimed at easing the state's strict liquor laws.
"I'm sure there will be a lot of people celebrating that 'Mr. Liquor' is leaving the Legislature," Valentine told The Salt Lake Tribune (http://bit.ly/UNN0Pm ).
Valentine said he plans to stay engaged liquor law discussions as a citizen because he thinks it's important the state maintains a balance between allowing people to drink alcohol and keeping laws that cut down on the social costs that come with drinking.
Valentine joined the House in 1988 after being appointed by then-Gov. Norm Bangerter. In 1998, he was appointed to the Senate by then-Gov. Mike Leavitt. Valentine was Senate president from 2004 to 2008. He was appointed both times to finish the term of a legislator who left before his term had finished.
He is the second-longest tenured leglislator, the Tribune reports.
Valentine said he encouraged Herbert to re-nominate Johnson to head the tax commission, but became open to the possibility of doing it himself when the governor offered him the job. Johnson had been on the tax commission for 16 years, the last four as chair.
Valentine told The Associated Press that Gov. Herbert said he chose Valentine rather than stick with Johnson because it was time for a different perspective and new ideas.
"He just felt like it was time for a change," Valentine said referring to what the governor told him.
Valentine told the Tribune that he plans to endorse a candidate to replace him in the Senate before Republican delegates meet in a special election to choose his replacement.
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