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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Treasurer Richard Ellis announced his resignation Friday, saying he will take a position with the Utah Educational Savings Plan when he steps down Nov. 1.
Ellis will work as senior director of compliance and communications for the Salt Lake-based nonprofit organization, which helps students and their families set up college savings accounts.
Because Ellis is a Republican, the Utah Republican Party will be responsible for nominating three potential replacements, said Mark Thomas, state director of elections.
The party will submit those nominees to Gov. Gary Herbert, who will appoint one of them, Thomas said. The appointment will not require confirmation by the state Senate, he said.
Utah Republican Party Executive Director Bryan Smith said the party is required to present the governor with nominees within 30 days of Ellis leaving office.
The interim state treasurer will finish Ellis' term, which ends in January 2017. Utah voters will elect someone to the four-year position in November 2016.
Ellis was elected treasurer in 2008 and has a long work history in finance and government. He previously headed the Utah Department of Administrative Services, worked as director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, and served as chief deputy state treasurer. He also taught at BYU's Marriott School of Business for eight years.
I'm grateful to have served the state in this capacity. I've appreciated the opportunity to work with state leaders to ensure that Utah's fiscal health continues to be among the best in the country. The accomplishments and successes I have enjoyed while in office are largely thanks to the good people I have worked with.
–Richard Ellis
"I'm grateful to have served the state in this capacity. I've appreciated the opportunity to work with state leaders to ensure that Utah's fiscal health continues to be among the best in the country," Ellis said in a statement. "The accomplishments and successes I have enjoyed while in office are largely thanks to the good people I have worked with."
Herbert praised Ellis' work Friday, saying he was fiscally responsible in his duties.
"I appreciate Richard's service in managing the state's investments. It takes a team to ensure Utah maintains its strong fiscal health, and he has been a valuable leader in that effort," the governor said in a statement. "The state of Utah's triple-A bond rating is better than the federal government's today because of the fiscal discipline of Utah leaders like Richard."
Ellis' election to treasurer came after a contentious Republican primary in which he accused opponent Mark Walker of bribing him not to run for office. Ellis claimed Walker promised him a large raise as deputy state treasurer if he ended his campaign.
In early 2009, Walker entered a plea in abeyance to inducement not to become a candidate, a class B misdemeanor, and was sentenced to community service and a small fine. Walker also resigned from the state House of Representatives in wake of the controversy.
