Rep. Dean Sanpei, R-Provo — House chairman of the powerful Executive Appropriations Committee — announced Friday that he is resigning his seat to accept a new job that requires him to move to Colorado.
As with most of Utah’s part-time lawmakers, Sanpei has a full-time outside job: currently as vice president of strategy for Intermountain Healthcare.
He said he will resign effective Dec. 8 to accept a new position with Centura Health as its senior vice president and chief strategy officer, and will move to Colorado.
“It has been an honor to serve in the Utah House during such a significant period of economic recovery and growth,” Sanpei said. “I am proud to have worked with remarkable colleagues, and I’m grateful to the constituents who entrusted me to represent them.”
He was appointed to the Legislature in 2010 to fill a vacancy when Rep. Stephen Clark resigned to become an LDS mission president. Sanpei won re-election easily since then.
Republican delegates from his district will vote and nominate a replacement for Sanpei to be appointed by Gov. Gary Herbert.
House Speaker Greg Hughes praised Sanpei and his leadership of the Executive Appropriations Committee, which oversees all spending bills passed by the Legislature. The post made him a part of the House GOP leadership team.
“He will be hard to replace. Utah’s national recognition for being a well-managed state, and economically strong, is in large part due to his efforts,” Hughes said. “While we will greatly miss his friendship and leadership, we wish him and his family the very best as they venture out on this new journey.”
