Ryan Cowley, a Weber County elections official, has been named the state’s new director of elections, according to a Monday announcement by Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson.
Cowley, who currently serves as the Weber County elections director, is slated to start his new role on Dec. 13. He replaces Justin Lee, who announced his departure in July after holding the position since 2017.
“Ryan brings such a wealth of experience to the office,” said Henderson in a written statement. “I appreciate his willingness to serve the people of Utah in this new capacity and am confident that under his leadership, Utah’s elections will remain safe, secure, and transparent.”
Cowley helped launch the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service at Weber State University, according to a news release from the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
“I am excited for this opportunity to serve as the director of elections for the state of Utah,” Cowley said in a written statement. “As an experienced elections administrator, I know how critical this process is to our democracy and I look forward to using my experience to continue the tradition of well-run, secure, and accessible elections in Utah.”
Cowley received a bachelor’s degree in business information systems from Utah State University in 2003 and a master’s degree in public administration from Brigham Young University in 2018, according to his work biography.
