Gov. Spencer Cox has withdrawn his nomination of Democratic Salt Lake County Councilmember Suzanne Harrison to the Utah Air Quality Board. Harrison’s nomination hit a roadblock earlier this month after a GOP-controlled Senate committee failed to advance her bid to the full Senate.
There was some hope among Harrison’s supporters that the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Confirmation Committee would reconsider that action at a future meeting or that the full Senate might bring Harrison’s nomination to the floor, bypassing the committee. Late last week, the Senate informed Cox’s office they were standing behind the vote on Harrison, prompting him to withdraw her from consideration.
Harrison, a physician and former member of the Utah House of Representatives, saw her nomination stall after a 3-3 vote by the committee on April 5. The most vocal opposition came from Republicans who represent rural areas of the state. Sen. Ron Winterton, R-Roosevelt and Sen. Derrin Owens, R-Fountain Green, criticized Harrison for voting against their environmental-related bills during her tenure in the Legislature.
The Utah Air Quality Board sets much of the state’s policy on air quality and has broad authority to enact rules and regulations. Many of the Republicans on the committee have received campaign donations from companies and industry groups that would be impacted by regulations put in place by the board. Those include oil companies, power companies, the Utah Mining Association and the Utah Petroleum Association.
Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, acknowledged the news that Cox has withdrawn Harrison’s nomination.
“With the name being withdrawn, we will wait for a new nomination from the governor’s office,” Sandall said in a statement.
None of the other Republican members of the committee nor Gov. Cox’s office responded to requests for comment from The Tribune.
In a post on Twitter, Harrison said she was “disheartened” that her nomination was withdrawn.
“Although I’m disappointed that I will not have the opportunity to serve on the Utah Air Quality Board, I am committed to continuing to work on improving air quality and look forward to working with all stakeholders, regardless of political affiliation, to promote policies that protect our air and the health of all Utahns,” Harrison wrote.
Democratic committee member Nate Blouin blamed partisan politics for upending Harrison’s nomination.
“Suzanne Harrison is a qualified, balanced voice that would have made an exemplary choice to represent millions of residents of the Wasatch Front who suffer the impacts of poor air quality,” Blouin said. “We will be worse off without her perspective, and I hope Governor Cox will not cave to special interests and party bosses when he puts forward a new nominee for the Air Quality Board.”
It is rare but not unheard of for the Senate to reject a nomination put forward by the governor. During the Herbert administration, the Senate was criticized for refusing to confirm two judicial nominees — all women.
The decision to withdraw Harrison’s nomination leaves the nine-member Air Quality Board without a Democrat. Harrison was tapped to replace Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, whose term ended in March.
