August 11, 2026

To the Utah Board of Education: Don’t Rush to Replace Menlove

Utah’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction Martell Menlove is retiring, and the questions raised by his exit from the State Office of Education don’t have anything to do with the LDS mission he may serve with his wife. Selected unanimously by the state school board after just ninety minutes of deliberation in 2012, the process of Menlove’s […]

The Non-Existent Live Democratic Response to Governor Herbert’s State of the State Speech

Last night, Utah Governor Gary Herbert gave his State of the State speech. With the speech carried live by KSL News Radio, I listened in over dinner with the family (yes, that’s a good thing). As it ended and the applause subsided, we stayed tuned, waiting to hear the Utah Democrats’ response. After all, hadn’t […]

Utah AG Reyes Follows a Measured and Professional Stance on Marriage Licences

Belying the false narrative that Governor Gary R. Herbert is invalidating marriages, Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes has advised county clerks to issue all marriage certificates applied for prior to the stay (full statement at the bottom). This reiterates what I said earlier this week: the Governor’s directive to state agencies is not to invalidate marriages, […]

When integrity matters: Greg Bell to lead USTAR

It’s interesting where a reputation for integrity, or the lack thereof, will take you. On one hand, we have watched the rise and fall of  John Swallow, for a short time Utah’s Attorney General. On the other, we have seen the sacrifice and continued prosperity of Greg Bell, until recently Lieutenant Governor of Utah.  Last […]

Picking the Best Candidate for Utah Attorney General

Tomorrow, the Republican Party will forward three names to Governor Gary Herbert who will appoint one of them as Utah Attorney General. All have great qualities, but only one of them has the right balance to manage the office, restore the public trust, and win reelection next year against a vigorous Democratic challenge for the […]

Candidates for Utah Attorney General: Bob Smith

A candidate for Utah Attorney General, Bob Smith is seeking appointment by Governor Gary Herbert to replace former Utah Attorney General John Swallow, who resigned December 3. This is the eighth in a series of brief profiles on those who  have filed to run for one of three Republican nominations to Governor Gary Herbert’s for appointment the spot. As information on each individual […]

[Poll] Should the Utah Attorney General appointment be a caretaker or a long term selection?

Caretaker? Or long-term leader? One discussion during the recent (and very short) campaign for the Utah Attorney General appointment by Governor Herbert: should it be a short-term appointment, someone who will not run for reelection in 2014, or a longer term appointment of someone who will seek reelection in 2014? Please vote in the poll […]