Speaker Hughes

It was a hot spring day in 2002. I was returning from a camping trip and as I pulled into my neighborhood, I saw what I thought was a young eager salesman in front of my home. When I drove into my driveway, much to my chagrin I learned that it was a young enterprising candidate for the state legislature. As he walked toward me I told him to stop because I was supporting his opponent and he would not be able to change my mind. Over the next four hours (yes, four hours) as I cleaned my camping gear, he regaled me with all the reasons I should support him.

Finally, I told him I had no use for a freshman legislator but what I did need was some help landscaping my back yard. A few weeks later he returned with his business partner and helped me lay a brick patio. I learned a lot about Greg Hughes during that campaign that illustrated an intensity and willingness to work for what he thought was right for his legislative district and the state of Utah. Needless to say, I did end up supporting him after all.

Last week when he announced his intention not to run again, I was disappointed.

Over the last four years, I have been privileged to work with Speaker Hughes on many of the significant initiatives and accomplishments that have occurred under his leadership. He led out on investing in Utah’s transportation network which is now the envy of states around the country. He oversaw the regulatory overhaul of how Utah’s Public Service Commission regulates the State’s electric utility; allowing it to better address Utah’s increasing power needs and its’ growing economy while looking at renewable forms of energy.

Hughes foresaw the growth of the technology industry at the Point of the Mountain, in Salt Lake and Utah counties and led the way for the State to address the myriad of infrastructure needs there. He also led the effort to relocate the State Prison, an old antiquated facility, from the Point of the Mountain in Draper to the Northwest Quadrant of Salt Lake City. This move not only spurred economic development and job creation in and around Draper and the Point of the Mountain but also the Northwest Quadrant in Salt Lake City.

He guided the effort of bringing Tier 3 fuels to Utah which will reduce the negative impacts of motor vehicles on Utah’s air quality. He currently is guiding the restructuring of the Utah Transit Authority to expand Utah’s multi-model approach to transportation so that the State’s increasing population’s mobility needs are addressed.

And unlike most politicians who “dare to be cautious,” Speaker Hughes put his political capital on the line to address Utah’s homeless problem and forced state, county and city officials to work together in a comprehensive way to address this issue.

But most importantly, he has done all this by empowering his fellow legislators and allowing them to take the lead and get the credit on these initiatives. In my 30 plus years as a lobbyist in Utah, I can say without hesitation that Speaker Hughes has been the best House Speaker I have worked with.