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New Legislative Research Director Has 'Big Shoes To Fill'

Utah.gov

A board of Utah lawmakers recommended John Cannon, former head of government relations for the LDS Church, to lead the Legislature’s law drafting office on Thursday.

Making laws in the state Legislature is a big job. So big, that those we elect can’t do it alone. The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, or LRGC, is one example of the help lawmakers need.

“The Legislative Research and General Counsel Office is the backbone of the staff that we have to draft bills, to do research on bills and to give us legal opinions,” said House Democratic Leader Brian King, who was a part of the hiring committee to replace Christensen.

Imagine the Legislature is a diner. Lawmakers take the customer’s order and the LRGC, with directions from lawmakers, whip it up and quick, with little time to spare during the 45-day legislative session.

In late July, the office’s previous director for 17 years, Mike Christensen, retired, leaving big shoes to fill in the Legislature.

“You got to have someone who has experience in administration management over other people, who gets along well; who understands how to diffuse HR kinds of issues,” said King.

After vetting 40 applicants, the hiring committee finally selected John Cannon, now former director of government relations for the LDS Church.

“The issue came up about his experience over the last five years working for the LDS Church and we discussed it as a group,” King said “There were some pointed questions asked and John wanted to address that.”

Cannon’s time with the church has become ‘the elephant in the room’ among Utah politicos. As Cache Valley Daily reports, Laurie Gaylor with the Freedom From Religion Foundation said Cannon’s selection entangles the church and the Legislature “completely.”

King stressed that Cannon was selected for his past experience in the LRGC.

“I’m glad that it came up,” he said. “I think all of us felt comfortable that John’s priority if he got that job was to the state Legislature and we have very clear language in the state and national constitution that we don’t believe in religious tests for people.”

Cannon is still subject to final approval when the Legislature convenes in 2018.