SALT LAKE CITY — The most powerful player in the State House of Representatives is no longer Becky Lockhart; on Thursday night, lawmakers made Representative Greg Hughes the new Speaker of the House.
The long time lawmaker, since 2003, is also the former Utah Transit Agency’s Board Chairman.
Rep. Hughes is replacing Becky Lockhart, who was the first female Speaker of the House in Utah and has served in the position since 2011. Hughes represents District 51. Outside of being a lawmaker, he works in construction and property management.
Rep. Hughes discussed how the culture of the House will be without Lockhart at the helm.
“I think we have had, and Speaker Lockhart has led the way, in making sure that everyone knows that, as they are sent here to do the people’s work, that there’s a process available to them,” he said. “We’re going to be a very transparent group, that might result sometimes in some direct conversations, but I think when we talk about the culture changing, I think there’s going to be that kind of honesty and that kind of frank conversation. I think that Speaker Lockhart is the leader and the speaker that brought that kind of environment here in the House, and we just want to build on that.”
