Brian King (politician) explained

Brian King
Office:Minority Leader of the Utah House of Representatives
Term Start:January 26, 2015
Term End:January 17, 2023
Predecessor:Jen Seelig
Successor:Angela Romero
Office1:Member of the Utah House of Representatives
Term Start1:January 1, 2009
Predecessor1:Roz McGee
Constituency1:28th district (2009–2023)
23rd district (2023–present)
Birth Date:19 August 1959
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Ann Silverberg (2022–present)
Education:University of Utah (BS, JD)

Brian S. King[1] (born August 19, 1959) is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 23rd district. Before redistricting following the 2020 census, he represented the 28th district since January 1, 2009.[2] [3] In April 2024, he became the Democratic nominee for the gubernatorial election.[4]

Education

King earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Utah and a Juris Doctor from the S.J. Quinney College of Law.

Career

King works as a self-employed lawyer, providing legal services in the field of ERISA and MHPAEA litigation.[5] He has spoken prominently on the positive benefits of residential treatment centers in addressing mental health problem in youth.

Utah Legislature

In 2008, when Representative Roz McGee left the Legislature and left the seat open, King was unopposed after an opponent withdrew, and won the three-way November 4, 2008 general election with 8,487 votes (56.2%) against Republican nominee Jeffrey Morrow and Constitution candidate Jared Beck,[6] who had run for Utah State Senate in 2006.

House minority leader

King had the reputation as being "more combative" than previous minority leaders in the State House of Representatives. In 2016, King criticized Republican leadership of the House for "shut(ing) out Democrats from discussions about whether to expand Medicaid for the poor."[7] He was succeeded in 2023 by Angela Romero.

Committee assignments

During the 2016 legislative session, King served on the Executive Appropriations Committee, the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Judiciary Committee, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, and the House Rules Committee. He also served as the House minority leader. In the 2022 legislative session, King served on the Executive Appropriations Committee, the Federalism Commission, the House Business and Labor Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, the House Legislative Expense Oversight Committee, the Legislative Audit Subcommittee, the Legislative Management Committee, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee, and the Subcommittee on Oversight.[8]

Gun policy

Throughout his career, King has sponsored gun control legislation. In 2019, King sponsored HB 148, "Universal Background Checks for Firearm Purchasers" that would require background checks for all gun sales, but it was not given a committee vote.[9] [10] In 2020, King sponsored his and it was tabled by the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee by an 8–3 vote.[11] In 2022, King sponsored a modified version of the bill previously sponsored, which would require background checks for all non-federal firearms licensees, law enforcement agencies and officers and family members as exceptions. The House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee rejected the bill on an 8–3 vote.[12]

Elections

Personal life

He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a full-time mission in St. Louis Missouri.[17]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brian King's Biography . . February 5, 2014.
  2. Web site: Brian S. King (D) . . Salt Lake City, Utah . February 5, 2014 . November 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201127014059/https://house.utah.gov/rep/KINGBS/ . dead .
  3. Web site: Brian King. Utah House of Representatives. Salt Lake City, Utah. March 31, 2016. November 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201127014059/https://house.utah.gov/rep/KINGBS/. dead.
  4. https://www.deseret.com/politics/2024/04/27/democrat-brian-king-utah-governor-caroline-gleich-senate-mitt-romney/ "Utah Democrats endorse Brian King for governor, Caroline Gleich for Senate at state convention," Deseret News, April 27, 2024
  5. Web site: Conflict of Interest Form . . Salt Lake City, Utah . April 15, 2014.
  6. Web site: 2008 General Election Results . Lieutenant Governor of Utah . Salt Lake City, Utah . February 5, 2014 . March 4, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140304164610/http://elections.utah.gov/Media/Default/Documents/Election_Results/General/2008Gen.xls . dead .
  7. Web site: Davidson . Lee . Utah House Democrats re-elect Brian King as minority leader . Salt Lake Tribune . 30 March 2022.
  8. Web site: Brian S. King . State House of Representatives-State of Utah . 30 March 2022.
  9. Web site: McKellar . Katie . Utah lawmaker pushing bill to require universal background checks on gun sales and loans . Deseret News . 30 March 2022.
  10. Web site: McKellar . Katie . Utah Democrat resurrects bill for universal background checks on gun sales . 30 March 2022 . Deseret News.
  11. Web site: H.B. 109 Universal Background Checks for Firearm Purchasers . Utah State Legislature . 30 March 2022.
  12. Web site: H.B. 133 Expanded Background Checks for Firearm Transfers . Utah State Legislature . 30 March 2022.
  13. Web site: 2012 Primary Canvass Reports . . Salt Lake City, Utah . February 5, 2014.
  14. Web site: 2014 General Canvass Report. Lieutenant Governor of Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah. March 31, 2016.
  15. Web site: 2010 Primary Election Results . Lieutenant Governor of Utah . Salt Lake City, Utah . February 5, 2014.
  16. Web site: 2010 General Election Results . Lieutenant Governor of Utah . Salt Lake City, Utah . February 5, 2014 . March 4, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140304164608/http://elections.utah.gov/Media/Default/Documents/Election_Results/General/2010Gen.xls . dead .
  17. News: With Utah Legislature's Mormon supermajority, is it representative of the people? . en-US . The Salt Lake Tribune . 2018-03-12.