On Wednesday morning, the Utah Senate elected Stuart Adams to another term as President for the next two years.
Or did they?
After the newly elected and returning members of the Utah Senate were sworn in, Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, moved to nominate Adams as president by acclamation. Minority Whip Karen Kwan, D-Salt Lake City, seconded the motion. Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, who was in charge of the chamber, declared that the motion passed.
Here's the problem. Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, clearly said "no" when Stevenson put the motion up for a vote. Stevenson brushed off Thatcher's objection and declared that Adams had been elected "by acclamation."
Under parliamentary rules, if there's a single "no" vote during an acclamation vote, the motion fails. Technically, nobody was elected, and the Utah Senate does not have a leader.
A Senate spokesperson did not respond when asked if they intended to re-vote on Adams's nomination.
If Stevenson's ruling stands, it means Thatcher will be inaccurately recorded as having voted "yes" when he clearly didn't.
