There’s an open seat for Utah House District 54, covering Wasatch County and the boundaries of Park City.
Incumbent Republican Tim Quinn says he decided not to seek another term, partly due to the demands of his private job; and partly, he admitted, from disappointment at not having the impact he hoped for on Capitol Hill.
Quinn retired after being elected twice to the District 54 seat, a total of four years.
He said he had been thinking about retiring for the past four or five months.
“I had committed, or I had suggested, that I would serve no more than six years when I ran the first time. But my job has become—my day job has added much more responsibility over the last nine months. And it’s a sacrifice to serve in the Legislature. I don’t know how many of the men and women who serve there do it with the types of day jobs that they have.”
Another factor, he said, was looking at his effectiveness on Capitol Hill.
“I went there thinking I could make a difference. I went there that we all got to contribute and add ingredients to the cake that we were baking. What I found was that many times, particularly on the bigger issues, that cake’s already in the oven. We had very little influence or impact on some of the legislation that came through. So it was just a choice I had to make. Was the sacrifice that my job was taking, was the sacrifice that my wife and children were making, was it worth what impact I felt I was having, or could have there. And ultimately the decision was probably best not to run.”
Quinn was the chief architect of a tax reform proposal approved at a special session in December. But with a citizens petition against it looming, legislators quickly discarded it as the January session started.
We asked him if he had a feeling of “sour grapes” about the outcome. Quinn said his reaction was more disappointment.
“Not that it didn’t pass. But the tax reform that did pass, in the special session in December and then we repealed in the second day of the general session, there was a lot of disappointment in that process. I think most of your listeners would know I voted No. I was one of the few Republicans that voted No. And that’s okay. We disagree sometimes on ideology and on policy. But I was more disappointed in the process and how that went down, as a member of the Task Force. So I wouldn’t say there’s sour grapes over tax reform, but certainly some opportunities to have my eyes opened. And that created some disappointment and disillusionment.”
He said that he hopes the next person elected to District 54 will, among other things, be someone who has an understanding of tax policy.
“Someone who has a good understanding of the three-legged stool that we talk about—property tax, income tax, sales tax. How all three of those coordinate, work with each other. But above all—and this may sound like a simple kinda litmus test, but unfortunately I don’t think it is—someone who’s honest. Someone who has integrity, someone who will not vote just because they have an “R” or a “D” behind their name, but someone who looks at every issue and says, “This is the right or wrong thing for the state of Utah, not just my district, but for the state of Utah’ and votes their conscience every time.”
There are two Republican candidates running to succeed him—Mike Kohler from Wasatch County and Randy Favero of Park City. Quinn said he’s not endorsing either one. He will let the GOP party vote settle that.
The Democratic contender is Park City’s Meagan Miller, who narrowly lost to Quinn in the 2018 election. A factor that year, he thought, was the ballot propositions dealing with Medicaid and Medical Marijuana.
“Because of those two issues on the ballot, there were many provisional votes, first-time voters. If that doesn’t happen again this year, I think it will be a little tougher for a Democrat. But politics is a strange game and anything can happen.”
He said that over the past four years, he appreciated the friendly relationships he was able to develop with leaders in Park City and Summit County.
“They were always courteous, respectful, kind, appreciative. We had an open communication where we sat down and were able to discuss issues and find common ground. And I appreciated that. It was not, literally, was not what I expected. And that was a pleasant surprise for the four years that I served.”
Retiring Rep. Tim Quinn, who said he has no further plans for political office. He said if he has any legacy, he wants to be remembered as someone who voted his conscience every time.
