Howard A. Stephenson

Howard A. Stephenson (born November 7, 1950) is a Utah politician who represented the State's 11th senate district in Salt Lake County including Draper from 1992 through 2018.

Howard A. Stephenson
Stephenson in February 2013
Member of the Utah Senate
from the 11th district
In office
1992–2018
Succeeded byDan McCay
Personal details
Born (1950-11-07) November 7, 1950
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJulie
ResidenceDraper, Utah
OccupationPublic Administrator

Personal life, education, and career

Stephenson received a B.S. degree in psychology and aerospace studies from Brigham Young University, and a Master of Public Administration (1977), also from Brigham Young University.[1] Since then, he has worked as a taxpayer advocate, and from 1988 to 2021 he served as president of the Utah Taxpayers Association.[2] He currently consults and speaks nationally on digital teaching and learning, advocating for personalized teaching and learning and K-12 dual language immersion. Stephenson is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).[3]

Notable quotes

Regarding Utah teachers using technology in the classroom, "...are we going to have to wait like Moses did...wandering 40 years in the wilderness for the old ones to die off before we can really embrace this with fidelity?" [4]

Regarding college and university degrees which don't produce jobs suitable for the recipient, "...degrees to nowhere."[5]

Regarding his announcement of retirement from the state senate, "I’ve never experienced air being sucked out of a room before."[6]

Political career

As a Utah state senator, Stephenson is well-positioned to influence Utah legislation relating to education and to state revenues. As a state senator, Stephenson has won the following awards:

  • Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly Recognition
  • Utah Council for Exceptional Children Legislator of the Year
  • Utah Association for Gifted Children Community Service Award
  • Coalition for People with Disabilities 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002 "Hero on the Hill" Award
  • Alpine School District Children's Behavioral Therapy Unit Autism Preschool Recognition
  • Education Leadership Coalition Recognition
  • Utah Valley Autism Preschool Recognition
  • Utah Food Industry Association 2001, 2004 Outstanding Legislative Service Award
  • Utah Farm Bureau Federation Friend of Agriculture Award
  • Utah Information Technology Association Recognition
  • National Federation of Independent Business Guardian of Small Business Award
  • Utah Taxpayers Association Friend of the Taxpayer Award
  • Utah Restaurant Association Legislator of the Year, 2003, 2004
  • Utah Health Insurance Association Legislator of the Year
  • Utah Correctional Industries Award
  • Sandy City Outstanding Elected Official
  • Grassroots Distinguished Service Award
  • Utah Association of Realtors Distinguished Service Award

[2]

During his 26 years in the Utah Senate, Stephenson served on the following committees:[7]

  • Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
  • Health & Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee (Senate Chair)
  • Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Senate Chair)
  • Senate Education Committee (Chair)
  • Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee (Chair)
  • Administrative Rules Review Committee (Senate Chair)

2014
2014 Utah State Senate election District 11
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Howard Stephenson 13,195 63.1%
Democratic Michele Weeks 7,713 36.9%

[8]

Legislation

2016 sponsored bills
Bill NumberBill TitleBill Status
S.B. 38School Funding AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/23/2016
S.B. 87Administrative Rulemaking Act ModificationsGovernor Signed 3/17/2016
S.B. 88Administrative Rules ReauthorizationGovernor Signed 3/29/2016
S.B. 93Computer Science Initiative For Public SchoolsGovernor Signed 3/28/2016
S.B. 112Property Tax Assessment Amount AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/29/2016
S.B. 120Property Tax Notice AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/28/2016
S.B. 139Board of Education Approval AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/23/2016
S.B. 143Competency Based Learning AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/28/2016
S.B. 152Accelerated Foreign Language Course AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/18/2016
S.B. 163Kindergarten AmendmentsSenate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016
S.B. 165Public Education Appointment and HiringSenate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016
S.B. 176Office of the State Board of Education AmendmentsSenate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016
S.B. 204Free Market Protection and Privatization Board Act AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/22/2016
S.B. 211Private Use of DronesSenate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016
S.B. 224Student AssessmentsSenate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016
S.B. 228Multicounty Assessing and Collecting Levy AmendmentsGovernor Signed 3/25/2016
S.B. 237 Immigration and Alien Related Amendments Governor Signed 3/18/2016
S.B. 239 School Governance Amendments Governor Signed 3/28/2016

[9]

Notable legislation

Stephenson is a proponent of year-round schools. He believes that moving public schools to a trimester schedule will save money.[10] On his campaign website, he states that he supports "tuition tax credits or vouchers."[11]

He has proposed a bill which would require surety bonds for guest workers, to "ensure that . . . the people who are here have no criminal background, are disease free, and are paying their own cost of policing."[12]

References
  1. "Stephenson, Howard". Utah State Senate. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  2. "Meet Howard". Howard Stephenson. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  3. "Howard A. Stephenson's Political Summary". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  4. "Lawmaker: Utah's veteran educators may need to 'die off' before technology fills classrooms".
  5. "Sen. Howard Stephenson defends saying colleges give 'degrees to nowhere'". Deseret News.
  6. "Sen. Howard Stephenson joins exit line now 20 members long from the Utah Legislature".
  7. "District 11 Senator - Utah State Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  8. "Howard Stephenson - Ballotpedia". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  9. "2016 -- Legislation(Senate)". le.utah.gov. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  10. Stewart, Kirsten (November 18, 2009). "Year-round schools pitch fails -- for now". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  11. Howard Stephenson campaign website, statement on education
  12. "Lawmakers crafting numerous immigration bills," KSL news, August 9, 2010
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