Greg Hughes

Gregory 'Greg' H. Hughes^[1] is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 51 since January 1, 2003. Greg Hughes currently serves as the Speaker of the House for the Utah House of Representatives in the state of Utah.^[2]

Early life and career

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Hughes never knew his father and was brought up by a single mother who sold cemetery plots on commission. She joined the LDS Church and married when Hughes was five, but that marriage ended in divorce by the time he was ten. At age 16, Hughes was in a car accident with friends, and was subsequently confined to a wheelchair for a year. He later worked as a bellman in an upscale Pittsburgh hotel and then on the 1988 presidential campaign staff for George Herbert Walker Bush. He served a full-time mission for the LDS Church in Australia and Papua New Guinea.^[3]

Hughes attended Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University) and Brigham Young University.^[4] He and his wife, Krista, live in Draper, Utah with their three kids.^[5] Hughes is a self-employed property manager and developer.^[6]

Political career

• 2015 Hughes went against the stated position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Utah Chamber of Commerce, the Utah Hospital Association, the Utah Catholic Bishop, and others to oppose Republican Governor Gary Herbert's Healthy Utah plan which was passed by the Utah State Senate.^[7][8]
• 2014 Hughes defeated Sione Tavake in the 2014 Republican convention and won the November 4, 2014 General election with 4,742 votes (65.4%) against Democratic nominee Kyle Waters.^[9]
• 2012 Hughes was unopposed for the June 26, 2012 Republican primary and won the November 6, 2012 General election with 9,270 votes (69.5%) against Democratic nominee Sonja Jorgensen.^[10]
• 2010 Hughes was unopposed for the June 22, 2010 Republican primary and won the November 2, 2010 general election with 8,200 votes (68.5%) against Democratic nominee Paul Recanzone.^[11]
• 2008 Hughes was challenged in the Republican primary by Margaret Bird but won at the Republican convention for the November 4, 2008 general election, and 2006 Democratic opponent Lisa Johnson was unopposed in the Democratic primary, setting up a rematch; Hughes won with 8,394 votes (51.6%) against Johnson.^[12]
• 2006 Hughes was unopposed for the 2006 Republican primary and won the three-way November 7, 2006 general election with 5,480 votes (60.8%) against Democratic nominee Lisa Johnson and returning 2004 Constitution opponent Michael Richards.^[13]
• 2004 Hughes was unopposed for the June 22, 2004 Republican primary and won the three-way November 2, 2004 general election with 10,200 votes (68.8%) against Democratic nominee Matthew Wilber and Constitution candidate Michael Richards.^[14]
• 2002 When District 51 Republican Representative John Swallow ran for Congress and left the seat open, Hughes ran in the June 25, 2002 Republican primary and won with 1,047 votes (53%)^[15] and was unopposed for the November 5, 2002 general election, winning with 7,224 votes.^[16]

Since 2010, Hughes has served in House Leadership and he currently serves as the House Speaker in the Utah House of Representatives.^[5] During the 2016 legislative sessions, Hughes served on the Executive Appropriations Committee, the House Legislative Expense Oversight Committee, the Legislative Audit Subcommittee, and the Legislative Management Committee.^[17] During the interim, Hughes serves on the Education Interim Committee.^[18]

2016 sponsored legislation

Hughes also floor sponsored SCR013 Concurrent Resolution Honoring Randy Horiuchi, SCR017 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing Utah's Ten Year Relationship with Liaoning, China.^[19]

References

External links

• Official page at the Utah State Legislature
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Gregory Hughes at Ballotpedia
• Gregory Hughes at the National Institute on Money in State Politics
• Campaign site