Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich will not seek re-election

Utah Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich will not seek re-election in 2008 and Representative Brad King has filed to seek Dmitrich’s seat.

Two Price-area Democrats, Jimmy Leonard and Christine Watkins, have filed for King’s seat in the Utah House of Representatives. The filing period closes March 17.

This year, Dmitrich will celebrate his 72nd birthday, having served the majority of his life in the Utah Legislature.

“It’s time,” he says, “to move on.” Senator Dmitrich was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1968 at the age of 31 and has served continuously in the House and Senate for 40 years, representing Utah’s citizens in eastern and southern Utah.

In 1991, while serving in the House, he was appointed to the Utah State Senate and then elected to the Senate in 1992. Since 2001, he has served as the Senate Minority Leader. While in the House, he also served as House Minority Leader from 1983 to 1990.

Backed by 30 years of experience in the coal mining industry, he has served on many natural resources committees.

This past year, he served on the governor’s Utah Mine Safety Commission following the mining accident at the Crandall Canyon Mine in Carbon County.

Senator Dmitrich and his wive Bo reside in Price, USA (as he calls it). They are parents of three and grandparents of three. Senator Dmitrich is looking forward to spending more time with his family and more time (you guessed it) playing the wonderful game of golf.

Senator Dmitrich remarked, “I would like to thank the constituents of the districts I have represented over the years for allowing me the privilege of serving them in the Utah Legislature. I also appreciate the friendships I have formed on both sides of the aisle during my legislative career.”