By Jonathan Selden
Marriott. Leavitt. Huntsman. Eccles.
Lockhart?
He may not be rich or famous, but Stan Lockhart is one of the most politically connected people in the state.
He is a Provo City Councilman, the Utah County Republican Party Chair, and a lobbyist for technology giant Micron.
His wife, Becky, is a two-term state representative.
To use an analogy people commonly employ when talking about him — Lockhart wears many hats.
At the same time, he is both the political boss of 16 Utah County state legislators and a corporate lobbyist dancing for their support.
“It”s a way to provide a living for my family,” he said. “I don”t ask for any special treatment.”
Those who know him agree.
“Stan is very careful to make sure which hat he is wearing. People who claim otherwise don”t understand and don”t know the process,” said Utah Republican Chairman Rob Bishop.
Even one of Lockhart”s toughest opponents and democratic counterpart gave him credit for his ability to separate his political duties.
“Between him and Becky Lockhart and the legislature, he clearly must be Superman,” said Utah County Democratic Party Chair Nancy Woodside.
“If people are concerned about a conflict of interest, then the place to fix it is at the ballot box. If they think Stan is wearing too many hats, they”re the ones who gave him the hats,” she said.
Republican Utah County legislators, who call Lockhart their chairman, say they feel no extra pressure from him to support Micron-endorsed legislation.
“I”ve never even put the two together. He”s either talking to me as the Utah County Chair or as Micron,” Rep. Bradley Winn, R-Pleasant Grove, said.
Rep. Mike Thompson, R-Orem, agreed.
“It doesn”t matter to me. I would listen to him or anyone,” he said.
According to Bishop, part of Lockhart”s Republican Party job description is to help elect republican candidates.
But skeptics who claim Lockhart is shaping legislative races to fit Micron”s requirements will be disappointed, he said.
“In America, the people select the nominees. Party chairs have very little ability to shape the election process,” he said.
Winn, who went to Lockhart for help in his own state legislative campaign this year, slightly disagreed about the power political parties have over candidates.
“The party structure does influence the outcome of candidates. If there is a weak republican candidate in the mind of the county or district then they”re going to … get a strong Republican,” he said.
But, he added, “the largest factor is the candidates themselves.”
Lockhart dismissed the idea that Utah County legislators feel beholden to support Micron-aimed bills because he is their party boss.
“I don”t think it”s ever crossed their minds,” he said.
Nevertheless, Lockhart, who is employed year-round at Micron”s Lehi Division as a Government Affairs Coordinator, said he believes in his work.
“Micron is the largest private economic contributor to Utah County. It is working toward the future,” he said. “Do I come up here trying to look after the interest of my company? Yes.”
Rep. David Cox, R-Lehi, who grew up in Lehi, Utah, and represents the area, cautiously agreed with Lockhart about the city”s Micron-related bounties.
“Micron has been a great benefit to Lehi. Lehi is now on the map,” he said.
“I hope, as soon as Micron gets going, that we can build the infrastructure in an organized way and not have an unacceptable situation for people who live there,” Cox said.
Lockhart”s wife, Becky, said she removes herself from legislative issues that could be seen as a conflict of interest with her husband”s lobbyist position.
He reluctantly agreed.
“There is no one harder to lobby in the entire state legislature than Representative Becky Lockhart,” he said.
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