Former Utah lawmaker Paul Ray faces serious health scare

SALT LAKE CITY — A former Utah lawmaker who played a central role as the legislature approved new congressional district maps, Clearfield’s Paul Ray, is recovering in the hospital after a serious health scare. 

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House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, in an email to lawmakers obtained by the Deseret News, asked lawmakers to keep the health of their former colleague, Republican Paul Ray, in their prayers. 

“Paul went into the hospital over the weekend suffering from an intense headache and it was determined he was suffering from a bleeding issue in his brain that required an emergency surgery,” Wilson wrote. 

Wilson described Ray’s condition as “very serious.” 

Paul Ray tells paper health improving after surgery

Ray exhibited good spirits when he called the Deseret News later Tuesday night from the hospital. In that conversation, he told the newspaper the surgery appeared successful and he feels much better. 

Ray recently chaired the Utah Legislative Redistricting Committee, which oversaw the process to redraw boundary lines for political offices in Utah. He drew fire last month as that body approved maps drawn by the legislature over those proposed by an independent commission. 

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