Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson responds to calls for Rep. Ferry to resign

SALT LAKE CITY —  Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson has responded to the Utah Democrats’ call for the resignation of Rep. Joel Ferry. 

“If Mr. Ferry won’t step down from his seat and have his name removed from November’s ballot, we will make the Lieutenant Governor do it for him.” Utah Democratic Party Chair Diane Lewis said in a letter released on Aug. 18.

#BREAKING @LGHendersonUtah has responded to @UtahDemocrats demand for @JoelMFerry to be removed from Nov ballot. She basically said she can’t, legally. Dems argue Ferry is holding two jobs as a legislator and acting dir. of @UtahDNR. #utpol @kslnewsradio pic.twitter.com/QC9FhgiUre

— Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) August 24, 2022

 

In a released statement, Henderson said, “While I recognize the uncertainty of Mr. Ferry’s current situation, I make no conclusion regarding the constitutionality of his status as a legislator or as active director of the Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Ferry’s status as current or former legislator does not affect his status as a candidate and does not require me to remove him from the November ballot.”

In June, Gov. Spencer J. Cox appointed Ferry as the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources. However, before Cox’s announcement, Ferry held a position in the state legislature and is on this November’s ballot.

Utah Democrats argue that keeping Ferry on the ballot while acting in another government role, violates the state constitution.

According to Article V of the Utah Constitution, “The powers of the government of the State of Utah shall be divided into three distinct departments, the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial; and no person charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments, shall exercise any functions appertaining to either of the others, except in the cases herein expressly directed or permitted.”

Related: Joel Ferry refuses to take his name off the ballot