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Washington • Utah native Matt Petersen, a former staffer for then-Sen. Bob Bennett, was elected this week as chairman of the Federal Election Commission, a key spot heading into a presidential year likely to see one of the biggest money-fueled races in U.S. history.
Petersen, of Mapleton, previously served as FEC chairman in 2010. He holds degrees from Utah Valley University, Brigham Young University and the University of Virginia Law School.
Petersen also served as counsel to the House Committee on House Administration and, under Bennett, as the chief counsel to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
In a news release, the FEC said Petersen was "extensively involved" in crafting the Help America Vote Act of 2002 that was a response to the 2000 presidential election problems in Florida. From 1999 to 2002, Petersen worked in campaign finance law at Wiley Rein LLP in Washington.
Petersen, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, has served on the FEC since 2008. The FEC includes six commissioners, split evenly between Republican and Democratic appointees.