Two state senators will seek the majority leader position left vacant by the resignation of Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse.
Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, who held the leadership post preceding Killpack, and Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, Senate majority whip, will vie for the position. Republican senators will decide Wednesday who they want to serve as majority leader.
Killpack resigned from the Senate and as majority leader Saturday, a day after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, saying he felt he had become a distraction to the Legislature.
Meantime, Reps. Paul Ray and Curt Oda, both Republicans from Clearfield, and former Layton Mayor Jerry Stevenson have declared their desire to replace Killpack in the Senate, according to Davis County Republican Party Chairwoman Shirley Bouwhuis.
"The party must move quickly or the county, and more specifically, our senate district, will go unrepresented," Ray said.
Both Ray and Oda sought the office in 2003 when delegates chose Killpack.
Oda, who said he tried to talk Killpack out of resigning, said "It was a friendly race before and it will be a friendly race again."
Davis County Republican delegates are expected to meet Saturday afternoon to choose Killpack's replacement. The location is still being set, Bouwhuis said.
"We're doing it fast on purpose so we can get them in place for the Legislature," she said.
However, if Ray or Oda are selected, the party then has to pick a replacement for a House seat and the district will likely be without a representative for a week until those arrangements can be made.
And if Jenkins becomes Senate majority leader, the Republican caucus would have to elect a new whip.
