Just days after being selected by delegates and appointed to his seat by the governor, Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, has two goals for the legislative session firmly in mind: reading and understanding bills before casting his vote and "pushing his colleagues to be transparent and accountable."
Weiler, 44, replaced Sen. Dan Liljenquist in Senate District 23, representing Davis County after Liljenquist resigned last month to run for the U.S. Senate.
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Todd Weiler file
Spouse » Elizabeth
Children » Three sons, one daughter, ages 8 to 18
Profession » Attorney
Education » Business degree, Brigham Young University, J.D., J. Reuben Clark Law School, BYU
Social media » Tweets under the handle @gopTODD.
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Weiler’s extensive community involvement includes past service on the Woods Cross City Council and as Davis County GOP chairman, Davis Chamber of Commerce Board chair and vice chairman of the Utah Republican Party.
"It’s important that the person knows the community and the community knows that person," Weiler says. "I fit that bill with my involvement over the past 12 years."
Weiler, a practicing attorney, works for Logistic Specialties, Inc., a consulting company. He switched jobs three months ago because the company he was working for wouldn’t allow him to run for office.
Previously, in 2000, he ran for a House seat and lost to Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville. But it is his continued involvement and interest in state politics that makes Liljenquist confident in his successor’s abilities.
"Todd Weiler is exceptionally well prepared to serve in the Utah state Senate," Liljenquist says. "He already understands the legislative process, the existing laws and how to work with people."
Even with years of experience in public service and with Liljenquist’s backing, Senate President Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, says Weiler’s biggest challenge as a new legislator is learning "the mechanics of parliamentary activity."
"Most of his challenge as a new legislator is to learn the system, not to try and change the world," said Waddoups.
Although Weiler took over Liljenquist’s spot as the chairman of the retirement committee, Waddoups says no one expects him to push a dramatic restructuring of the state pension system as his predecessor did.
"He’s not expecting me to be him," Weiler said of Liljenquist, "he wants me to be me."
With his training in law, Weiler is serving on the Judiciary Committee as well as the Business and Labor Committee. He also will sit on the Social Services budget committee, something he is personally invested in.
His sister uses a wheelchair and resides in a state facility because of injuries sustained in an accident years ago. Weiler believes his personal experience will help him bring a valuable perspective to social service issues.
But Weiler’s main focus is public education reform and funding, which he identifies as one of the biggest problems in the state.
He is sponsoring SB138, which would require the state — rather than school districts — to fund the cost if insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders is mandated in public schools.
"If the [insurance] mandate is unfunded, less money will go to education," Weiler says. "I’m not opposed to the coverage but I am opposed to bootstrapping our schools."
By the second day of the legislative session, Jan. 24, Weiler had six bills in progress.
"That’s pretty good for a guy that’s only known he was going to be a senator for less than 10 days," says Waddoups. "It shows that he’s very proactive and that he’ll be representing his constituency."
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